Kenneth L Gilbert

Military ROLL OF HONOUR
media-32368.jpeg UPL 32368 "Capt Kenneth L Gilbert, Newport, RI 21 year old first pilot on a Consolidated B-24 Liberator bomber, by completing 75 missions holds the record for the highest number of consecutive combat missions flown by any American four engine pilot in the ETO."

Object Number - UPL 32368 - "Capt Kenneth L Gilbert, Newport, RI 21 year old first pilot on a Consolidated B-24 Liberator bomber, by completing 75 missions holds the record for...

Assigned to the 339th Fighter Group after VE Day, completed 75 missions with the 93rd Bomb Group. Also completed 17 supply missions. He completed his first 25 missions in 29 days. He was killed in an accident over England on July 17, 1945. The remains of the plane were discovered in August 1997. It was excavated by John Harris.



Gilbert's silver wings were found embedded in the fuselage.



Captain Gilbert flew low over the base and at the far western edge of the field the plane went into a half roll for reasons as yet undetermined. The plane struck the ground in this attitude, upside down, destroying the aircraft and killing the pilot.



DFC w/4 Oak Leaf Clusters /Air Medal w/11 Oak Leaf Clusters, Croix de Guerre, Silver Star, PH and 2 Pres. Unit Citations

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

The insignia of the 93rd Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Missouri Sue
  • Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 409th Bomb Squadron
P-51 Mustangs, including (5Q-D, serial number 44-14011) nicknamed "Lou 'N Sue" of the 339th Fighter Group lined up at Fowlmere. Image via James Starnes. Written on slide casing: '504 FS dispersals Fowlmere.'
  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Nicknames: Lou N Sue
  • Unit: 339th Fighter Group 504th Fighter Squadron

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Newport, R I 5 July 1923 Son of Leo E and Edith Gilbert.

Enlisted

Providence, RI, USA 7 July 1941 Transferred to USAAC.

Other

Crashed

Lubbock, TX, USA 5 April 1943 Landing Accident Ground Loop Mech Failure Lubbock, TX Cat 3 damage 2Lt Kenneth L Gilbert, 5-Apr-43. AT-17 42-114 - TEFTS LAFS

Other

Crashed

Morrison Field Rd, West Palm Beach, FL, USA 22 January 1944 Taxiing Accident Ground Collision Morrison Field, West Palm Beach, FL Cat 3 damage 2Lt Kenneth L Gilbert, 22-Jan-44. B-24J 42-100433

Died

Fowlmere, Royston SG8, UK 17 July 1945 Fatal Crash Fowlmere/Sta 378 Cat 4 damage Capt Kenneth L Gilbert, 17-Jul-45. P-51D 44-14011 - 504FS 339FG 8AF

Buried

Interred Arlington National Cemetery

Other

Pilot training

Cuero, TX 77954, USA Primary flight training - Cuero, Texas - Class 43E

Other

Pilot training

North Texas Regional Airport, 4700 Airport Dr, Denison, TX 75020, USA Basic flight training - Perrin Field, Texas - Class 43E

Other

Pilot training

Lubbock, TX 79412, USA Advanced flight training - Lubbock Field, TX - Class 43E

Based

Hardwick Assigned to 93BG, 8AF USAAF.

Based

Fowlmere 17 July 1945 Assigned to 339FG, 8AF USAAF.

Enlisted

Enlisted US Army.

Revisions

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

Added Ken Gilbert's name to the Roll of Honour in the American Air Museum.

Sources:
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Ted Damick, VIII Fighter Command pilots list / https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=104303257

Date
ContributorJoCarter
Changes
Sources

Lubbock Field Class 43E book

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Unit History for 93rd BG and 339th FG

Kenneth L Gilbert: Gallery (2 items)