Kenneth M Gorrell
MilitaryKenneth Gorrell Crew
458th BG - 752nd BS
Back Row: Unknown - N, Lt. Kirschman - B, Louis Sonnefeld - CP, Kenneth Gorrell - P
Middle Row: John Hiebert - G, Paul Dirker - TT/E, Dewey Adams - WG
Front Row: Rocco Immundo - TTG, Calvin Criswell - RO, Wisner - TG
Crashed on takeoff for their first combat mission, 2 March 1944. 7 KIA 458th Bomb Group collection
Crashed at Hellesdon, Norwich after takeoff for 1st operational mission on 2 Mar 1944 in B-24H 41-28669. Returned to Duty (RTD). 26 missions. Crash landed on return from mission to Junkers Airframe factory. B-24H 42-51110. 29-Jun-44. MACR 7085. Recieved DFC for this mission.
Citation: "Kennth M Gorrell, 0-747169, 1st Lieutenant, Army Air Forces, United States Army. For meritorious achievement, while serving a Pilot on a B-24 aircraft on a bombing mission to Germany, 29 June 1944. Over the target a flak hit started a fire in the pilot's cabin which threatened to ignite escaping gasoline and destroy the aircraft. With full knowledge of the danger involved, Lieutenant Gorrell beat out the flames with his gloved hands and then skillfully flew his damaged aircraft safely back to base without further damage or injury to the crew. The courage, coolness, and devotion to duty displayed by Lieutenant Gorrell on this occasion reflect the highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States."
Awards: DFC, AM (OLC), WWII Victory, EAME.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 458th Bomb Group 752nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 18031748
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Ginny
- Unit: 458th Bomb Group 752nd Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Yankee Buzz Bomb
- Unit: 458th Bomb Group 752nd Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Top O The Mark
- Unit: 458th Bomb Group 752nd Bomb Squadron 754th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Gas House Mouse
- Unit: 458th Bomb Group 752nd Bomb Squadron
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Pennsylvania, USA | 25 January 1920 | |
Other Crashed |
Norwich, UK | 2 March 1944 | Crashed at Hellesdon, Norwich after takeoff for 1st operational mission on 2 Mar 1944 in B-24H 41-28669. Returned to Duty (RTD). |
Other Crashed |
29 June 1944 | Crash landed on return from mission to Junkers Airframe factory. B-24H 42-51110. 29-Jun-44. MACR 7085. RTD. | |
Died |
Kennesaw, GA, USA | 18 July 2004 | |
Pennsylvania, USA | |||
Based |
Horsham St Faith | Assigned to 752BS, 458BG, 8AF. | |
Enlisted |
Pennsylvania, USA |
Revisions
Combat Chronology Supplement p. 281, 458th BG IV by Reynolds p. 40, Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces & Page 280 in the book SECOND AIR DIVISION by Turner Publishing Co, 1998 edition & 458bg.com / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia