Kenneth Stanley Dropek

Military
media-5489.png UPL 5489 A bomber crew of the 44th Bomb Group with their B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-7507) nicknamed "Heaven Can Wait".

Handwritten on image: 'Back Row: Sam Bowman III (P), James Rossman (CP), Art Young (N), Charles Gordon (B). Front Row: Kenneth Dropek (Flt Engineer), Thomas Gorrey (Gunner), Bernard Greeden (Radio), Patrick Commisa (Ball Turret), Donald Ennis (Tail Gunner), Michael Tarzia (Gunner), HEAVEN CAN WAIT.'

Uploaded

Object Number - UPL 5489 - A bomber crew of the 44th Bomb Group with their B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-7507) nicknamed "Heaven Can Wait". Handwritten on image: 'Back...

Joined Sqd. . 2/11/44. On the return from a mission to ST Pol/Siracourt, FR on 12 Mar 1944, AC #42-7507 'Heaven Can Wait', crashed landed at RAF Friston, Sussex and burned. RTD. Completed tour 5/30/44. Trans to 482nd BG 6/16/44.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 44th Bomb Group.

44th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
Lieutenant John C "Red" Morgan of the 482nd Bomb Group with a B-17 Flying Fortress. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Lt Red Morgan, Cong, Med of Hon.'

482nd Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
B-24 Liberators of the 44th Bomb Group line up for takeoff at Shipdham in 1943. The 'Flying Eight-Ball' emblem of the 68th Bomb Squadron is visible on the nose of the leading aircraft. Image stamped with field press censor, 1943. Press Agency photograph- original printed caption has been removed.

68th Bomb Squadron

  • Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

Samuel Henry Bowman

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 68th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-742276
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

42-7507

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Heaven Can Wait
  • Unit: 392nd Bomb Group 44th Bomb Group 576th Bomb Squadron 68th Bomb Squadron

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Marseilles, IL 13 August 1921
Marseilles, IL 15 February 1942 1127 Union Street

Enlisted

Chicago, IL 6 November 1942

Other

44th BG Combat Tour

Shidpham Airfield, UK 11 February 1944 - 30 May 1944

Died

Ottawa, IL 11 April 1982

Buried

Marseilles, IL 14 April 1982 Riverview Cemetery Marseilles, LaSalle County, Illinois, USA

Revisions

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

http://www.ww2enlistment.org/index.php?page=directory&rec=1243466
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/99550403/kenneth-s-dropek
https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/2238/images/44008_03_0…

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Webb Todd, Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces

Kenneth Stanley Dropek: Gallery (1 items)

Object number: UPL 5489 - A bomber crew of the 44th Bomb Group with their B...