Ward Warren Kirkpatrick

Military ROLL OF HONOUR
Staff Sergeant Ward W Kirkpatrick, a ball turret gunner of the 303rd Bomb Group, climbs into position inside his B-17 Flying Fortress. Image stamped on reverse: 'Copyright Current Affairs Ltd.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 9 Apr 1943.' [stamp] and '256543.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: '"Here we go." Staff Sergent Ward W. Kirkpatrick, a gunner with the U.S. Army Air Force in Britain, clambers into his gun turret . Aged 19, he comes from 194-5th Avenue West North , Kalispell, Montana, where media-378855.jpg FRE 987 Staff Sergeant Ward W Kirkpatrick, a ball turret gunner of the 303rd Bomb Group, climbs into position inside his B-17 Flying Fortress. Image stamped on reverse: 'Copyright Current Affairs Ltd.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 9 Apr 1943.' [stamp] and '256543.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: '"Here we go." Staff Sergent Ward W. Kirkpatrick, a gunner with the U.S. Army Air Force in Britain, clambers into his gun turret . Aged 19, he comes from 194-5th Avenue West North , Kalispell, Montana, where his parents , Mr & Mrs W.C. Kirkpatrick now reside. Sergt. Kirkpatrick who holds the Air Medal and Oak Leaf Cluster, and has 12 missions to his credit, was educated at Flathead County High School. In civil life he worked for Kirkpatrick Brothers, General Construction Contractors. He says "I'm having a swell time. The British treat us fine. Love to all." Not to be published before 20th April 1943.' Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 987 - Staff Sergeant Ward W Kirkpatrick, a ball turret gunner of the 303rd Bomb Group, climbs into position inside his B-17 Flying Fortress. Image stamped...

Assigned to 427BS, 303BG, 8AF USAAF. Shot down 15-May-43 in B-17 42-29481. Plane crashed into North Sea. Killed in Action (KIA).



Awards: AM (2OLC), PH.

Connections

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Units served with

Official emblem of the 303rd Bomb Group approved 7 November 1942.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 16016125 / O-412107
  • Highest Rank: Major
  • Role/Job: Pilot
Baseball player Captain Billie Southworth, a pilot of the 303rd Bomb Group plays ball beneath the wings of his B-17 Flying Fortress. Image stamped on reverse: 'Copyright Planet News.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 18 Jul 1943.' [stamp] and '274987.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'Ball player in US Army Air Force in Britain. Among well known Americans in the atheletic world serving with the US army Air Force in Britain is Captain Billie Southworth, pilot of a Fortress bomber. He is the son of
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-424792
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

Captain Albert W. Dieffenback, a bombardier of the 303rd Bomb Group, admires Bugs Bunny painted onto the nose of his B-17 Flying Fortress. Passed as censored 9 May 1943. Printed caption on reverse: '14. Captain Albert W. Dieffenbach, of Garrett Park, Md., and the bomber in which he flies as group bombardier.' On reverse: US Army Press Censor ETO [Stamp].
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: S For Sugar
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron
A bomber crew of the 303rd Bomb Group, with their B-17 Flying Fortress (GN-V, serial number 42-2966), after a raid on Germany. From left to right they are: Sergeant Ward W. Kirkpatrick (Kalispel, Montana); Technical Sergeant Lucian W. Means, (Luguna Beach, California); First Lieutenant Milton K. Conver (Cincinnatti, Ohio); Second Lieutenant John W Dillenger (Avoca, Iowa), Co-Pilot; Captain B.B. Southworth (Columbus, Ohio), Pilot; Sergeant Jack Belk (Temple, Texas); Sergeant William Fleming (Burdine, Kentu
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: No 11 Combat Crew Replacement Center No 1 Combat Crew Replacement Center 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Kalispell, Montana 4 September 1924 Son of Warren Captain and Vivian Ellen [O'Leary] Kirkpatrick.

Enlisted

Missoula, MT 28 December 1941 Missoula, Montana

Died

North Sea W of Scharnhorn Island 15 May 1943 Just West of Scharnhorn Island. Killed in Action (KIA)

Buried

Tablets of the Missing Cambridge American Cemetery Coton, Cambs, UK

Based

Polebrook 15 May 1943 Assigned to 427BS, 303BG, 8AF USAAF.

Revisions

Date
ContributorYorkshireman
Changes
Sources

303rd Bomb Group Face Book Page - Internet Photo

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
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Date
ContributorDr Daniel
Changes
Sources

Missions, 'Hagenbuch crew' connection, description of location of death: https://airforce.togetherweserved.com/usaf/servlet/tws.webapp.WebApp?cm…

Date
ContributorDr Daniel
Changes
Date
ContributorDr Daniel
Changes
Date
ContributorDr Daniel
Changes
Sources

Aircraft 'S-For Sugar' added: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/024.pdf

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
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Sources

Key Image ID.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 15515 / MACR 15515 Losses of the 8th & 9th AFs Vol. I p. 121 by Bishop and Hey, NARA, ABMC,

href="http://303rdbg.com/rost-kl.html#K">http://303rdbg.com/rost-kl.html#K> / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

Ward Warren Kirkpatrick: Gallery (7 items)