Kenneth Dwight Peterson
Military
Object Number - UPL 19003 - Standing in front of P-47C 41-6539 VF-F 'Arizona Pete' Capt Kenneth Dwight Peterson 336FS, 4FG, 8AF USAAF former 133 [Eagle] Sqn RAF Spitfire pilot.
Joined RAFVR, assigned to 133S, transferred to 336FS, 4FG, 8AF USAAF.
Shot down in P-51B #43-6696 by FW 190 while taking on 12 E/A single handed to save the crew of a disabled B-17 and won the DSC for this action. POW 29-3-42,
"In my opinion Capt Peterson's extraordinarily heroic action saved the lives of three men beside myself who bailed out successfully. In the absence of Capt Peterson I wish to confirm two Fw190's destroyed by him. I also wish to commend Capt Peterson for his courage and aggressiveness in attacking 12 enemy aircraft alone, with the full knowledge that his chance of survival was very small" - S/Sgt Edgar Johnson, waist gunner, 306th Bomb Group"
Remained in the Air Force after the war. Stationed at Williams Field AZ, later at Indian Springs AFB. Killed In Flying Accident [KIFA], in F-80 Nellis AFB.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Type Category: Fighter
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 369th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 37047755
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 369th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 36253337
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 369th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 369th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 12099533
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
Aircraft
Missions
- Date: 29 March 1944
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Site type: Airfield
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: "Duckpond"
- Site type: Memorial
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Mesa, Arizona, USA | 21 April 1916 | Mesa, Maricopa County Arizona, USA. |
|
Other Shot down |
Wolfsburg, Germany | 29 March 1942 | Shot down in P-51B #43-6696 by FW 190 while taking on 12 E/A single handed to save the crew of a disabled B-17. NE of Woolfsburg. POW. |
|
Other Transferred |
Debden, Saffron Walden, Essex CB11, UK | 9 October 1942 - 29 March 1944 | Transferred to 336FS, 4FG, 8AF USAAF. |
|
Other Promoted |
Debden, Saffron Walden, Essex CB11, UK | 15 February 1944 | Promoted to Captain. |
|
Other Prisoner of War (POW) |
Stalag Luft III Żagań, Poland | 29 March 1944 | Prisoner of War (POW) Stalag Luft III. |
|
Died |
Indiana Springs AFB | 11 March 1950 | Killed in a Flying Accident. The F-80A (44-85327) in which he was flying suffered a mechanical failure and crashed 5 miles N of Indian Springs AFB, NV. |
| Mesa, AZ, USA | |||
|
Other Assigned |
Biggin Hill, London SE19 3HY, UK | 14 September 1942 | Assigned to 133 [Eagle] Sqn RAF. |
|
Other Joined RAFVR |
Canada | Joined Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. | |
|
Buried |
Mesa, AZ, USA | City of Mesa Cemetery Mesa, Maricopa County Arizona, USA. |
Revisions
Jack C and Warren C Gable, via American Air Museum Memory Book Correspondence.
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 3459 / MACR 3459, Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database / Ted Damick, VIII Fighter Command pilots list
