Kenneth Pratt

Military

1st Lt Kenneth Pratt was Pilot of B-24D Serial 42-63784 shot down by Flak over Belgium on Carpetbagger mission "OSRIC 81 DZ". Crashed near La Hulpe, Belgium. Evaded. Ultimately hidden in a secret camp in the Belgian Ardennes; freed there by US troops on 7 September 1944. Driven to Le Bourget airfield, Paris, France and flown back from there to England on 10 September (see the story of his evasion at https://www.evasioncomete.be/fprattke.html )

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 36th Bomb Squadron (Radar Counter Measures).

36th Bomb Squadron

  • Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
A B-24D Liberator 'Carpetbagger' - extensively modified for specialised operations - taxiis on the perimeter track at Harrington airfield. Printed caption on reverse: 'A Carpetbagger B-24D taxiing on the perimeter at Harrington. Photo - "Red" Monaghan.'

492nd Bomb Group

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

801st Bomb Group

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

People

Russell John Byrne

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 801st Bomb Group 36th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-2045266
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Joseph Arthur Caron

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 801st Bomb Group 36th Bomb Squadron 492nd Bomb Group
  • Service Numbers: 11031480
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator

Roy Clinton Koons

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 801st Bomb Group 36th Bomb Squadron 492nd Bomb Group
  • Service Numbers: 13135663
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Engineer

Ralph Leindorf

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 801st Bomb Group 36th Bomb Squadron 492nd Bomb Group
  • Service Numbers: O-806997
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot

Carlo Charles Starkovich

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 801st Bomb Group 36th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: T-121795
  • Highest Rank: Flight Officer
  • Role/Job: Bombardier

Aircraft

42-63784

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Unit: 801st Bomb Group 36th Bomb Squadron 492nd Bomb Group

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

29 April 1921

Other

6 June 1944 hit by Flak over Belgium, blown out by explosion of the ship,

Other

evaded capture

6 June 1944 - 7 September 1944 helped by Belgian citizens in several safe houses; liberated by US troops
Firth, Idaho

Revisions

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

MACR 5393
Escape & Evasion Report E&E 1914 (NARA)

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Combat Chronology Supplement p.539 / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia