Kenneth V Maeran
MilitaryAssigned to 342BS, 97BG, 8AF USAAF. Shot down 21-Oct-42 in B-17 41-24441 'Francis X' while serving as a Waist Gunner, Prisoner of War (POW).
Awards: AM, POW, EAME, WWII Victory.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
![A formation of Flying Fortresses on their way to attack targets near the Anzio beachhead. Nearest the camera is a 342nd Bomb Squadron, 97th Bomb Group B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30056) that was declared Missing In Action on the 2nd of July 1944. Handwritten caption on reverse: '230056, MIA 2/7/44, 342BS, 97BG.' Printed caption on reverse: 'PNA. IA 18239. Forts Bound For Anzio. A flight of Flying Fortresses, carrying fragmentation bombs, gather in formation for a flight to the Anzio beachhead,](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/max_650x650/public/freeman/media-457803.jpg?itok=coB24-Wt)
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
![Ground personnel of the 97th Bomb Group reservice a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-9023) nicknamed "Yankee Doodle", following the raid on Rouen. Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 18 Aug 1942.' [stamp], 'Air=SER (Boeing).' [written annotation] and '216112.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'U.S FLYING FORTRESSES RAID ROUEN IN DAYLIGHT. Associated Press Photo Shows: No sooner had one of the huge Fortresses landed after the raid than ground crew im](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/max_650x650/public/freeman/media-379318.jpg?itok=apGbR7Ih)
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
![Lieutenant Harry R. Erickson, from Mankato, Minnesota, a bombardier of the 97th Bomb Group inside the nose of a B-17 Flying Fortress. A censor has obscured the ammunition to the bottom left of Erickson. Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.' [stamp], 'Ministry of Information 25 Jul 1942.' [stamp], 'Air(Boeing).' [written annotation] and '212091.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'AMERICAN FLYING FORTRESSES WAIT FOR ZERO HOUR. Associated Press Photo Shows: Lt. Harry Erickson from Mankato, Mi](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/max_650x650/public/freeman/media-379324.jpg?itok=LYDoNYXg)
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 97th Bomb Group 342nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 17017977 / O-440334
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
![Joe Gray Jr](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/max_650x650/public/2023-11/56290201_6f94dbc6-70e3-4293-b0f8-12179764c3b1.jpeg?itok=hWWm3tad)
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 97th Bomb Group 342nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 14012196 / O-419578
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Navigator
![](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/max_650x650/public/media/media-23777.jpeg?itok=LCyLX2RX)
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 97th Bomb Group 342nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 39165066
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
![Kenneth Laud](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/max_650x650/public/2023-11/143437027_3d9cd541-d465-4494-b0e3-641439f3d6da.jpeg?itok=1HcI3Q0I)
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 97th Bomb Group 342nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 20744087
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 97th Bomb Group 342nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 14073155
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
Aircraft
![](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/max_650x650/public/media/media-23777.jpeg?itok=LCyLX2RX)
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Francis X
- Unit: 97th Bomb Group 342nd Bomb Squadron
Missions
![](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/max_650x650/public/media/media-23778.jpeg?itok=11bp5e6N)
- Date: 21 October 1942
- Official Description:
Places
- Site type: Prisoner of war camp
- Known as: Dulag Luft Grosstychow Dulag 12
![A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-107124) of the 351st Bomb Group flies over Polebrook.](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/max_650x650/public/freeman/media-380012.jpg?itok=Rvmd8nak)
- Site type: Airfield
- Site type: Prisoner of war camp
- Known as: Stalag 17b, Krems an der Donau, Austria
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
New Jersey | 2 December 1922 | BornNew Jersey |
Enlisted |
26 January 1942 | ||
Prisoner of war Prisoner of War (POW) |
Stalag XVIIb, Krems an der Donau, Austria | 21 October 1942 - 4 June 1945 | Held at Stalag 17B, Braunau-Gneikendorf, near Krems, Austria. Officially Returned to Military Control (RMC) 4-Jun-45. |
Other Discharged |
28 February 1946 | ||
Married |
North Carolina | 27 March 1946 | Married Helen M Dotter |
Died |
Englewood, Colorado | 2 February 2006 | DiedEnglewood, Colorado |
Buried/ Commemorated |
Fort Logan National Cemetery Denver, Colorado | 5 February 2006 | InterredFort Logan National CemeteryDenver, Colorado |
Revisions
https://www.fold3.com/record/43631082/kenneth-v-maeran-us-social-security-death-index
https://www.fold3.com/record/722459818/maeran-kenneth-v-us-veterans-gravesites-ca1775-2019
https://www.fold3.com/record/83521089/kenneth-v-maeran-us-wwii-army-enl…
https://www.fold3.com/record/620474071/kenneth-maeran-1922-us-veterans-…
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/36080167/kenneth-v-maeran
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/206239540/helen-m-maeran
Added a "-" to the A/C tail # in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity & consistency.
Lee Cunningham 27-Oct-2014. National Archives Records Administration (NARA) POW database.
97th Bomb Group Association, Inc., Roster - June 1, 2000, Losses of the 8th & 9th AFs by Bishop and Hey Volume 1 p. 38 / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia