Willard Lewis Kreft

Military
media-33304.jpeg UPL 33304 1Lt Willard L Kreft, Peoria, IL, sits in the cockpit of his P-38 Lightning 43-28341 CG-O "Peoria Pulverizer" whilst crew chief T/Sgt. Vincent Hrupek ensures that all is ready.

Added addition media from Hrupek family collection and made associations.

Object Number - UPL 33304 - 1Lt Willard L Kreft, Peoria, IL, sits in the cockpit of his P-38 Lightning 43-28341 CG-O "Peoria Pulverizer" whilst crew chief T/Sgt. Vincent Hrupek...

Assigned to 38FS, 55FG, 8AF USAAF. Ended Tour of Duty (ETD).

Awards: AM (3OLC), PH, WWII Victory, EAME.

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

Aircraft

The 38th Fighter Squadron's propeller crew working on P-38J, Lightning aircraft (serial number 42-67904) of the 55th Fighter Group. Left to right:T/Sgt Harold Melby, Cpl Merle Stivason, Sgt Robert Sand and S/Sgt Kermit Riem. Handwritten on slide:"N6 1-60"

42-67904

  • Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning
  • Nicknames: Sweet Ellouise
  • Unit: 55th Fighter Group 38th Fighter Squadron

43-28341

  • Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning
  • Nicknames: Peoria Pulverizer Texas Longhorn Scat III
  • Unit: 479th Fighter Group 55th Fighter Group 38th Fighter Squadron 434th Fighter Squadron

Places

Lieutenant-Colonel Elwyn G. Righetti of the 338th Fighter Squadron, 55th Fighter Group stands beside his P-51 Mustang, "Katydid". Print signed 'Best of everything your big loud Elwyn', 1944-1945.

Wormingford

  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Bures / RAF Wormingford / RFC Wormingford / USAAF Station 159 / Wormingford Landing Ground

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Palatine, IL, USA 20 July 1920 Son of William Christian and Clara [Dierking] Kreft.

Other

Crashed

Feltwell, UK 3 November 1943 Ran off the end of the runway at Feltwell on return due to BD in P-38 42-67015. 3-Nov-43 RTD.

Died

Chillicothe, IL 61523, USA 19 October 1976

Other

End Tour of Duty (ETD)

England, UK Ended Tour of Duty (ETD).

Based

Wormingford Assigned to 38FS, 55FG, 8AF USAAF.

Buried

Chillicothe City Cemetery Chillicothe, Peoria County, IL Chillicothe City Cemetery Chillicothe, Peoria County, Illinois

Revisions

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
ChangesChanges to biography, awards and events. Changes to Role of Honour Picture. Changes to Role of Honour Picture
Sources

https://catalog.archives.gov/id/139495217
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/60655959/willard-lewis-kreft

Date
ContributorMichelbe
ChangesChanges to awards
Sources

Michel Beckers WW2CRASHSITERESEARCH

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
ChangesChanges to middlename, nickname, role, biography, awards, events, unit associations and place associations
Sources

Key Image ID.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/60655959/willard-lewis-kreft

Date
ContributorAAM
ChangesAAM ingest
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Losses of the 8th and 9th AFs Vol. I by Bishop & Hey p. 357 / Ted Damick, VIII Fighter Command pilots list

Willard Lewis Kreft: Gallery (6 items)