William P Kiniklis
MilitaryJune - August 1943. Tail gunner, Disbrow crew. 381st BG, 535th BS. Shot down 17 August 1943 in B-17 #42-3225 'Chug-a-Lug Lu-Lu'. Mission #20 to the ball bearing works at Schweinfurt, Germany. MACR 378. Evaded. EE report 508.
Dorchester, MA
S/Sgt Kiniklis was knocked unconscious upon landing in his parachute. He was taken in by Belgian civilians and met up with T/Sgt Moore. He eventually was reunited with Sgt's Bruzewski and Walters in Liers, Belgium. They joined with more evadees at Dr. Charles Kramer's home in Liege, Belgium. S/Sgt Kiniklis was separated from the others and made his way back to England 24 March 1944 via Spain and Gibraltar.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 535th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 36171511
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner / Flight Engineer
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 535th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-524513
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 535th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-793745
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 327th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 15329254
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 535th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-734665
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Widget, Chug-A-Lug Lulu
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 535th Bomb Squadron
Missions
![Regensburg, after being bombed by B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 385th Bomb Group, 17 August 1943. Official caption on image: "(O-5-1-385)(17-8-43)(30171-6 3/8 - 24,000)(Regensberg)." Passed for publication 6 Sep 1943. Printed caption on reverse: '#44: View of the target.' Censor no: 282458. On reverse: US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps].](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-413725.jpg.webp?itok=AMwIgGyH)
- Date: 17 August 1943
- Official Description:
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Dorchester, MA | 7 February 1922 | |
|
Other Evaded (EVD) |
Belgium | 17 August 1943 - 24 March 1944 | EE report 508 |
Revisions
381st Bomb Group Memorial Association, March 1999; MACR 378 / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia