Kenneth Robert Kessenger

Military ROLL OF HONOUR
media-23612.png UPL 23612 1LT Kenneth R. Kessenger
Pilot - Crew #616
466th BG - 786th BS

KIA 8 April 1944 when shot down by German fighters while flying B-24H-15-FO #42-51610 "The Madame"

466th BG Archives

Object Number - UPL 23612 - 1LT Kenneth R. Kessenger Pilot - Crew #616 466th BG - 786th BS KIA 8 April 1944 when shot down by German fighters while flying B-24H-15-FO...

Shot down 8 April 1944 in B-24 42-52610 'The Madam. ' Killed in Action (KIA).

Connections

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Units served with

Three little girls hold up a balloon celebrating the 100th mission of the 466th Bomb Group in front of a B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-95592) nicknamed "Black Cat". Handwritten caption on reverse: 'On our 100 Mission party Day- 18 Aug 1944, Attlebridge, 466th- wouldn't it be something if we could identify these girls? How could I do it?'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 786th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-698649
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 786th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 16122131
  • Highest Rank: Technician Fourth Grade
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 786th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 13135136
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 786th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 18186538
  • Highest Rank: Technician Fourth Grade
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 786th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 39194395
  • Highest Rank: Technician Fourth Grade
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: The Madame
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 787th Bomb Squadron

Missions

  • Date: 2 August 1944

Places

Aerial photograph of Attlebridge airfield, looking north, the fuel store and a T2 hangar are in the upper centre, 31 January 1946. Photograph taken by No. 90 Squadron, sortie number RAF/3G/TUD/UK/51. English Heritage (RAF Photography).
  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Attlebridge Arsenal, Station 120

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Limon, Colorado 25 April 1918

Enlisted

13 January 1942 Enlisted at Lowry Field, CA.

Other

KIA

near Brunswick, Germany 8 April 1944
Limon, CO 80828, USA
Goodland, KS 67735, USA 1519 Clark St

Buried

Plot C Row 3 Grave 57 Ardennes American Cemetery in Neuville-en=Condroz, Liege, Belgium.

Revisions

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

Cleaned up biography - 466th Historian

Date
ContributorMarcia466BG
Changes
Sources

US Federal census records; National Archives and Records Adminstration Enlistment records; Sherman Co, (KS) Herald Newspaper article 27 Apr 1944 MIA and KIA article 10 August 1944; Ardennes American Cemetery Records; Application for military headstone filed by Mr. Raymond D. Kessenger (father of deceased)

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

466th BG Historian

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 3847

Kenneth Robert Kessenger: Gallery (3 items)