Richard John Kasten

Military ROLL OF HONOUR

Navigator. Joined 68th Squadron on 5 October 1943. Shot down by fighters after bombs away on mission to V-1 sites at Escalles-sur-Buchy on 21 January 1944 in B-24H #42-7635 'Ram It-Dam' It'. Killed in Action (KIA). His remains were never recovered and he is still listed as MIA. His name is on the Tablets of the Missing at the American Normandy Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer, France.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 44th Bomb Group.

44th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
B-24 Liberators of the 44th Bomb Group line up for takeoff at Shipdham in 1943. The 'Flying Eight-Ball' emblem of the 68th Bomb Squadron is visible on the nose of the leading aircraft. Image stamped with field press censor, 1943. Press Agency photograph- original printed caption has been removed.

68th Bomb Squadron

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

People

Archie Roland Barlow

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 68th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 14151313
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Engineer/Top Turret Gunner

Charles Wright Blakley

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 68th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 39831745
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Earl E Boggs

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 68th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 18162569
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner

Wayne D Crowl

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 68th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 35037588 at enlistment, then O-741141
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier

Herman Myron Curtis

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 68th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 11052903 at enlistment, then O-748585
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot

Aircraft

42-7635

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Ram-It-DamIt
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 68th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

27 July 1919 Grand Rapids, Michigan, the son of John Vinke Kasten

Enlisted

26 March 1941 Kalamazoo, Michigan

Died

21 January 1944 on board 42-7635, over France
Grand Rapids, Kent County, Michigan

Revisions

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

MACR 2357
NARA WWII Enlistment Records
WWII Draft Card
ABMC website

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 2357 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database / Webb Todd, MACR 2357, 8th AF Losses