Joseph Peter Kutger
Military
I am Colonel Kutger's daughter and this photo is among my collection from Dad's military service.
Object Number - UPL 30060 - Joseph P. Kutger, right rear, age 24. 1941
Assigned to 783BS, 465BG, 15AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) from raid on Oil refinery in Blechhammer, Germany. When B-24 42-28853 lost a wing over the target he was grabbing his chute when he was blown out of the aircraft, able to attach it to his harness as he fell he survived to be captured. 20-Nov-44. Prisoner of War (POW). MACR 9889.
Awards: AM (OLC), POW, WWII Victory, EAME.
Post war: Remained in USAF, rising to the rank of Colonel. From 1946 to 1948 served at Hickham Air Force Base, Hawaii. From 1952 to 1956 served in Philippines flying reconnaissance missions with the French over Vietnam. From 1966 to 1972 (after retirement from the Air Force) served with USAID, mostly with Hmong and other mountain dwelling people to convince them to support U.S. troops.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Fifteenth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Fifteenth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 465th Bomb Group 783rd Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
- Role/Job: Squadron Commander - Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Unit: 465th Bomb Group 783rd Bomb Squadron
Places
- Site type: Prisoner of war camp
- Known as: Dulag Luft Grosstychow Dulag 12
- Site type: Airfield
- Site type: Prisoner of war camp
- Known as: Stalag Luft III, Sagan, Germany
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
New York, New York | 26 May 1917 | Son of Joseph A and Elizabeth Kutger. |
|
Other Shot down / baled out |
Blechhammer, 92439 Bodenwöhr, Germany | 20 November 1944 | Failed to Return (FTR) from raid on Oil refinery in Blechhammer, Germany. When B-24 42-28853 lost a wing over the target he was grabbing his chute when he was blown out of the aircraft, able to attach it to his harness as he fell he survived to be captured. 20-Nov-44. POW. MACR 9889. |
|
Other Prisoner of War (POW) |
Zagan, Poland | 20 November 1944 | Prisoner of War (POW). Stalag Luft III. |
|
Died |
Tulare, CA | 19 October 1989 | |
| Morrisville, PA 19067, USA | Husband of Lelia R Kutger. | ||
|
Based |
Pantanella | 20 November 1944 | Assigned to 783BS, 465BG, 15AF USAAF. |
|
Buried |
Arlington National Cemetery Arlington Arlington County Virginia, USA Columbarium 2 T-25-2 |
Revisions
This photo is one of a collection I have of my father's military career.
I have edited some locations in the personal information section and some post-war career information in the biography section. I am Colonel Kutger's daughter. There is a fairly detailed story about the crew of my dad's plane being shot down posted on the internet.
http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/src/dbmsn.asp?SN=41-28853&Submit6=Go
https://www.fold3.com/image/139183222
http://wwii-pows.mooseroots.com/l/54987/Joseph-P-Kutger
Bombing Europe: The Illustrated Exploits of the Fifteenth Air Force by Kevin A Mahoney
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=33467577
