Peter Kok
Military
Bombardier/Navigator
340th BG - 488th BS - 12th AF
Object Number - UPL 54908 - Peter Kok Bombardier/Navigator 340th BG - 488th BS - 12th AF
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Aircraft
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Advanced Landing Ground Alesanie
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Grand Rapids, MI | 24 October 1919 | |
| Grand Rapids, MI | 16 October 1940 | 1319 Sigsbee Student at Calvin College | |
|
Enlisted |
Grand Rapids, MI | 30 March 1942 | |
|
Other Combat Mission |
Poggibonsi, Italy | 24 May 1944 | |
|
Other Combat Mission |
Cortona, Italy | 26 May 1944 | Railroad Bridge |
|
Other Combat Mission |
Pietrasanta, Italy | 27 May 1944 | Railroad Bridge |
|
Other Combat Mission |
Zoagli, Italy | 12 July 1944 | Railroad viaduct and tunner |
|
Other Combat Mission |
Ferrara, Italy | 13 July 1944 | Railroad Bridge |
|
Other Combat Mission |
Corbola, Italy | 14 July 1944 | Bridges |
|
Died |
Grand Rapids, MI | 22 June 2003 | Folk Figure/Politician. A graduate of Holland Christian High School and Calvin College, he later served as a Captain in the Army Air Corps during World War II. As a lead bombardier Kok, completed 67 bombing missions over Italy and Southern France, earning him the Purple Heart Medal, the Distinguished Flying Cross Medal, and a Silver Star Medal. He was member of the 488th Bomb Squad of the 340th Bomb Group, which was later the basis for the novel, "Catch-22" written in 1961 by Joseph Heller, who had piloted one of the B-25's under Kok's command. The 1968 movie based on the book was depicted by Kok's decision to refuse to bomb a village in Northern Italy. After the war he tried his luck at several different jobs, and in 1965 he was elected as a Member to the Michigan State House of Representatives, serving the 91st and 93rd Districts until 1978. He was later appointed to the Michigan Council On Aging, by the Michigan Governor. (note: Joseph Heller was a bombardier (not a pilot) As neither Heller or Kok were pilots and thus not in positions of command neither was ever "in command" of the other. That doesn't mean they didn't know each other or that Kok wasn't the inspiration for one of Heller's "Catch-22" characters.) |
|
Buried |
Grand Rapids, MI | 25 June 2003 | Woodlawn Cemetery Grand Rapids, Kent County, Michigan, USA PLOT BLOCK 09 Lot :385 Space :1 |
