Charles Kenneth Kirby Jr

Military

Shot down 6 March 1943 in B-17F 4#2-5378, 306BG/367BS while serving as Engineer/Top Turret Gunner. The aircraft had developed an oil leak in no. 3 engine over the Channel, but oil pressure stayed steady so the pilots continued their mission toward the submarine pens at Lorient, France. According to Strong, fighters attacked as this plane was was dropping back due to the earlier oil leak and the fact this Group was in the low Squadron. When engine 4 quit, bailout was ordered. Prisoner of War (POW) in Stalag 17A, Austria.



After service he graduated from Syracuse U. and was in the transportation business, retiring as Vice President of Freight Rate Service.

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

Official insignia of the 306th Bomb Group, approved 6 January 1943, and updated 2 October 1951.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-726184
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19075295 at enlistment, then O-664296
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 36219920 at enlistment, then O-726143
  • Highest Rank: Major
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
Staff Sergeant Charles D. Hill, a waist gunner of the 306th Bomb Group in position inside a B-17 Flying Fortress. Image via BL Davies. Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 2 Feb 1943.' [stamp] and '246557.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'AMERICAN AIRMEN WHO MADE FIRST DAYLIGHT RAID ON GERMANY. Associated Press Photos shows: Staff Sgt. Charles D. Hill of Baltimore, Maryland, The waist Gunner of the First Fortress to bomb Wilhelmshaven. TET 254771/2. 1243
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 13050532
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 11056150
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Aircraft

Bomber crew and Ground crew of the 306th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress. Passed for publication 2 Feb 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'American Airmen Who Made First Daylight Raid On Germany. Associated Press Photo Shows: The crew and ground crew of the Fortress which made first raid on Germany in daylight. $Censor: We have names and hometowns of all.$ TET 254778. I 243.' On reverse: Associated Press, US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps].
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Pittston, Pennsylvania 15 August 1918

Enlisted

Mount Moriah Cemetery 17 September 1941 Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania

Other

Prisoner of War (POW)

2462 Kaisersteinbruch, Austria 6 March 1943 Interned at Stalag XVIIB Braunau-Gneikendorf, near Krems, Austria. NARA WWII POW record : “Returned to Military Control 30 June 1945.”

Died

19 March 2002
West Pittston, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania

Revisions

Date
ContributorHelen
Changes
Sources

306rh Echoes April 2002

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

NARA WWII Enlistment records
WWII Draft card
NARA WWII POW records
Pages 40 and 41 at https://catalog.archives.gov/id/142694377 (NARA)
Page 31 of AV 51/43 at https://catalog.archives.gov/id/18238537 (NARA)
SSDI (Social Security Death Index)

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 30-Jul-2015. Made connections to Place, Aircraft and Mission within existing website data; Added decoration and POW event per National Archives Records Administration (NARA) WWII POW database; Edited Summary Biography with A/C model letter and Unit association and crew position per "Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces", Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

306th BG Association Directory, 1 September 1999 Edition; Roll of Honor, Losses of the 8th & 9th AFs Vol. I by Bishop & Hey p. 89, First Over Germany by Russell Strong pp. 73-4 / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia