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Personal info

Full name
KIEDROWSKI, Richard Anthony
Date of birth
16 September 1924
Age
20
Place of birth
Racine, Racine County, Wisconsin
Hometown
Kenosha, Kenosha County, Wisconsin

Military service

Service number
36818348
Rank
Technical Sergeant
Function
Radio Operator
Unit
711th Bombardment Squadron,
447th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
15 March 1945
Place of death
Schönhausen, east of Elbe River, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
C 23 19

Immediate family

Members
Anton Kiedrowski (father)
Valeria Kiedrowski (mother)
Delphine Kiedrowski (sister)
Alexander Kiedrowski (brother)
Dolores Kiedrowski (sister)
Robert Kiedrowski (brother)
Marcel Glenbocki (half-brother)
Edmund Glenbocki (half-brother)
Henry Glenbocki (half-brother)
Lilian Glenbocki (half-sister)
Irene Glenbocki (half-sister)

Plane data

Serial number
43-38731
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Blythe Spirit
Destination: Oranienburg, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the marshalling yard
MACR: 13044

More information

T/Sgt Richard A. Kiedrowski graduated from Bradford High School in 1943. He attended Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.

This crew, which was on its first mission, had taken over this bomber from its original crew that had completed 35 missions.

The bomber took a direct hit in the bomb bay and between the #3 and #4 engines.

Two crew members survived and were taken prisoner; eight men were killed.
According to the navigator, 2nd Lt Walter Hofman, who survived the incident, the airplane went into a spin after being hit, and it broke into pieces after he and the co-pilot, 2nd Lt Robert P. Dwight, were thrown out.

Source of information: André Koch, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov - WWII Enlistment record, www.ancestry.com - 1930 census, www.fold3.com - MACR 13044, WWII Draft Card

Photo source: www.447bg.com, Peter Schouteten, Bradford High School 1943, Kenosha News - 6 April 1945