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name
PICKELL, Kenneth Raymond - Date of
birth
2 February 1923 -
Age
21 - Place of
birth
Lenoir City, Louden County, Tennessee -
Hometown
Lenoir City, Louden County, Tennessee -
Religion
Protestant
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
34509593 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Engineer -
Unit
303rd Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Missing in Action - Date of
death
24 May 1944 - Place of
death
North Sea, off the coast of Tönnig, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten - Walls of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
Robert Rutherford Pickell (father)
Bertie Belle (Manis) Pickell (mother)
Earl R. Pickell (brother)
James E. Pickel (brother)
Frances R. Pickell (sister)
Katie Lou Pickell (halfsister)
William M. Pickell (halfbrother)
Ruth J. Pickell (halfsister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-97787 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Berlin, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the city
MACR: 5173
More information
S/Sgt Kenneth R. Pickell was a sales clerk.He enlisted at Fort Oglethorpe , Georgia on 2 February 1943.
Just before making a 120° turn to avoid Heligoland and enter the enemy coast, the airplane was observed to be on fire after being attacked by enemy fighters. A tail gunner of another plane saw eight men bail out.
Only one crew member survived and was taken prisoner, nine were killed.
Sgt Pickell is remembered at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church Cemetery in Lenoir City, Loudon County, Tennessee.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, 303rdBomberGroup.com, www.ancestry.com - 1930/1940 Census - Family Trees
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, 303rdBomberGroup.com, www.findagrave.com - ET