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Submit- Full
name
PETERSEN, Kenneth L - Date of
birth
12 July 1923 -
Age
21 -
Place of birth
Racine, Racine County, Wisconsin -
Hometown
Racine, Racine County, Wisconsin
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
36814003 -
Rank
Sergeant -
Function
Radio Operator -
Unit
344th Bombardment Squadron,
95th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
3 February 1945 - Place of
death
400 m off beach pole 26 on the northwestern end of the island of Texel
The Island of Texel, the Netherlands
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| H | 6 | 3 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Simon Petersen (father)
Alma Petersen (mother)
Lester Petersen (brother)
Virginia Petersen (sister)
Ann Parish (fiancee)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-102951 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Berlin, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Tempelhof railroad station
MACR: 12048
More information
Kenneth L. Petersen graduated from William Horlick High School in June 1941 and was employed by the Eisendrath Tanning Co.He arrived overseas on Christmas Day 1944.
The aircraft was seen to be hit by flak just after bombs away and a fire started on the wing. Three parachutes were seen to leave the aircraft on the eastern edge of Berlin. At that time, the aircraft was still on fire but under control. It also had a runaway prop, but managed to fly as far as Texel. It crash-landed about 400 m offshore.
The entire crew of nine men was killed.
Note: Only the engineer Sgt Leroy R. Hansen's remains were never found. He is remembered at the Walls of the Missing at the American Military Cemetery and Memorial at Cambridge. The bodies of all the other crew members washed ashore on Texel or Terschelling. Therefore, it can be assumed that the testimony about seeing parachutes leaving the plane over Berlin concerns another airplane.
Lt Petersen's body washed ashore on Texel. He was initially buried at the military cemetery of Den Burg on 7 February 1945.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, www.95thbg.org, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / 1930 Census, www.newspaperarchive.com - Racine Journal Times
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.newspaperarchive.com - Racine Journal Times