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Personal info

Full name
CARR, Kenneth Raymond
Date of birth
10 February 1924
Age
21
Place of birth
Decatur, Macon County, Illinois
Hometown
Macon County, Illinois

Military service

Service number
O-781218
Rank
Second Lieutenant
Function
Co-Pilot
Unit
418th Bombardment Squadron,
100th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
7 April 1945
Place of death
Near Steinhuder Lake, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
A 20 20

Immediate family

Members
Richard E. Carr (father)
Della A. (Judy) Carr (mother)
Marion Carr (sister)
Donald R. Carr (brother)
David Carr (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
42-97071
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Andy's Dandys
Destination: Buchen, Germany
Mission: Bombing of an oil depot
MACR: 13718

More information

2nd Lt Kenneth R. Carr attended Millikin University before joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve in Urbana, Illinois on 4 December 1942. He received his commission on 19 June 1944 at Marfa Army Airfield in Texas and his final training at Avon Park in Florida. He left for overseas duty in December 1944. He was on his twelfth mission when he was killed.

An Me 109 attacked the airplane from 6 o'clock high and shot the left wing completely away from the fuselage. The enemy fighter collided with the severed wing and both exploded. The remainder of B-17 spun down flaming and exploded either just before reaching the ground or on striking it. Approximately seven parachutes were counted in this general area. However, none was positively identificated as coming from this airplane. The entire crew of nine was killed.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, 100thBombGroup, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.8thafhs.com, www.newspapers.com - The Decatur Daily Review, www.ancestry.com - 1940 Census, WWII Draft Card

Photo source: www.findagrave.com, 100thBombGroup, www.newspapers.com - The Decatur Daily Review