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Personal info

Full name
KING, Kenneth Gaent
Date of birth
1923
Age
unknown
Place of birth
New York
Hometown
Syracuse, Onondaga County, New York

Military service

Service number
12023674
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Gunner
Unit
723rd Bombardment Squadron,
450th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
23 February 1944
Place of death
Lambach, Austria

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Lorraine
Plot Row Grave
B 34 14

Immediate family

Members
William J. King (father)
Aida B. King (mother)
William J. King (brother)
Albert M. King (brother)
Marie B. King (sister)

Plane data

Serial number
41-29226
Data
Type: B-24H
Nickname: Leaky Tub
Destination: Steyr, Austria
Mission: Bombing of the aircraft factory
MACR: 3206

More information

S/Sgt Kenneth G. King attended high school for 4 years and was a architect before he joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve in Syracuse, New York on 7 February 1941.
2nd Lt Edward T. Pickard Jr.:
“Our group was on a mission to bomb the aircraft factory at Steyr, Austria, 23 February 1944. In the target area, we encountered heavy fighter attack. Soon afterwards I observed a ship going down in a gentle dive over the town of Steyr. The #2 and possibly the #3 engine were on fire. I saw one person bail out. When I last saw the plane it was going east and not out of control. From an examination of the group operations diagram of the formation, I believe this ship was piloted by Lt Scanlon. The location where I last saw the ship was 48.02N 14.24E.”

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Terry Hirsch, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov – WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / 1925 census / 1940 Census, www.fold3.com, www.findagrave.com – Russ Pickett
Photo source: 450th Bomb Group Memorial Association, Jim Bounds