Missing information?
Do you have any additional information you would like to share about a soldier?
Submit- Full
name
KIRKPATRICK, Louis Gene "Gene" - Date of
birth
2 April 1921 -
Age
22 - Place of
birth
Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana -
Hometown
Warren Township, Marion County, Indiana
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-803217 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Pilot -
Unit
347th Bombardment Squadron,
99th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Distinguished Flying Cross,
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
25 February 1944 - Place of
death
Near Regenburg, Austria
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Lorraine
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| F | 16 | 24 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Louis S. Kirkpatrick (father)
Mary P. (Clements) Kirkpatrick (mother)
Nelle K. Kirkpatrick (sister)
Elsie L. (Barwick) Kirkpatrick (wife)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-40055 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Regensburg, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the aircraft factory
MACR: 2707
More information
2nd Lt Louis F. Kirkpatrick attended college before he volunteered for the Air Corps of the U.S. Army in Lafayette, Indiana on 24 April 1942.S/Sgt Philip A. Frank:
"About one hour from the target I noticed what appeared to be just one enemy fighter attacking B-17G 42-40055, our right wing plane, after which it dropped down and back gradually and apparently under control. A few minutes later, several fighters again made passes at the plane. I then observed four or possibly more parachutes near the B-17. I couldn’t give too much attention to the plane as I was busy with the fighters myself. Following the appearance of the chutes, the fighters did not further molest the plane and 055 spiraled slowly downward at my last observation."
S/Sgt Leo J. St. Amand:
"I believe that he was either hit by flak on the way down or by fighter plane. He was uninjured when he bailed out."
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov – WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / Kirkpatrick Family Tree, www.fold3.com, www.findagrave.com – Thomas Clark, http://aircrewremembered.com/USAAFCombatOperations/Feb.44.html
Photo source: www.findagrave.com – Thomas Clark