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name
DONOVAN, Kenneth T - Date of
birth
24 September 1922 -
Age
20 -
Place of birth
Alameda County, California -
Hometown
Alameda, Alameda County, California
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
19086093 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Right Waist Gunner -
Unit
322nd Bombardment Squadron,
91st Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Finding of Death - Date of
death
14 May 1943 - Place of
death
North Sea, west of Amrum Island, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Luxembourg
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| D | 7 | 4 |
Immediate family
-
Members
James Donovan (father)
Kathryn T. Donovan (mother)
James F. Donovan (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
41-24481 -
Data
Type: B-17F
Nickname: Hell’s Angels
Destination: Kiel, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the U-boat yards
MACR: 15498
More information
S/Sgt Kenneth T. Donovan volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States in San Francisco, California on 30 June 1942.The group was attacked by German fighters on the way to their target and there was light flak at the target. It was reported that the B-17 had one engine out and a large hole was in the rudder but no one survived to tell the whole story.
It had crossed the coast and was heading back to England when it either crashed into the channel or the crew ditched and no one survived. No one remained to tell the final story though eight bodies were recovered.
The entire crew of ten men was killed.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / 1940 Census, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.findagrave.com – Doc Wilson
Photo source: Peter Schouteten