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name
KEMMANN, Gilbert Oscar - Date of
birth
17 November 1916 -
Age
27 - Place of
birth
Lowden, Cedar County, Iowa -
Hometown
Wilton, Cedar County, Iowa
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-802412 -
Rank
First Lieutenant -
Function
Pilot -
Unit
551st Bombardment Squadron,
385th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Death
-
Status
Missing in Action - Date of
death
28 February 1944 - Place of
death
Boulogne, France
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes - Tablets of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
Paul H. Kemmann (father)
Clara M. (Hoeltje) Kemmann (mother)
Cyrus Kemmann (brother)
Gerald Kemmann (brother)
Robert Kemmann (brother)
Mildred L. (Stauffer) Kemmann (wife)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-38121 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Exact location is not known, France
Mission: Bombing of V-1 launch sites
MACR: 2882
More information
1st Lt Gilbert O. Kemmann graduated from Lowden High School. He attended Cedar Rapids Business College.He was employed by Bank of America. He enlisted in April 1942.
The group took part in a bombing raid, targeting various V-1 launch sites across the French coast (Operation Noball).
The aircraft received a direct hit from enemy anti-aircraft fire at the waist windows, knocking off the tail. The front portion of the aircraft went straight down and was seen to crash in a wooded area, in the vicinity of the target. The airplane exploded upon hitting the ground in the city of Boulogne.
Eight crew members were killed. Two men survived and were taken prisoner.
Lt Kemmann didn't bail out and was last seen in the pilot's position.
Lt Kemmann is remembered with a memorial marker at Lowden Cemetery in Lowden, Cedar County, Iowa.
Source of information: Terry Hirsch, Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.ancestry.com, www.fold3.com
Photo source: www.ancestry.com, Peter Schouteten, Quad City Times - 22 July 1945