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1st Lt Kenneth E. Shoemaker enlisted in the Air Corps and became a pilot of a B26 in the European theater. He volunteered for service in February 1943.

As a 1st Lieutenant, he earned a decoration for bravery in action when he brought his plane in with the bomb bay doors open. The hydraulics had been wiped out by anti-aircraft shells during the bomb run. Lt Shoemaker had to patch-up the members of his crew, as the co-pilot froze up in action, and return the plane to the base. He flew 50 missions without injury but was lost on a ferrying mission between Cambrai, France (where he was stationed) and Valley, Wales. It was never known what happened.
It appears that the Tablets of the Missing at the Ardennes American Cemetery has his date of death of 1946, where 1945 is clearly accurate. Military records indicate the following. On 8/6/1945, Kenny was at location A-74 with the 9th Air Force, Group 391st Bomb Group, 573 Bomb Squad. He left A-74 (Cambrai, France) on a course of 320 degrees to Valley (Wales). Valley was the intended destination, via the Northern Route. The Mission was to ferry an A-26 aircraft to Z.I., with Valley listed as the 1st stop. From the last report from Kenny´s aircraft, visibility was 28 miles at 5,000 feet. The flight originated at 1600 hours from A-47. The last contact made with his aircraft was by radio. The plane itself was an A-26C, and it departed Strip A-74 in Cambrai at 1600 hours, the first leg of a flight ot the Z.I. The plane was not equipped with weaponry.

By 2000 hours, Kenny´s plane was listed as overdue at Valley, and had not yet arrived. It was then officially reported missing. No eyewitness accounts were available and no other information was know. The only other person aboard was Crew Chief T/Sgt Frank J. Repar.