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Submit- Full
name
MOORE, Kenneth Harold - Date of
birth
21 October 1917 -
Age
25 - Place of
birth
Loco, Stephens County, Oklahoma -
Hometown
Loco, Stephens County, Oklahoma
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-727249 -
Rank
First Lieutenant -
Function
Co-Pilot -
Unit
68th Bombardment Squadron,
44th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Missing in Action - Date of
death
27 January 1943 - Place of
death
Harlingen, Terschelling, The Netherlands
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten - Walls of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
Kenneth G. Moore (father)
Jessie C. Moore (mother)
Arnold L. Moore (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
41-23690 -
Data
Type: B-24J
Destination: Wilhelmshaven, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the naval base
MACR: 15637
More information
Lt. Kenneth H. Moore was employed by Security National Bank in Duncan, Oklahoma.The primary target as briefed was Wilhelmshaven in Germany, but due to severe weather and poor navigation, it was decided to hit a "target of opportunity" at Lemmer in the Netherlands. On the way back, the formation was attacked by Me 109s and FW 190s, numbering about 36. A few minutes later, at 1155 hours, the aircraft severely damaged an attacking FW 190 and apparently killed the pilot. This enemy aircraft then crashed into the left wing tip, tearing off the left wing as well as the tail assembly. The aircraft went into a flat spin and crashed into the rather shallow Wadden Sea, as did the FW. No one was able to parachute and there were no survivors. Despite a large-scale search by both the Germans and Dutch, only the bodies of three American airmen were found and identified.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Peter Schouteten, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, WWII Draft Cards
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Stephens County Historical Museum and Stories Behind the Stars