Having actually been executed by the Japanese Army on the above date, he was not officially declared by the military as being dead until January 3, 1946.
Also a marker here https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/215939600/kenneth-paul-vetter
Staff Sergeant U.S. Army Air Force Service # 6669847
Assistant Engineer B-17F-20-BO "The Reckless Mountain Boys"
He resided in Jefferson County, Kentucky prior to the war.
B-17 #41-24518 took off from 7-Mile Drome near Port Moresby on a solo photograph reconnaissance mission over Kavieng. This aircraft was repeatedly attacked over Kavieng by six Japanese Zeros which eventually knocked out both their #1 & #2 engines causing the aircraft to crash off Komalu Island on the southern coast of New Ireland during the war.
Three airmen were Killed in the crash, two died while POW's, two were "executed" while POW's and four survived as POW's and all four of them also survived the war.
Kenneth was "Executed While A POW", along with 1Lt Marcus L. Mangett, Jr., by the Japanese Army during the war.
He was awarded the "Silver Star", "Distinguished Flying Cross", Air Medal, Prisoner Of War Medal, and the Purple Heart.
His remains were not recovered.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
MACR 16237
Airmen who perished as a result of this crash:
Bleiler, Eugene D ~ 2nd Lt, Asst. Navigator, PA
Flieger, Gilbert A ~ Sgt, Radio Operator, ID
Fritz, John E ~ T/Sgt, Engineer, PA ~ POW
Kurisko, Frank L ~ Pvt, Gunner, NH ~ POW
Linsley, Oscar M ~ 2nd Lt, Bombardier, IA
Mangett, Marcus L, Jr ~ 1st Lt, Navigator, OH ~ POW
Vetter, Kenneth P ~ S/Sgt, Asst. Engineer, KY ~ POW
Airmen who became POW's as a result of this crash:
( Survived the War )
Etheridge, James E ~ T/Sgt, Asst. Radio Operator, TX
Heichel, Byron L ~ Capt, Pilot, ID
Rucks, Berry T, Jr ~ 1st Lt, Co-Pilot, TN ~ (died 1974)
Surrett, Clarence G ~ M/Sgt, Radio Operator, OK
Bio & Crew Report by:
Russell S. "Russ" Pickett & CFFA
Also a marker here https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/215939600/kenneth-paul-vetter
Staff Sergeant U.S. Army Air Force Service # 6669847
Assistant Engineer B-17F-20-BO "The Reckless Mountain Boys"
He resided in Jefferson County, Kentucky prior to the war.
B-17 #41-24518 took off from 7-Mile Drome near Port Moresby on a solo photograph reconnaissance mission over Kavieng. This aircraft was repeatedly attacked over Kavieng by six Japanese Zeros which eventually knocked out both their #1 & #2 engines causing the aircraft to crash off Komalu Island on the southern coast of New Ireland during the war.
Three airmen were Killed in the crash, two died while POW's, two were "executed" while POW's and four survived as POW's and all four of them also survived the war.
Kenneth was "Executed While A POW", along with 1Lt Marcus L. Mangett, Jr., by the Japanese Army during the war.
He was awarded the "Silver Star", "Distinguished Flying Cross", Air Medal, Prisoner Of War Medal, and the Purple Heart.
His remains were not recovered.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
MACR 16237
Airmen who perished as a result of this crash:
Bleiler, Eugene D ~ 2nd Lt, Asst. Navigator, PA
Flieger, Gilbert A ~ Sgt, Radio Operator, ID
Fritz, John E ~ T/Sgt, Engineer, PA ~ POW
Kurisko, Frank L ~ Pvt, Gunner, NH ~ POW
Linsley, Oscar M ~ 2nd Lt, Bombardier, IA
Mangett, Marcus L, Jr ~ 1st Lt, Navigator, OH ~ POW
Vetter, Kenneth P ~ S/Sgt, Asst. Engineer, KY ~ POW
Airmen who became POW's as a result of this crash:
( Survived the War )
Etheridge, James E ~ T/Sgt, Asst. Radio Operator, TX
Heichel, Byron L ~ Capt, Pilot, ID
Rucks, Berry T, Jr ~ 1st Lt, Co-Pilot, TN ~ (died 1974)
Surrett, Clarence G ~ M/Sgt, Radio Operator, OK
Bio & Crew Report by:
Russell S. "Russ" Pickett & CFFA
Having actually been executed by the Japanese Army on the above date, he was not officially declared by the military as being dead until January 3, 1946.
Also a marker here https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/215939600/kenneth-paul-vetter
Staff Sergeant U.S. Army Air Force Service # 6669847
Assistant Engineer B-17F-20-BO "The Reckless Mountain Boys"
He resided in Jefferson County, Kentucky prior to the war.
B-17 #41-24518 took off from 7-Mile Drome near Port Moresby on a solo photograph reconnaissance mission over Kavieng. This aircraft was repeatedly attacked over Kavieng by six Japanese Zeros which eventually knocked out both their #1 & #2 engines causing the aircraft to crash off Komalu Island on the southern coast of New Ireland during the war.
Three airmen were Killed in the crash, two died while POW's, two were "executed" while POW's and four survived as POW's and all four of them also survived the war.
Kenneth was "Executed While A POW", along with 1Lt Marcus L. Mangett, Jr., by the Japanese Army during the war.
He was awarded the "Silver Star", "Distinguished Flying Cross", Air Medal, Prisoner Of War Medal, and the Purple Heart.
His remains were not recovered.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
MACR 16237
Airmen who perished as a result of this crash:
Bleiler, Eugene D ~ 2nd Lt, Asst. Navigator, PA
Flieger, Gilbert A ~ Sgt, Radio Operator, ID
Fritz, John E ~ T/Sgt, Engineer, PA ~ POW
Kurisko, Frank L ~ Pvt, Gunner, NH ~ POW
Linsley, Oscar M ~ 2nd Lt, Bombardier, IA
Mangett, Marcus L, Jr ~ 1st Lt, Navigator, OH ~ POW
Vetter, Kenneth P ~ S/Sgt, Asst. Engineer, KY ~ POW
Airmen who became POW's as a result of this crash:
( Survived the War )
Etheridge, James E ~ T/Sgt, Asst. Radio Operator, TX
Heichel, Byron L ~ Capt, Pilot, ID
Rucks, Berry T, Jr ~ 1st Lt, Co-Pilot, TN ~ (died 1974)
Surrett, Clarence G ~ M/Sgt, Radio Operator, OK
Bio & Crew Report by:
Russell S. "Russ" Pickett & CFFA
Also a marker here https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/215939600/kenneth-paul-vetter
Staff Sergeant U.S. Army Air Force Service # 6669847
Assistant Engineer B-17F-20-BO "The Reckless Mountain Boys"
He resided in Jefferson County, Kentucky prior to the war.
B-17 #41-24518 took off from 7-Mile Drome near Port Moresby on a solo photograph reconnaissance mission over Kavieng. This aircraft was repeatedly attacked over Kavieng by six Japanese Zeros which eventually knocked out both their #1 & #2 engines causing the aircraft to crash off Komalu Island on the southern coast of New Ireland during the war.
Three airmen were Killed in the crash, two died while POW's, two were "executed" while POW's and four survived as POW's and all four of them also survived the war.
Kenneth was "Executed While A POW", along with 1Lt Marcus L. Mangett, Jr., by the Japanese Army during the war.
He was awarded the "Silver Star", "Distinguished Flying Cross", Air Medal, Prisoner Of War Medal, and the Purple Heart.
His remains were not recovered.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
MACR 16237
Airmen who perished as a result of this crash:
Bleiler, Eugene D ~ 2nd Lt, Asst. Navigator, PA
Flieger, Gilbert A ~ Sgt, Radio Operator, ID
Fritz, John E ~ T/Sgt, Engineer, PA ~ POW
Kurisko, Frank L ~ Pvt, Gunner, NH ~ POW
Linsley, Oscar M ~ 2nd Lt, Bombardier, IA
Mangett, Marcus L, Jr ~ 1st Lt, Navigator, OH ~ POW
Vetter, Kenneth P ~ S/Sgt, Asst. Engineer, KY ~ POW
Airmen who became POW's as a result of this crash:
( Survived the War )
Etheridge, James E ~ T/Sgt, Asst. Radio Operator, TX
Heichel, Byron L ~ Capt, Pilot, ID
Rucks, Berry T, Jr ~ 1st Lt, Co-Pilot, TN ~ (died 1974)
Surrett, Clarence G ~ M/Sgt, Radio Operator, OK
Bio & Crew Report by:
Russell S. "Russ" Pickett & CFFA
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