Kenneth Wayne Sprankle served in the U.S. Air Force during World War II. He was killed on January 24, 1942, when his plane, the only P-40B that survived the attack on Pearl Harbor, stalled out of a slow roll, and spun into a cliff on Oahu. Rescuers removed Ken's body and he was buried in the National Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu. The aircraft remained in the side of the cliff until 1989, when it was recovered. It has been restored now and is flying again! Two articles appeared in the Smithsonian's "Air & Space Magazine" (Oct-Nov 2000, Aug 2007) that relate Ken's tragic accident and more specifically, this plane and its restoration.
Ken was 17 years old when his parents moved to Lafayette, IN. He attended and graduated from Purdue University in 1939. Ken never married and had no children.
Note: Family records show that Ken was born in 1914; however, his military record and gravestone report a birth year of 1915. The census records (1920, 1930 and 1940) seem to confirm the 1914 birth year. This needs to be verified against Ken's original birth certificate for us to be 100% sure.
Ken was 17 years old when his parents moved to Lafayette, IN. He attended and graduated from Purdue University in 1939. Ken never married and had no children.
Note: Family records show that Ken was born in 1914; however, his military record and gravestone report a birth year of 1915. The census records (1920, 1930 and 1940) seem to confirm the 1914 birth year. This needs to be verified against Ken's original birth certificate for us to be 100% sure.
Kenneth Wayne Sprankle served in the U.S. Air Force during World War II. He was killed on January 24, 1942, when his plane, the only P-40B that survived the attack on Pearl Harbor, stalled out of a slow roll, and spun into a cliff on Oahu. Rescuers removed Ken's body and he was buried in the National Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu. The aircraft remained in the side of the cliff until 1989, when it was recovered. It has been restored now and is flying again! Two articles appeared in the Smithsonian's "Air & Space Magazine" (Oct-Nov 2000, Aug 2007) that relate Ken's tragic accident and more specifically, this plane and its restoration.
Ken was 17 years old when his parents moved to Lafayette, IN. He attended and graduated from Purdue University in 1939. Ken never married and had no children.
Note: Family records show that Ken was born in 1914; however, his military record and gravestone report a birth year of 1915. The census records (1920, 1930 and 1940) seem to confirm the 1914 birth year. This needs to be verified against Ken's original birth certificate for us to be 100% sure.
Ken was 17 years old when his parents moved to Lafayette, IN. He attended and graduated from Purdue University in 1939. Ken never married and had no children.
Note: Family records show that Ken was born in 1914; however, his military record and gravestone report a birth year of 1915. The census records (1920, 1930 and 1940) seem to confirm the 1914 birth year. This needs to be verified against Ken's original birth certificate for us to be 100% sure.
Inscription
KENNETH W SPRANKLE
PENNSYLVANIA
1ST LT 6 AAF PURUIT SQ
WORLD WAR II
APRIL 26 1915 JAN 24 1942
Family Members
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