Waist Gunner S/Sgt. William A. Kneisl DFC KIA
Hometown: Wausau, Wis.
Squadron: 345th BS 98th Bomb Group
Service # 16092647
Awards: Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart
Pilot 1st/Lt. John B. Thomas DFC KIA
Target: Ploesti (White IV)
Missing Air Crew Report Details
USAAF MACR#:
Date Lost: 1-Aug-43
Serial Number: 42-40312
Aircraft Model B-24D
Aircraft Letter: Y
Aircraft: AIRE LOBO
Location: Lost near the target, Ploesti.
Cause: 10 9KIA 1POW
S/Sgt. Kneisl lost his life in the Ploesti raid "Operation Tidal Wave" one of the most daring raids of WW2 August 1st 1943. Coming in at tree top level the Pyramiders destroy Romanian oil refineries. S/Sgt. Kneisl was a recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross for his valor and heroism.
Briefed to fly in the 4th wave attacking White IV. Thomas was hit by flack before the target and again on the cockpit area after bombing. Gunners believed wounded. AIRE LOBO came down in the target area striking the ground with the left wing before disintegrating. SSgt William Kneisl was waist gunner. 9 crew members perished but only 4 bodies recovered.
Crew of the AIRE LOBO
1st/Lt. John B. Thomas Pilot
2nd/Lt. David M. Lewis Co Pilot MIA
2nd/Lt. Robert D. Nash Navigator
2nd/Lt. Robert D. Nash Navigator
1/Lt George McCandless Jr. Bombardier
T/Sgt. Elijah D. Johnson Flight Engineer KIA
T/Sgt. Ernest E. Gough Radio Op. KIA
S/Sgt.Richard G. Salsbury Gunner MIA
S/Sgt. William A. Kneisl Gunner KIA
S/Sgt. George E. Davies Gunner
S/Sgt. Eldon L. Carter Tail Gunner
Hometown: Wausau, Wis.
Squadron: 345th BS 98th Bomb Group
Service # 16092647
Awards: Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart
Pilot 1st/Lt. John B. Thomas DFC KIA
Target: Ploesti (White IV)
Missing Air Crew Report Details
USAAF MACR#:
Date Lost: 1-Aug-43
Serial Number: 42-40312
Aircraft Model B-24D
Aircraft Letter: Y
Aircraft: AIRE LOBO
Location: Lost near the target, Ploesti.
Cause: 10 9KIA 1POW
S/Sgt. Kneisl lost his life in the Ploesti raid "Operation Tidal Wave" one of the most daring raids of WW2 August 1st 1943. Coming in at tree top level the Pyramiders destroy Romanian oil refineries. S/Sgt. Kneisl was a recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross for his valor and heroism.
Briefed to fly in the 4th wave attacking White IV. Thomas was hit by flack before the target and again on the cockpit area after bombing. Gunners believed wounded. AIRE LOBO came down in the target area striking the ground with the left wing before disintegrating. SSgt William Kneisl was waist gunner. 9 crew members perished but only 4 bodies recovered.
Crew of the AIRE LOBO
1st/Lt. John B. Thomas Pilot
2nd/Lt. David M. Lewis Co Pilot MIA
2nd/Lt. Robert D. Nash Navigator
2nd/Lt. Robert D. Nash Navigator
1/Lt George McCandless Jr. Bombardier
T/Sgt. Elijah D. Johnson Flight Engineer KIA
T/Sgt. Ernest E. Gough Radio Op. KIA
S/Sgt.Richard G. Salsbury Gunner MIA
S/Sgt. William A. Kneisl Gunner KIA
S/Sgt. George E. Davies Gunner
S/Sgt. Eldon L. Carter Tail Gunner
Waist Gunner S/Sgt. William A. Kneisl DFC KIA
Hometown: Wausau, Wis.
Squadron: 345th BS 98th Bomb Group
Service # 16092647
Awards: Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart
Pilot 1st/Lt. John B. Thomas DFC KIA
Target: Ploesti (White IV)
Missing Air Crew Report Details
USAAF MACR#:
Date Lost: 1-Aug-43
Serial Number: 42-40312
Aircraft Model B-24D
Aircraft Letter: Y
Aircraft: AIRE LOBO
Location: Lost near the target, Ploesti.
Cause: 10 9KIA 1POW
S/Sgt. Kneisl lost his life in the Ploesti raid "Operation Tidal Wave" one of the most daring raids of WW2 August 1st 1943. Coming in at tree top level the Pyramiders destroy Romanian oil refineries. S/Sgt. Kneisl was a recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross for his valor and heroism.
Briefed to fly in the 4th wave attacking White IV. Thomas was hit by flack before the target and again on the cockpit area after bombing. Gunners believed wounded. AIRE LOBO came down in the target area striking the ground with the left wing before disintegrating. SSgt William Kneisl was waist gunner. 9 crew members perished but only 4 bodies recovered.
Crew of the AIRE LOBO
1st/Lt. John B. Thomas Pilot
2nd/Lt. David M. Lewis Co Pilot MIA
2nd/Lt. Robert D. Nash Navigator
2nd/Lt. Robert D. Nash Navigator
1/Lt George McCandless Jr. Bombardier
T/Sgt. Elijah D. Johnson Flight Engineer KIA
T/Sgt. Ernest E. Gough Radio Op. KIA
S/Sgt.Richard G. Salsbury Gunner MIA
S/Sgt. William A. Kneisl Gunner KIA
S/Sgt. George E. Davies Gunner
S/Sgt. Eldon L. Carter Tail Gunner
Hometown: Wausau, Wis.
Squadron: 345th BS 98th Bomb Group
Service # 16092647
Awards: Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart
Pilot 1st/Lt. John B. Thomas DFC KIA
Target: Ploesti (White IV)
Missing Air Crew Report Details
USAAF MACR#:
Date Lost: 1-Aug-43
Serial Number: 42-40312
Aircraft Model B-24D
Aircraft Letter: Y
Aircraft: AIRE LOBO
Location: Lost near the target, Ploesti.
Cause: 10 9KIA 1POW
S/Sgt. Kneisl lost his life in the Ploesti raid "Operation Tidal Wave" one of the most daring raids of WW2 August 1st 1943. Coming in at tree top level the Pyramiders destroy Romanian oil refineries. S/Sgt. Kneisl was a recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross for his valor and heroism.
Briefed to fly in the 4th wave attacking White IV. Thomas was hit by flack before the target and again on the cockpit area after bombing. Gunners believed wounded. AIRE LOBO came down in the target area striking the ground with the left wing before disintegrating. SSgt William Kneisl was waist gunner. 9 crew members perished but only 4 bodies recovered.
Crew of the AIRE LOBO
1st/Lt. John B. Thomas Pilot
2nd/Lt. David M. Lewis Co Pilot MIA
2nd/Lt. Robert D. Nash Navigator
2nd/Lt. Robert D. Nash Navigator
1/Lt George McCandless Jr. Bombardier
T/Sgt. Elijah D. Johnson Flight Engineer KIA
T/Sgt. Ernest E. Gough Radio Op. KIA
S/Sgt.Richard G. Salsbury Gunner MIA
S/Sgt. William A. Kneisl Gunner KIA
S/Sgt. George E. Davies Gunner
S/Sgt. Eldon L. Carter Tail Gunner
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from Wisconsin.
Family Members
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