Kenneth H. Loehwing
Service #: 12121836 / T-061763
Rank: Flight Officer, U.S. Army Air Forces
Unit: 12th Bomb Squadron, 95th Bomb Group, Heavy
Entered Service From: New Jersey
Date of Death: 16 August 1944, killed in action when his plane (B-17 42-97797 "Full House") was shot down and crashed near Rehmsdorf, northeast of Zeitz, Germany.
Buried: George Washington Memorial Park, Paramus, Bergen County, New Jersey.
Awards: Air Medal, Purple Heart
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Son of Ernest John Loehwing, Jr (09 August 1894 • Jersey City, New Jersey – 16 October 1973 • Carmel, Monterey County, California and Clarice Bell "Tata" Hornby (16 November 1891 • Manhattan, Kings, New York – 25 July 1951 • Ridgefield, Bergen County, New Jersey).
1920 United States Federal Census (12 January 1920): Jersey City (Ward 8), Hudson County, New Jersey (sheet 16A, family 354, Williams Av.) – Kenneth Loehwing (1/12 New Jersey).
1930 United States Federal Census (April 1930): Ridgefield, Bergen County, New Jersey (sheet 16A, family 348, 666 Slocum Ave) – Kenneth Loehwing (11 New Jersey).
1937 Ken played soccer on his high school state championship team.
Kenneth H. Loehwing (20 New Jersey) is found in the 1940 United States Federal Census (04 April 1940) for Ridgefield, Bergen County, New Jersey (sheet 3B, household 56, 666 Slocum Ave) along with his wife, Marie Loehwing (23 New Jersey). They were living with his folks. His family had lived in the same place in 1935. Marie had lived in Palisades Park, Bergen, New Jersey in 1935. Ken and Marie had completed 8th grade. He was a clerk at a bank, Marie was a typist for an insurance company.
Kenneth Howard Loehwing (21, 05 November 1919, Jersey City, New Jersey), a resident of 666 Slocum Ave., Borough of Ridgefield, Bergen County, New Jersey, signed up for his World War II Draft Registration Card (Serial No. S-79, Order No. S 2553) on 01 July 1941 at Ridgefield Park, Bergen County, New Jersey. He was a machinist for the Wright Aeronautical Corporation in Paterson, New Jersey. Ken listed his mother, Mrs. Clarice Loehwing, as the person who would always know his address. He was described as 5' 10" in height, 150 lbs., with a light complexion, blonde hair and green eyes.
Kenneth H. Loehwing (1919 New Jersey), enlisted as a Private (S/N 12121836) in the U.S. Army Air Corps on 05 September 1942 in New York City, New York. He was single, had completed 4 years of high school and was working as a machinists.
Kenneth H. Loehwing was accepted as an Air Corps cadet on 05 March 1943.
TO GET TRAINING
Aviation Cadets Report To Greenville For Flight Work
Greenville, Mississippi, September 2 – Six Bergen County aviation cadets have reported to the Army Air Field for further flight training. They are: ... KENNETH H. LOEHWING, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest J. Loehwing of 666 Slocum Avenue, Ridgefield ... Source: The Bergen Evening Record (Hackensack, New Jersey), Thursday, 02 September 1943, page 3.
He was assigned to the 412th Bomb Squadron, 95th Bomb Group, Heavy, 8th Air Force, USAAF. The 95th Bombardment Group (Heavy) was equipped with the B-17 Flying Fortress and stationed at AAF Station 119, Horham Airfield, Suffolk, England. Flight Officer Loehwing became the co-pilot on the B-17 Flying Fortress.
Flight Officer Loehwing participated in 21 missions:
14 June 1944 – Brussels
15 June 1944 – Hanover
18 June 1944 – Hanover
19 June 1944 – La Rochell
20 June 1944 – Magdbourg
25 June 1944 – Lyon
29 June 1944 – Liepzig
06 July 1944 – Liller
07 July 1944 – Liepzig
11 July 1944 – Munich
12 July 1944 – Munich
18 July 1944 – Heide
19 July 1944 – Schweinfurt
20 July 1944 – Lutzkendorf
24 July 1944 – St. Lo.
25 July 1944 – St. Lo.
31 July 1944 – Munich
02 August 1944 – Paris
16 August 1944 – Zietz.
On 16 August 1944, B-17G 42-97797 "Full House" took off from AAF Station 119, Horham Airfield, England for a bombing mission over Zeitz, Germany with it's crew of ten. Their target was an oil refinery in Zeitz. As they were coming over on the target at 22,000 feet, the plane received heavy anti-aircraft flak. At 1133 hours, "a few seconds after bombs away," it was hit by flak in the #3 engine and part of the wing that resulted in a mid-air collision with 42-37879 "Wrinkled Belly Baby" (MACR 8176). Both planes crashed, B-17G 42-97797 near Rehmsdorf (Crimmitsehen District), about 4.5 miles northeast of Zeitz, Germany. Flight Officer Kenneth H. Loehwing was one of six members of the crew that were killed in action (KIA). Source: Missing Air Crew Reports (MACR) 8175.
"B-17G 43-97797 piloted by 1st Lt. ALLAN E. HANNUM, JR., was seen to receive a direct hit by flak in the right wing, over the target of Zeitz, Germany at 1133 hours. There was an explosion near #3 engine which knocked most of the right wing off. The aircraft slipped out of formation and about a minute later the aircraft was seen to disintegrate in the air. Four chutes were reported as having left the aircraft." Source: Missing Air Crew Reports (MACR) 8175..
Crew of the B-17 Flying Fortress 42-97797 "Full House"
Killed in Action – six (6)
Pilot: 1st Lieutenant Alan E. Hannum, Jr. (S/N O-442510); thought to have been killed instantly by flak
Co-Pilot: Flight Officer Kenneth H. Loehwing (S/N T-61763)
Navigator: 2nd Lieutenant Eugene (NMI) Cantrell (S/N O-698258)
Flight Engineer/Top Turret Gunner: Technical Sergeant Richard "Dick" Floyd Kuna (S/N 36415086)
Ball Turret Gunner: Staff Sergeant Fred C. Matthews (32809376); trapped in the Ball Turret
Right Waist Gunner: Staff Sergeant Ned W. Tillson (S/M 20761133); killed in the plane by the blast. This was his "first mission with our crew."
The bodies of Loehwing, Cantrell and Kuna were recovered and found with identification tags. They were buried at 0800 on 17 August 1944 by the Germans in the Community Cemetery at Rehmsdorf – Grave No. 1, last row, Southern side. The other three were buried at 2130 on 18 August 1944 as "unknown dead" in the Community Cemetery at Rehmsdorf in Grave No. 2, last row, Northern side.
Taken as Prisoners of War – four (4). The four were able to bail out of the plane before it crashed and were taken prisoners by the Germans. They were interred at Dulag-Luft.
Bombardier: 2nd Lieutenant Angelo (NMI) Genova (S/N O-761423); last words before the plane was hit "Bombs away, Christ look at the flak."
Radio Operator: T/Sgt. William "Bill" E. Purdy, Jr. (S/N 14109008)
Left Waist Gunner: T/Sgt. John W. Sharon (S/N 16065164) (335th Squadron)
Captured with Lacerations and contusion to his right fore foot (moderately severe wound); if no complications, healing procedure 4-6 weeks. He was treated at Station Hospital (PW) Leipzig-Wahren.
Tail gunner: Staff Sergeant Leroy H. Presley (S/N 14182580); Captured with wounds caused by shell fragment and haematoma, left knee joint (severe wound); if no complications, healing procedure 2-3 months. He was treated at Station Hospital (PW) Leipzig-Wahren.
Missing Air Crew Reports (MACR) 8175.
"B-17G 43-37879 piloted by 2nd Lt. ROBERT J. WILLIAMS, was collided with by another aircraft, which was hit by flak, at 1133 hours over the target of Zeitz, Germany. The stabilizer was knocked off and the aircraft caught fire, possibly from the other aircraft. The aircraft went down in a dive burning, with nine chutes leaving the ship." The crew of the other plane 42-37879 "Wrinkled Belly Baby" had 4 men killed, another died from his injuries (total 5 deaths) and 4 were taken prisoners. Missing Air Crew Reports (MACR) 8176.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In July 1944 Flight Officer Kenneth H. Loehwing was awarded the Air Medal.
2 HERE AWARDED AIR MEDAL FOR FLIGHT ACTION
Lowhwing Of Park, Gardner, Englewood Win Bombing Citation
Flight Officer Kenneth H. Loehwing of Ridgefield, copilot on a B-17 Flying Fortress based in England and Staff Sergeant Marvin M. Gardner of Englewood, chief engineer on a B-24 Liberator bomber based in the Central Pacific have both been awarded the Air Medal for meritorious achievement in flight, it was announced today in dispatches from their Air Force headquarters.
Awards are: Air Medal
LOEHWING, Flight Officer Kenneth H., son of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest J. Loehwing, 666 Slocum Avenue, Ridgefield...
HITS NAZI TARGET Flight Officer Loehwing was awarded the Air Medal for meritorious achievement while participating in heavy bombing assaults on vital Nazi targets in Germany and occupied countries of Europe.
The presentation was made by Colonel Karl Truesdell Jr. of Washington D. C., group commander of Eighth Air Force bombing squadron. Flight Officer Loehwing entered service March 5, 1943 and before that was employed as a machinist for the Wright Aeronautical Corporation at Paterson... Source: The Bergen Evening Record (Hackensack, New Jersey), Monday, 17 July 1944, page 2.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Service #: 12121836 / T-061763
Rank: Flight Officer, U.S. Army Air Forces
Unit: 12th Bomb Squadron, 95th Bomb Group, Heavy
Entered Service From: New Jersey
Date of Death: 16 August 1944, killed in action when his plane (B-17 42-97797 "Full House") was shot down and crashed near Rehmsdorf, northeast of Zeitz, Germany.
Buried: George Washington Memorial Park, Paramus, Bergen County, New Jersey.
Awards: Air Medal, Purple Heart
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Son of Ernest John Loehwing, Jr (09 August 1894 • Jersey City, New Jersey – 16 October 1973 • Carmel, Monterey County, California and Clarice Bell "Tata" Hornby (16 November 1891 • Manhattan, Kings, New York – 25 July 1951 • Ridgefield, Bergen County, New Jersey).
1920 United States Federal Census (12 January 1920): Jersey City (Ward 8), Hudson County, New Jersey (sheet 16A, family 354, Williams Av.) – Kenneth Loehwing (1/12 New Jersey).
1930 United States Federal Census (April 1930): Ridgefield, Bergen County, New Jersey (sheet 16A, family 348, 666 Slocum Ave) – Kenneth Loehwing (11 New Jersey).
1937 Ken played soccer on his high school state championship team.
Kenneth H. Loehwing (20 New Jersey) is found in the 1940 United States Federal Census (04 April 1940) for Ridgefield, Bergen County, New Jersey (sheet 3B, household 56, 666 Slocum Ave) along with his wife, Marie Loehwing (23 New Jersey). They were living with his folks. His family had lived in the same place in 1935. Marie had lived in Palisades Park, Bergen, New Jersey in 1935. Ken and Marie had completed 8th grade. He was a clerk at a bank, Marie was a typist for an insurance company.
Kenneth Howard Loehwing (21, 05 November 1919, Jersey City, New Jersey), a resident of 666 Slocum Ave., Borough of Ridgefield, Bergen County, New Jersey, signed up for his World War II Draft Registration Card (Serial No. S-79, Order No. S 2553) on 01 July 1941 at Ridgefield Park, Bergen County, New Jersey. He was a machinist for the Wright Aeronautical Corporation in Paterson, New Jersey. Ken listed his mother, Mrs. Clarice Loehwing, as the person who would always know his address. He was described as 5' 10" in height, 150 lbs., with a light complexion, blonde hair and green eyes.
Kenneth H. Loehwing (1919 New Jersey), enlisted as a Private (S/N 12121836) in the U.S. Army Air Corps on 05 September 1942 in New York City, New York. He was single, had completed 4 years of high school and was working as a machinists.
Kenneth H. Loehwing was accepted as an Air Corps cadet on 05 March 1943.
TO GET TRAINING
Aviation Cadets Report To Greenville For Flight Work
Greenville, Mississippi, September 2 – Six Bergen County aviation cadets have reported to the Army Air Field for further flight training. They are: ... KENNETH H. LOEHWING, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest J. Loehwing of 666 Slocum Avenue, Ridgefield ... Source: The Bergen Evening Record (Hackensack, New Jersey), Thursday, 02 September 1943, page 3.
He was assigned to the 412th Bomb Squadron, 95th Bomb Group, Heavy, 8th Air Force, USAAF. The 95th Bombardment Group (Heavy) was equipped with the B-17 Flying Fortress and stationed at AAF Station 119, Horham Airfield, Suffolk, England. Flight Officer Loehwing became the co-pilot on the B-17 Flying Fortress.
Flight Officer Loehwing participated in 21 missions:
14 June 1944 – Brussels
15 June 1944 – Hanover
18 June 1944 – Hanover
19 June 1944 – La Rochell
20 June 1944 – Magdbourg
25 June 1944 – Lyon
29 June 1944 – Liepzig
06 July 1944 – Liller
07 July 1944 – Liepzig
11 July 1944 – Munich
12 July 1944 – Munich
18 July 1944 – Heide
19 July 1944 – Schweinfurt
20 July 1944 – Lutzkendorf
24 July 1944 – St. Lo.
25 July 1944 – St. Lo.
31 July 1944 – Munich
02 August 1944 – Paris
16 August 1944 – Zietz.
On 16 August 1944, B-17G 42-97797 "Full House" took off from AAF Station 119, Horham Airfield, England for a bombing mission over Zeitz, Germany with it's crew of ten. Their target was an oil refinery in Zeitz. As they were coming over on the target at 22,000 feet, the plane received heavy anti-aircraft flak. At 1133 hours, "a few seconds after bombs away," it was hit by flak in the #3 engine and part of the wing that resulted in a mid-air collision with 42-37879 "Wrinkled Belly Baby" (MACR 8176). Both planes crashed, B-17G 42-97797 near Rehmsdorf (Crimmitsehen District), about 4.5 miles northeast of Zeitz, Germany. Flight Officer Kenneth H. Loehwing was one of six members of the crew that were killed in action (KIA). Source: Missing Air Crew Reports (MACR) 8175.
"B-17G 43-97797 piloted by 1st Lt. ALLAN E. HANNUM, JR., was seen to receive a direct hit by flak in the right wing, over the target of Zeitz, Germany at 1133 hours. There was an explosion near #3 engine which knocked most of the right wing off. The aircraft slipped out of formation and about a minute later the aircraft was seen to disintegrate in the air. Four chutes were reported as having left the aircraft." Source: Missing Air Crew Reports (MACR) 8175..
Crew of the B-17 Flying Fortress 42-97797 "Full House"
Killed in Action – six (6)
Pilot: 1st Lieutenant Alan E. Hannum, Jr. (S/N O-442510); thought to have been killed instantly by flak
Co-Pilot: Flight Officer Kenneth H. Loehwing (S/N T-61763)
Navigator: 2nd Lieutenant Eugene (NMI) Cantrell (S/N O-698258)
Flight Engineer/Top Turret Gunner: Technical Sergeant Richard "Dick" Floyd Kuna (S/N 36415086)
Ball Turret Gunner: Staff Sergeant Fred C. Matthews (32809376); trapped in the Ball Turret
Right Waist Gunner: Staff Sergeant Ned W. Tillson (S/M 20761133); killed in the plane by the blast. This was his "first mission with our crew."
The bodies of Loehwing, Cantrell and Kuna were recovered and found with identification tags. They were buried at 0800 on 17 August 1944 by the Germans in the Community Cemetery at Rehmsdorf – Grave No. 1, last row, Southern side. The other three were buried at 2130 on 18 August 1944 as "unknown dead" in the Community Cemetery at Rehmsdorf in Grave No. 2, last row, Northern side.
Taken as Prisoners of War – four (4). The four were able to bail out of the plane before it crashed and were taken prisoners by the Germans. They were interred at Dulag-Luft.
Bombardier: 2nd Lieutenant Angelo (NMI) Genova (S/N O-761423); last words before the plane was hit "Bombs away, Christ look at the flak."
Radio Operator: T/Sgt. William "Bill" E. Purdy, Jr. (S/N 14109008)
Left Waist Gunner: T/Sgt. John W. Sharon (S/N 16065164) (335th Squadron)
Captured with Lacerations and contusion to his right fore foot (moderately severe wound); if no complications, healing procedure 4-6 weeks. He was treated at Station Hospital (PW) Leipzig-Wahren.
Tail gunner: Staff Sergeant Leroy H. Presley (S/N 14182580); Captured with wounds caused by shell fragment and haematoma, left knee joint (severe wound); if no complications, healing procedure 2-3 months. He was treated at Station Hospital (PW) Leipzig-Wahren.
Missing Air Crew Reports (MACR) 8175.
"B-17G 43-37879 piloted by 2nd Lt. ROBERT J. WILLIAMS, was collided with by another aircraft, which was hit by flak, at 1133 hours over the target of Zeitz, Germany. The stabilizer was knocked off and the aircraft caught fire, possibly from the other aircraft. The aircraft went down in a dive burning, with nine chutes leaving the ship." The crew of the other plane 42-37879 "Wrinkled Belly Baby" had 4 men killed, another died from his injuries (total 5 deaths) and 4 were taken prisoners. Missing Air Crew Reports (MACR) 8176.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In July 1944 Flight Officer Kenneth H. Loehwing was awarded the Air Medal.
2 HERE AWARDED AIR MEDAL FOR FLIGHT ACTION
Lowhwing Of Park, Gardner, Englewood Win Bombing Citation
Flight Officer Kenneth H. Loehwing of Ridgefield, copilot on a B-17 Flying Fortress based in England and Staff Sergeant Marvin M. Gardner of Englewood, chief engineer on a B-24 Liberator bomber based in the Central Pacific have both been awarded the Air Medal for meritorious achievement in flight, it was announced today in dispatches from their Air Force headquarters.
Awards are: Air Medal
LOEHWING, Flight Officer Kenneth H., son of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest J. Loehwing, 666 Slocum Avenue, Ridgefield...
HITS NAZI TARGET Flight Officer Loehwing was awarded the Air Medal for meritorious achievement while participating in heavy bombing assaults on vital Nazi targets in Germany and occupied countries of Europe.
The presentation was made by Colonel Karl Truesdell Jr. of Washington D. C., group commander of Eighth Air Force bombing squadron. Flight Officer Loehwing entered service March 5, 1943 and before that was employed as a machinist for the Wright Aeronautical Corporation at Paterson... Source: The Bergen Evening Record (Hackensack, New Jersey), Monday, 17 July 1944, page 2.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kenneth H. Loehwing
Service #: 12121836 / T-061763
Rank: Flight Officer, U.S. Army Air Forces
Unit: 12th Bomb Squadron, 95th Bomb Group, Heavy
Entered Service From: New Jersey
Date of Death: 16 August 1944, killed in action when his plane (B-17 42-97797 "Full House") was shot down and crashed near Rehmsdorf, northeast of Zeitz, Germany.
Buried: George Washington Memorial Park, Paramus, Bergen County, New Jersey.
Awards: Air Medal, Purple Heart
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Son of Ernest John Loehwing, Jr (09 August 1894 • Jersey City, New Jersey – 16 October 1973 • Carmel, Monterey County, California and Clarice Bell "Tata" Hornby (16 November 1891 • Manhattan, Kings, New York – 25 July 1951 • Ridgefield, Bergen County, New Jersey).
1920 United States Federal Census (12 January 1920): Jersey City (Ward 8), Hudson County, New Jersey (sheet 16A, family 354, Williams Av.) – Kenneth Loehwing (1/12 New Jersey).
1930 United States Federal Census (April 1930): Ridgefield, Bergen County, New Jersey (sheet 16A, family 348, 666 Slocum Ave) – Kenneth Loehwing (11 New Jersey).
1937 Ken played soccer on his high school state championship team.
Kenneth H. Loehwing (20 New Jersey) is found in the 1940 United States Federal Census (04 April 1940) for Ridgefield, Bergen County, New Jersey (sheet 3B, household 56, 666 Slocum Ave) along with his wife, Marie Loehwing (23 New Jersey). They were living with his folks. His family had lived in the same place in 1935. Marie had lived in Palisades Park, Bergen, New Jersey in 1935. Ken and Marie had completed 8th grade. He was a clerk at a bank, Marie was a typist for an insurance company.
Kenneth Howard Loehwing (21, 05 November 1919, Jersey City, New Jersey), a resident of 666 Slocum Ave., Borough of Ridgefield, Bergen County, New Jersey, signed up for his World War II Draft Registration Card (Serial No. S-79, Order No. S 2553) on 01 July 1941 at Ridgefield Park, Bergen County, New Jersey. He was a machinist for the Wright Aeronautical Corporation in Paterson, New Jersey. Ken listed his mother, Mrs. Clarice Loehwing, as the person who would always know his address. He was described as 5' 10" in height, 150 lbs., with a light complexion, blonde hair and green eyes.
Kenneth H. Loehwing (1919 New Jersey), enlisted as a Private (S/N 12121836) in the U.S. Army Air Corps on 05 September 1942 in New York City, New York. He was single, had completed 4 years of high school and was working as a machinists.
Kenneth H. Loehwing was accepted as an Air Corps cadet on 05 March 1943.
TO GET TRAINING
Aviation Cadets Report To Greenville For Flight Work
Greenville, Mississippi, September 2 – Six Bergen County aviation cadets have reported to the Army Air Field for further flight training. They are: ... KENNETH H. LOEHWING, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest J. Loehwing of 666 Slocum Avenue, Ridgefield ... Source: The Bergen Evening Record (Hackensack, New Jersey), Thursday, 02 September 1943, page 3.
He was assigned to the 412th Bomb Squadron, 95th Bomb Group, Heavy, 8th Air Force, USAAF. The 95th Bombardment Group (Heavy) was equipped with the B-17 Flying Fortress and stationed at AAF Station 119, Horham Airfield, Suffolk, England. Flight Officer Loehwing became the co-pilot on the B-17 Flying Fortress.
Flight Officer Loehwing participated in 21 missions:
14 June 1944 – Brussels
15 June 1944 – Hanover
18 June 1944 – Hanover
19 June 1944 – La Rochell
20 June 1944 – Magdbourg
25 June 1944 – Lyon
29 June 1944 – Liepzig
06 July 1944 – Liller
07 July 1944 – Liepzig
11 July 1944 – Munich
12 July 1944 – Munich
18 July 1944 – Heide
19 July 1944 – Schweinfurt
20 July 1944 – Lutzkendorf
24 July 1944 – St. Lo.
25 July 1944 – St. Lo.
31 July 1944 – Munich
02 August 1944 – Paris
16 August 1944 – Zietz.
On 16 August 1944, B-17G 42-97797 "Full House" took off from AAF Station 119, Horham Airfield, England for a bombing mission over Zeitz, Germany with it's crew of ten. Their target was an oil refinery in Zeitz. As they were coming over on the target at 22,000 feet, the plane received heavy anti-aircraft flak. At 1133 hours, "a few seconds after bombs away," it was hit by flak in the #3 engine and part of the wing that resulted in a mid-air collision with 42-37879 "Wrinkled Belly Baby" (MACR 8176). Both planes crashed, B-17G 42-97797 near Rehmsdorf (Crimmitsehen District), about 4.5 miles northeast of Zeitz, Germany. Flight Officer Kenneth H. Loehwing was one of six members of the crew that were killed in action (KIA). Source: Missing Air Crew Reports (MACR) 8175.
"B-17G 43-97797 piloted by 1st Lt. ALLAN E. HANNUM, JR., was seen to receive a direct hit by flak in the right wing, over the target of Zeitz, Germany at 1133 hours. There was an explosion near #3 engine which knocked most of the right wing off. The aircraft slipped out of formation and about a minute later the aircraft was seen to disintegrate in the air. Four chutes were reported as having left the aircraft." Source: Missing Air Crew Reports (MACR) 8175..
Crew of the B-17 Flying Fortress 42-97797 "Full House"
Killed in Action – six (6)
Pilot: 1st Lieutenant Alan E. Hannum, Jr. (S/N O-442510); thought to have been killed instantly by flak
Co-Pilot: Flight Officer Kenneth H. Loehwing (S/N T-61763)
Navigator: 2nd Lieutenant Eugene (NMI) Cantrell (S/N O-698258)
Flight Engineer/Top Turret Gunner: Technical Sergeant Richard "Dick" Floyd Kuna (S/N 36415086)
Ball Turret Gunner: Staff Sergeant Fred C. Matthews (32809376); trapped in the Ball Turret
Right Waist Gunner: Staff Sergeant Ned W. Tillson (S/M 20761133); killed in the plane by the blast. This was his "first mission with our crew."
The bodies of Loehwing, Cantrell and Kuna were recovered and found with identification tags. They were buried at 0800 on 17 August 1944 by the Germans in the Community Cemetery at Rehmsdorf – Grave No. 1, last row, Southern side. The other three were buried at 2130 on 18 August 1944 as "unknown dead" in the Community Cemetery at Rehmsdorf in Grave No. 2, last row, Northern side.
Taken as Prisoners of War – four (4). The four were able to bail out of the plane before it crashed and were taken prisoners by the Germans. They were interred at Dulag-Luft.
Bombardier: 2nd Lieutenant Angelo (NMI) Genova (S/N O-761423); last words before the plane was hit "Bombs away, Christ look at the flak."
Radio Operator: T/Sgt. William "Bill" E. Purdy, Jr. (S/N 14109008)
Left Waist Gunner: T/Sgt. John W. Sharon (S/N 16065164) (335th Squadron)
Captured with Lacerations and contusion to his right fore foot (moderately severe wound); if no complications, healing procedure 4-6 weeks. He was treated at Station Hospital (PW) Leipzig-Wahren.
Tail gunner: Staff Sergeant Leroy H. Presley (S/N 14182580); Captured with wounds caused by shell fragment and haematoma, left knee joint (severe wound); if no complications, healing procedure 2-3 months. He was treated at Station Hospital (PW) Leipzig-Wahren.
Missing Air Crew Reports (MACR) 8175.
"B-17G 43-37879 piloted by 2nd Lt. ROBERT J. WILLIAMS, was collided with by another aircraft, which was hit by flak, at 1133 hours over the target of Zeitz, Germany. The stabilizer was knocked off and the aircraft caught fire, possibly from the other aircraft. The aircraft went down in a dive burning, with nine chutes leaving the ship." The crew of the other plane 42-37879 "Wrinkled Belly Baby" had 4 men killed, another died from his injuries (total 5 deaths) and 4 were taken prisoners. Missing Air Crew Reports (MACR) 8176.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In July 1944 Flight Officer Kenneth H. Loehwing was awarded the Air Medal.
2 HERE AWARDED AIR MEDAL FOR FLIGHT ACTION
Lowhwing Of Park, Gardner, Englewood Win Bombing Citation
Flight Officer Kenneth H. Loehwing of Ridgefield, copilot on a B-17 Flying Fortress based in England and Staff Sergeant Marvin M. Gardner of Englewood, chief engineer on a B-24 Liberator bomber based in the Central Pacific have both been awarded the Air Medal for meritorious achievement in flight, it was announced today in dispatches from their Air Force headquarters.
Awards are: Air Medal
LOEHWING, Flight Officer Kenneth H., son of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest J. Loehwing, 666 Slocum Avenue, Ridgefield...
HITS NAZI TARGET Flight Officer Loehwing was awarded the Air Medal for meritorious achievement while participating in heavy bombing assaults on vital Nazi targets in Germany and occupied countries of Europe.
The presentation was made by Colonel Karl Truesdell Jr. of Washington D. C., group commander of Eighth Air Force bombing squadron. Flight Officer Loehwing entered service March 5, 1943 and before that was employed as a machinist for the Wright Aeronautical Corporation at Paterson... Source: The Bergen Evening Record (Hackensack, New Jersey), Monday, 17 July 1944, page 2.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Service #: 12121836 / T-061763
Rank: Flight Officer, U.S. Army Air Forces
Unit: 12th Bomb Squadron, 95th Bomb Group, Heavy
Entered Service From: New Jersey
Date of Death: 16 August 1944, killed in action when his plane (B-17 42-97797 "Full House") was shot down and crashed near Rehmsdorf, northeast of Zeitz, Germany.
Buried: George Washington Memorial Park, Paramus, Bergen County, New Jersey.
Awards: Air Medal, Purple Heart
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Son of Ernest John Loehwing, Jr (09 August 1894 • Jersey City, New Jersey – 16 October 1973 • Carmel, Monterey County, California and Clarice Bell "Tata" Hornby (16 November 1891 • Manhattan, Kings, New York – 25 July 1951 • Ridgefield, Bergen County, New Jersey).
1920 United States Federal Census (12 January 1920): Jersey City (Ward 8), Hudson County, New Jersey (sheet 16A, family 354, Williams Av.) – Kenneth Loehwing (1/12 New Jersey).
1930 United States Federal Census (April 1930): Ridgefield, Bergen County, New Jersey (sheet 16A, family 348, 666 Slocum Ave) – Kenneth Loehwing (11 New Jersey).
1937 Ken played soccer on his high school state championship team.
Kenneth H. Loehwing (20 New Jersey) is found in the 1940 United States Federal Census (04 April 1940) for Ridgefield, Bergen County, New Jersey (sheet 3B, household 56, 666 Slocum Ave) along with his wife, Marie Loehwing (23 New Jersey). They were living with his folks. His family had lived in the same place in 1935. Marie had lived in Palisades Park, Bergen, New Jersey in 1935. Ken and Marie had completed 8th grade. He was a clerk at a bank, Marie was a typist for an insurance company.
Kenneth Howard Loehwing (21, 05 November 1919, Jersey City, New Jersey), a resident of 666 Slocum Ave., Borough of Ridgefield, Bergen County, New Jersey, signed up for his World War II Draft Registration Card (Serial No. S-79, Order No. S 2553) on 01 July 1941 at Ridgefield Park, Bergen County, New Jersey. He was a machinist for the Wright Aeronautical Corporation in Paterson, New Jersey. Ken listed his mother, Mrs. Clarice Loehwing, as the person who would always know his address. He was described as 5' 10" in height, 150 lbs., with a light complexion, blonde hair and green eyes.
Kenneth H. Loehwing (1919 New Jersey), enlisted as a Private (S/N 12121836) in the U.S. Army Air Corps on 05 September 1942 in New York City, New York. He was single, had completed 4 years of high school and was working as a machinists.
Kenneth H. Loehwing was accepted as an Air Corps cadet on 05 March 1943.
TO GET TRAINING
Aviation Cadets Report To Greenville For Flight Work
Greenville, Mississippi, September 2 – Six Bergen County aviation cadets have reported to the Army Air Field for further flight training. They are: ... KENNETH H. LOEHWING, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest J. Loehwing of 666 Slocum Avenue, Ridgefield ... Source: The Bergen Evening Record (Hackensack, New Jersey), Thursday, 02 September 1943, page 3.
He was assigned to the 412th Bomb Squadron, 95th Bomb Group, Heavy, 8th Air Force, USAAF. The 95th Bombardment Group (Heavy) was equipped with the B-17 Flying Fortress and stationed at AAF Station 119, Horham Airfield, Suffolk, England. Flight Officer Loehwing became the co-pilot on the B-17 Flying Fortress.
Flight Officer Loehwing participated in 21 missions:
14 June 1944 – Brussels
15 June 1944 – Hanover
18 June 1944 – Hanover
19 June 1944 – La Rochell
20 June 1944 – Magdbourg
25 June 1944 – Lyon
29 June 1944 – Liepzig
06 July 1944 – Liller
07 July 1944 – Liepzig
11 July 1944 – Munich
12 July 1944 – Munich
18 July 1944 – Heide
19 July 1944 – Schweinfurt
20 July 1944 – Lutzkendorf
24 July 1944 – St. Lo.
25 July 1944 – St. Lo.
31 July 1944 – Munich
02 August 1944 – Paris
16 August 1944 – Zietz.
On 16 August 1944, B-17G 42-97797 "Full House" took off from AAF Station 119, Horham Airfield, England for a bombing mission over Zeitz, Germany with it's crew of ten. Their target was an oil refinery in Zeitz. As they were coming over on the target at 22,000 feet, the plane received heavy anti-aircraft flak. At 1133 hours, "a few seconds after bombs away," it was hit by flak in the #3 engine and part of the wing that resulted in a mid-air collision with 42-37879 "Wrinkled Belly Baby" (MACR 8176). Both planes crashed, B-17G 42-97797 near Rehmsdorf (Crimmitsehen District), about 4.5 miles northeast of Zeitz, Germany. Flight Officer Kenneth H. Loehwing was one of six members of the crew that were killed in action (KIA). Source: Missing Air Crew Reports (MACR) 8175.
"B-17G 43-97797 piloted by 1st Lt. ALLAN E. HANNUM, JR., was seen to receive a direct hit by flak in the right wing, over the target of Zeitz, Germany at 1133 hours. There was an explosion near #3 engine which knocked most of the right wing off. The aircraft slipped out of formation and about a minute later the aircraft was seen to disintegrate in the air. Four chutes were reported as having left the aircraft." Source: Missing Air Crew Reports (MACR) 8175..
Crew of the B-17 Flying Fortress 42-97797 "Full House"
Killed in Action – six (6)
Pilot: 1st Lieutenant Alan E. Hannum, Jr. (S/N O-442510); thought to have been killed instantly by flak
Co-Pilot: Flight Officer Kenneth H. Loehwing (S/N T-61763)
Navigator: 2nd Lieutenant Eugene (NMI) Cantrell (S/N O-698258)
Flight Engineer/Top Turret Gunner: Technical Sergeant Richard "Dick" Floyd Kuna (S/N 36415086)
Ball Turret Gunner: Staff Sergeant Fred C. Matthews (32809376); trapped in the Ball Turret
Right Waist Gunner: Staff Sergeant Ned W. Tillson (S/M 20761133); killed in the plane by the blast. This was his "first mission with our crew."
The bodies of Loehwing, Cantrell and Kuna were recovered and found with identification tags. They were buried at 0800 on 17 August 1944 by the Germans in the Community Cemetery at Rehmsdorf – Grave No. 1, last row, Southern side. The other three were buried at 2130 on 18 August 1944 as "unknown dead" in the Community Cemetery at Rehmsdorf in Grave No. 2, last row, Northern side.
Taken as Prisoners of War – four (4). The four were able to bail out of the plane before it crashed and were taken prisoners by the Germans. They were interred at Dulag-Luft.
Bombardier: 2nd Lieutenant Angelo (NMI) Genova (S/N O-761423); last words before the plane was hit "Bombs away, Christ look at the flak."
Radio Operator: T/Sgt. William "Bill" E. Purdy, Jr. (S/N 14109008)
Left Waist Gunner: T/Sgt. John W. Sharon (S/N 16065164) (335th Squadron)
Captured with Lacerations and contusion to his right fore foot (moderately severe wound); if no complications, healing procedure 4-6 weeks. He was treated at Station Hospital (PW) Leipzig-Wahren.
Tail gunner: Staff Sergeant Leroy H. Presley (S/N 14182580); Captured with wounds caused by shell fragment and haematoma, left knee joint (severe wound); if no complications, healing procedure 2-3 months. He was treated at Station Hospital (PW) Leipzig-Wahren.
Missing Air Crew Reports (MACR) 8175.
"B-17G 43-37879 piloted by 2nd Lt. ROBERT J. WILLIAMS, was collided with by another aircraft, which was hit by flak, at 1133 hours over the target of Zeitz, Germany. The stabilizer was knocked off and the aircraft caught fire, possibly from the other aircraft. The aircraft went down in a dive burning, with nine chutes leaving the ship." The crew of the other plane 42-37879 "Wrinkled Belly Baby" had 4 men killed, another died from his injuries (total 5 deaths) and 4 were taken prisoners. Missing Air Crew Reports (MACR) 8176.
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In July 1944 Flight Officer Kenneth H. Loehwing was awarded the Air Medal.
2 HERE AWARDED AIR MEDAL FOR FLIGHT ACTION
Lowhwing Of Park, Gardner, Englewood Win Bombing Citation
Flight Officer Kenneth H. Loehwing of Ridgefield, copilot on a B-17 Flying Fortress based in England and Staff Sergeant Marvin M. Gardner of Englewood, chief engineer on a B-24 Liberator bomber based in the Central Pacific have both been awarded the Air Medal for meritorious achievement in flight, it was announced today in dispatches from their Air Force headquarters.
Awards are: Air Medal
LOEHWING, Flight Officer Kenneth H., son of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest J. Loehwing, 666 Slocum Avenue, Ridgefield...
HITS NAZI TARGET Flight Officer Loehwing was awarded the Air Medal for meritorious achievement while participating in heavy bombing assaults on vital Nazi targets in Germany and occupied countries of Europe.
The presentation was made by Colonel Karl Truesdell Jr. of Washington D. C., group commander of Eighth Air Force bombing squadron. Flight Officer Loehwing entered service March 5, 1943 and before that was employed as a machinist for the Wright Aeronautical Corporation at Paterson... Source: The Bergen Evening Record (Hackensack, New Jersey), Monday, 17 July 1944, page 2.
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