SPRUCE HEAD - Kenneth Quentin Paddock, age 93, died peacefully on Wednesday, April 1, 2009 at his home in Spruce Head, Maine. Ken was born December 5, 1915 in Hutton, Indiana. He received a B.S. in Agriculture from the University of Illinois in 1938. He joined the Flying Cadets in 1941. During World War II he was assigned to the 34th Bomb Group (B-17's) and became a Group Navigator for the 392nd Bomb Group (B-24's) of the 8th Air Force in England where he flew 19 combat missions as Lead Navigator. He received the Distinguished Flying Cross, Purple Heart, Air medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, and two French Croix de Guerres.
Following World War II he was assigned to Cairo, Egypt, Riverside, California, Rabat, Morocco, and Tripoli, Libya and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel (Director of Combat Operations for the B-52 Wing) from Dow Air Force Base in Bangor, Maine in 1961. Ken taught math and science in New Hampshire for 15 years. In 1976 he moved to Anchorage, Alaska where he worked as the Grounds Superintendent at the University of Alaska, Anchorage. In 1982, Ken made his final move to the coast of Maine.
Ken married Bridget M. White of London, England in December 1946 and had four daughters and eight grandchildren.
Survivors include the "love of his life", his wife of 62 years, Bridget M. Paddock; his daughters, Ruth Paddock (Peter Miller) of Tenants Harbor, Maine, Ilka Paddock Morse (Dr. Dale Morse) of Niskayuna, New York, Leslie Paddock Coleman (Rod Coleman) of Annapolis, Maryland, and Moira Paddock (John McCrea) of South Thomaston, Maine, formerly of Anchorage, Alaska; his eight grandchildren, Dr. Dwight Stanley of Cumberland, Maine, Adair Stanley of Charleston, South Carolina, Ashley Morse (Miles Hingeley) of Charlottesville, Virginia, Lindsey Morse of Somerville, Massachusetts, Ian and Skyler Coleman of Annapolis, Maryland, Kiely and Cameron Paddock McCrea of South Thomaston, Maine. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews. (Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home on-line)

WW2 USAAF
Navigator Major Kenneth Q. Paddock
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Squadron: 578th BS 392th Bomb Group
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Awards: Distinguished Flying Cross, Purple Heart, Air medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, and two French Croix de Guerres.
Pilot 1st/Lt. James E. Muldoon

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Aircraft Model B-24
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As Major in the 578th Bomb Squadron Kenneth Q. Paddock flew combat missions in August 1944 both as navigator on Command ship and with this crew.

Muldoon Crew
Col. Lawrence G. Gilbert Command Pilot
1st/Lt. James E. Muldoon Pilot
1st/Lt. William F. Kohl Co Pilot
1st/Lt. Ben Ortenberg Navigator
Major Kenneth Q. Paddock Navigator
2nd/Lt. Ernest R. Morton Bombardier
2nd/Lt. Harold F. Weiland Bombardier
T/Sgt. Jay Marvin Byrd Engineer
T/Sgt. H.E. Ellingson Engineer
T/Sgt. L.V. DeHoff Radio Op.
S/Sgt. Junior W. Bluejacket Gunner
S/Sgt. Jesse Allen Carpenter Gunner
S/Sgt. Lawrence H. Brent Gunner