Tail Gunner Sgt Arthur Van Kleek DFC MIA/KIA
Squadron: 344th Bomber Squadron 98th BG
Service # 12037352
Awards Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart.
Pilot Captain Wallace C. Taylor POW
Target: White IV- Ploesti
Mission: 1-Aug-43
Serial Number: 41-24198
Aircraft Model B-24D-
Aircraft Letter: C
Aircraft Name:THE VULGAR VIRGIN
Location: Lost near the target, Ploesti.
Cause: AA Crew 10 9 KIA 1 POW
Flown by Capt Wallace C.Taylor , F/O Packer and crew Briefed to fly the lead position of the 5th wave attacking White IV at Ploesti, Rumania on Aug 1, 1943. Took a direct flack hit in the nose while approaching target and set on fire. Pilot gave bail out signal and climbed the aircraft, leveled out. P,CPL,E, WG believed to have bailed out though only the pilot survived with serious burns. The aircraft is believed to have crashed at Tatarani South of Ploesti.
Sgt. Van Kleek was a gunner in the 98th Bomb Group when he was killed. His name appears Tablets of the Missing at Florence American Cemetery Florence, Italy, his body was never recovered.
Sgt. Van Kleek lost his life in the Ploesti raid "Operation Tidal Wave" one of the most daring raids of WW2. Coming in at tree top level the 98th destroys the Romanian oil refinery. Sgt. Van Kleek was one of the Pyramiders most decorated enlisted men, he was awarded his 2nd Distinguished flying cross for his valor on this mission.
Crew of THE VULGAR VIRGIN
1Lt. Jack K. Wood Navigator
1/Lt. Robert B. Austin Bombardier
Fl. Of. Paul W. Packer Co Pilot
Fl. Of. Paul W. Packer Co Pilot
T/Sgt. Gerald E. Rabb . Engineer
T/Sgt. Alfred F. Turgeon Radio Op.
S/Sgt. Donald R. Duchene Tail Gunner
S/Sgt. Louis Kaiser Waist Gunner
S/Sgt. Ralph M. Robins Gunner
Sgt. Arthur B. Van Kleeck Tail Gunner
Squadron: 344th Bomber Squadron 98th BG
Service # 12037352
Awards Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart.
Pilot Captain Wallace C. Taylor POW
Target: White IV- Ploesti
Mission: 1-Aug-43
Serial Number: 41-24198
Aircraft Model B-24D-
Aircraft Letter: C
Aircraft Name:THE VULGAR VIRGIN
Location: Lost near the target, Ploesti.
Cause: AA Crew 10 9 KIA 1 POW
Flown by Capt Wallace C.Taylor , F/O Packer and crew Briefed to fly the lead position of the 5th wave attacking White IV at Ploesti, Rumania on Aug 1, 1943. Took a direct flack hit in the nose while approaching target and set on fire. Pilot gave bail out signal and climbed the aircraft, leveled out. P,CPL,E, WG believed to have bailed out though only the pilot survived with serious burns. The aircraft is believed to have crashed at Tatarani South of Ploesti.
Sgt. Van Kleek was a gunner in the 98th Bomb Group when he was killed. His name appears Tablets of the Missing at Florence American Cemetery Florence, Italy, his body was never recovered.
Sgt. Van Kleek lost his life in the Ploesti raid "Operation Tidal Wave" one of the most daring raids of WW2. Coming in at tree top level the 98th destroys the Romanian oil refinery. Sgt. Van Kleek was one of the Pyramiders most decorated enlisted men, he was awarded his 2nd Distinguished flying cross for his valor on this mission.
Crew of THE VULGAR VIRGIN
1Lt. Jack K. Wood Navigator
1/Lt. Robert B. Austin Bombardier
Fl. Of. Paul W. Packer Co Pilot
Fl. Of. Paul W. Packer Co Pilot
T/Sgt. Gerald E. Rabb . Engineer
T/Sgt. Alfred F. Turgeon Radio Op.
S/Sgt. Donald R. Duchene Tail Gunner
S/Sgt. Louis Kaiser Waist Gunner
S/Sgt. Ralph M. Robins Gunner
Sgt. Arthur B. Van Kleeck Tail Gunner
Tail Gunner Sgt Arthur Van Kleek DFC MIA/KIA
Squadron: 344th Bomber Squadron 98th BG
Service # 12037352
Awards Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart.
Pilot Captain Wallace C. Taylor POW
Target: White IV- Ploesti
Mission: 1-Aug-43
Serial Number: 41-24198
Aircraft Model B-24D-
Aircraft Letter: C
Aircraft Name:THE VULGAR VIRGIN
Location: Lost near the target, Ploesti.
Cause: AA Crew 10 9 KIA 1 POW
Flown by Capt Wallace C.Taylor , F/O Packer and crew Briefed to fly the lead position of the 5th wave attacking White IV at Ploesti, Rumania on Aug 1, 1943. Took a direct flack hit in the nose while approaching target and set on fire. Pilot gave bail out signal and climbed the aircraft, leveled out. P,CPL,E, WG believed to have bailed out though only the pilot survived with serious burns. The aircraft is believed to have crashed at Tatarani South of Ploesti.
Sgt. Van Kleek was a gunner in the 98th Bomb Group when he was killed. His name appears Tablets of the Missing at Florence American Cemetery Florence, Italy, his body was never recovered.
Sgt. Van Kleek lost his life in the Ploesti raid "Operation Tidal Wave" one of the most daring raids of WW2. Coming in at tree top level the 98th destroys the Romanian oil refinery. Sgt. Van Kleek was one of the Pyramiders most decorated enlisted men, he was awarded his 2nd Distinguished flying cross for his valor on this mission.
Crew of THE VULGAR VIRGIN
1Lt. Jack K. Wood Navigator
1/Lt. Robert B. Austin Bombardier
Fl. Of. Paul W. Packer Co Pilot
Fl. Of. Paul W. Packer Co Pilot
T/Sgt. Gerald E. Rabb . Engineer
T/Sgt. Alfred F. Turgeon Radio Op.
S/Sgt. Donald R. Duchene Tail Gunner
S/Sgt. Louis Kaiser Waist Gunner
S/Sgt. Ralph M. Robins Gunner
Sgt. Arthur B. Van Kleeck Tail Gunner
Squadron: 344th Bomber Squadron 98th BG
Service # 12037352
Awards Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart.
Pilot Captain Wallace C. Taylor POW
Target: White IV- Ploesti
Mission: 1-Aug-43
Serial Number: 41-24198
Aircraft Model B-24D-
Aircraft Letter: C
Aircraft Name:THE VULGAR VIRGIN
Location: Lost near the target, Ploesti.
Cause: AA Crew 10 9 KIA 1 POW
Flown by Capt Wallace C.Taylor , F/O Packer and crew Briefed to fly the lead position of the 5th wave attacking White IV at Ploesti, Rumania on Aug 1, 1943. Took a direct flack hit in the nose while approaching target and set on fire. Pilot gave bail out signal and climbed the aircraft, leveled out. P,CPL,E, WG believed to have bailed out though only the pilot survived with serious burns. The aircraft is believed to have crashed at Tatarani South of Ploesti.
Sgt. Van Kleek was a gunner in the 98th Bomb Group when he was killed. His name appears Tablets of the Missing at Florence American Cemetery Florence, Italy, his body was never recovered.
Sgt. Van Kleek lost his life in the Ploesti raid "Operation Tidal Wave" one of the most daring raids of WW2. Coming in at tree top level the 98th destroys the Romanian oil refinery. Sgt. Van Kleek was one of the Pyramiders most decorated enlisted men, he was awarded his 2nd Distinguished flying cross for his valor on this mission.
Crew of THE VULGAR VIRGIN
1Lt. Jack K. Wood Navigator
1/Lt. Robert B. Austin Bombardier
Fl. Of. Paul W. Packer Co Pilot
Fl. Of. Paul W. Packer Co Pilot
T/Sgt. Gerald E. Rabb . Engineer
T/Sgt. Alfred F. Turgeon Radio Op.
S/Sgt. Donald R. Duchene Tail Gunner
S/Sgt. Louis Kaiser Waist Gunner
S/Sgt. Ralph M. Robins Gunner
Sgt. Arthur B. Van Kleeck Tail Gunner
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from New York.
Family Members
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Records on Ancestry
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U.S., Headstone and Interment Records for U.S., Military Cemeteries on Foreign Soil, 1942-1949
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1930 United States Federal Census
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Global, Find a Grave® Index for Burials at Sea and other Select Burial Locations, 1300s-Current
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New York, U.S., State Census, 1925
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1940 United States Federal Census
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