Daniel J. Kreutzer, 81. Survived by wife Helen; 16 children; 60 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; three sisters; and three brothers. Funeral Mass, Wednesday, 10 a.m., at Our Lady Mother of The Church. Interment, Elmwood Cemetery.
Denver Post, 3/12/2003
---------------------------
7/13/1943 Silver Star Award: Messina Sicily. From the General Order 62 9th AF 1943.
Daniel J Kreutzer Staff Sergeant, 343rd Bombardment Squadron, 98th Bombardment Group. For gallantry in action while participating in aerial combat on June 9, 1943. On this date Sergeant Kreutzer was waist gunner on a heavy bombardment aircraft. After successfully completing the mission against a vitally important enemy target, his aircraft was hit by enemy anti-aircraft fire disabling one of the engines, causing the airplane to fall out of formation. Simultaneously, the plane was attacked by enemy fighter craft. Sergeant Kreutzer, although seriously wounded by enemy fire, remained at his guns and so skillfully directed his fire in coordination with the other gunners that they successfully repelled twenty enemy aircraft.
---------------------------
Waist Gunner S/Sgt Daniel J Kreutzer SS WIA
Squadron: 343rd 98 BOMB GROUP,
Awards: Silver Star Air Medal, Purple Heart
Pilot 1st./Lt Clarence Winford Gooden , DFC KIA August 1 1943
Missing Air Crew Report Details
Date Lost: 9-Jun-43
Aircraft Model B-24D
Aircraft Name: DOPEY
The Crew was Pilot Lt. Clarence W. Gooden, Co-pilot Lt Donald G Johnson, Navigator Lt Ralph F Perkins Jr. Bombardier, Lt Willaim H, McNeil, AE T/SGT Oscar W Hauser, Radio T/Sgt Theodore C. Beaudry, Gunner S/S Roland B. Cox, Gunner S/Sgt Alexander M Cochrane and my dad Waist Gunner S/Sgt Daniel J Kreutzer.
They left the US per his discharge papers 4 Apil 43 flying the southern route to North Africa which I believe Dad said was to Cuba, Puerto Rico, Ascension Island, Cairo Egypt and finally Lybia arriving 15 April 43. Did go to Bethleham and Jereslum, and stationed shortly in Tunisa and Sicily.
Their first Action was 25 April 43 but did not drop Bombs as Bomb Bay door didn't open. Dad had 14 flights in action with most of the same crew, bombing mainly locations in Sicily (Bari Aerodrome, Reggio, Messina, Catania, Auguste, Foggia etc). They were quite successful with the full crew returning intact each time including their toughest mission of 9 June 43, (see above Silver Star award and news articles (images) downloaded) until Dad ( S/Sgt Kreutzer ) was injured on that date. He ended up with shrapnel next to his spine (carried the shrapnel in his back until he died) and was grounded. On 1 August 43, 6 members of the original B-24 Dopey, flew a new plane (Margie A Virgin) and were involved in the infamous Ploesti raid.
The B-24 was shot up pretty bad, and upon landing somewhere in Europe, caught fire with 6 members of the former DOPEY CREW: Gooden, Perkins, McNeil, Beaudry, Cox, and Cochrane, losing their lives."
Denver Post, 3/12/2003
---------------------------
7/13/1943 Silver Star Award: Messina Sicily. From the General Order 62 9th AF 1943.
Daniel J Kreutzer Staff Sergeant, 343rd Bombardment Squadron, 98th Bombardment Group. For gallantry in action while participating in aerial combat on June 9, 1943. On this date Sergeant Kreutzer was waist gunner on a heavy bombardment aircraft. After successfully completing the mission against a vitally important enemy target, his aircraft was hit by enemy anti-aircraft fire disabling one of the engines, causing the airplane to fall out of formation. Simultaneously, the plane was attacked by enemy fighter craft. Sergeant Kreutzer, although seriously wounded by enemy fire, remained at his guns and so skillfully directed his fire in coordination with the other gunners that they successfully repelled twenty enemy aircraft.
---------------------------
Waist Gunner S/Sgt Daniel J Kreutzer SS WIA
Squadron: 343rd 98 BOMB GROUP,
Awards: Silver Star Air Medal, Purple Heart
Pilot 1st./Lt Clarence Winford Gooden , DFC KIA August 1 1943
Missing Air Crew Report Details
Date Lost: 9-Jun-43
Aircraft Model B-24D
Aircraft Name: DOPEY
The Crew was Pilot Lt. Clarence W. Gooden, Co-pilot Lt Donald G Johnson, Navigator Lt Ralph F Perkins Jr. Bombardier, Lt Willaim H, McNeil, AE T/SGT Oscar W Hauser, Radio T/Sgt Theodore C. Beaudry, Gunner S/S Roland B. Cox, Gunner S/Sgt Alexander M Cochrane and my dad Waist Gunner S/Sgt Daniel J Kreutzer.
They left the US per his discharge papers 4 Apil 43 flying the southern route to North Africa which I believe Dad said was to Cuba, Puerto Rico, Ascension Island, Cairo Egypt and finally Lybia arriving 15 April 43. Did go to Bethleham and Jereslum, and stationed shortly in Tunisa and Sicily.
Their first Action was 25 April 43 but did not drop Bombs as Bomb Bay door didn't open. Dad had 14 flights in action with most of the same crew, bombing mainly locations in Sicily (Bari Aerodrome, Reggio, Messina, Catania, Auguste, Foggia etc). They were quite successful with the full crew returning intact each time including their toughest mission of 9 June 43, (see above Silver Star award and news articles (images) downloaded) until Dad ( S/Sgt Kreutzer ) was injured on that date. He ended up with shrapnel next to his spine (carried the shrapnel in his back until he died) and was grounded. On 1 August 43, 6 members of the original B-24 Dopey, flew a new plane (Margie A Virgin) and were involved in the infamous Ploesti raid.
The B-24 was shot up pretty bad, and upon landing somewhere in Europe, caught fire with 6 members of the former DOPEY CREW: Gooden, Perkins, McNeil, Beaudry, Cox, and Cochrane, losing their lives."
Daniel J. Kreutzer, 81. Survived by wife Helen; 16 children; 60 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; three sisters; and three brothers. Funeral Mass, Wednesday, 10 a.m., at Our Lady Mother of The Church. Interment, Elmwood Cemetery.
Denver Post, 3/12/2003
---------------------------
7/13/1943 Silver Star Award: Messina Sicily. From the General Order 62 9th AF 1943.
Daniel J Kreutzer Staff Sergeant, 343rd Bombardment Squadron, 98th Bombardment Group. For gallantry in action while participating in aerial combat on June 9, 1943. On this date Sergeant Kreutzer was waist gunner on a heavy bombardment aircraft. After successfully completing the mission against a vitally important enemy target, his aircraft was hit by enemy anti-aircraft fire disabling one of the engines, causing the airplane to fall out of formation. Simultaneously, the plane was attacked by enemy fighter craft. Sergeant Kreutzer, although seriously wounded by enemy fire, remained at his guns and so skillfully directed his fire in coordination with the other gunners that they successfully repelled twenty enemy aircraft.
---------------------------
Waist Gunner S/Sgt Daniel J Kreutzer SS WIA
Squadron: 343rd 98 BOMB GROUP,
Awards: Silver Star Air Medal, Purple Heart
Pilot 1st./Lt Clarence Winford Gooden , DFC KIA August 1 1943
Missing Air Crew Report Details
Date Lost: 9-Jun-43
Aircraft Model B-24D
Aircraft Name: DOPEY
The Crew was Pilot Lt. Clarence W. Gooden, Co-pilot Lt Donald G Johnson, Navigator Lt Ralph F Perkins Jr. Bombardier, Lt Willaim H, McNeil, AE T/SGT Oscar W Hauser, Radio T/Sgt Theodore C. Beaudry, Gunner S/S Roland B. Cox, Gunner S/Sgt Alexander M Cochrane and my dad Waist Gunner S/Sgt Daniel J Kreutzer.
They left the US per his discharge papers 4 Apil 43 flying the southern route to North Africa which I believe Dad said was to Cuba, Puerto Rico, Ascension Island, Cairo Egypt and finally Lybia arriving 15 April 43. Did go to Bethleham and Jereslum, and stationed shortly in Tunisa and Sicily.
Their first Action was 25 April 43 but did not drop Bombs as Bomb Bay door didn't open. Dad had 14 flights in action with most of the same crew, bombing mainly locations in Sicily (Bari Aerodrome, Reggio, Messina, Catania, Auguste, Foggia etc). They were quite successful with the full crew returning intact each time including their toughest mission of 9 June 43, (see above Silver Star award and news articles (images) downloaded) until Dad ( S/Sgt Kreutzer ) was injured on that date. He ended up with shrapnel next to his spine (carried the shrapnel in his back until he died) and was grounded. On 1 August 43, 6 members of the original B-24 Dopey, flew a new plane (Margie A Virgin) and were involved in the infamous Ploesti raid.
The B-24 was shot up pretty bad, and upon landing somewhere in Europe, caught fire with 6 members of the former DOPEY CREW: Gooden, Perkins, McNeil, Beaudry, Cox, and Cochrane, losing their lives."
Denver Post, 3/12/2003
---------------------------
7/13/1943 Silver Star Award: Messina Sicily. From the General Order 62 9th AF 1943.
Daniel J Kreutzer Staff Sergeant, 343rd Bombardment Squadron, 98th Bombardment Group. For gallantry in action while participating in aerial combat on June 9, 1943. On this date Sergeant Kreutzer was waist gunner on a heavy bombardment aircraft. After successfully completing the mission against a vitally important enemy target, his aircraft was hit by enemy anti-aircraft fire disabling one of the engines, causing the airplane to fall out of formation. Simultaneously, the plane was attacked by enemy fighter craft. Sergeant Kreutzer, although seriously wounded by enemy fire, remained at his guns and so skillfully directed his fire in coordination with the other gunners that they successfully repelled twenty enemy aircraft.
---------------------------
Waist Gunner S/Sgt Daniel J Kreutzer SS WIA
Squadron: 343rd 98 BOMB GROUP,
Awards: Silver Star Air Medal, Purple Heart
Pilot 1st./Lt Clarence Winford Gooden , DFC KIA August 1 1943
Missing Air Crew Report Details
Date Lost: 9-Jun-43
Aircraft Model B-24D
Aircraft Name: DOPEY
The Crew was Pilot Lt. Clarence W. Gooden, Co-pilot Lt Donald G Johnson, Navigator Lt Ralph F Perkins Jr. Bombardier, Lt Willaim H, McNeil, AE T/SGT Oscar W Hauser, Radio T/Sgt Theodore C. Beaudry, Gunner S/S Roland B. Cox, Gunner S/Sgt Alexander M Cochrane and my dad Waist Gunner S/Sgt Daniel J Kreutzer.
They left the US per his discharge papers 4 Apil 43 flying the southern route to North Africa which I believe Dad said was to Cuba, Puerto Rico, Ascension Island, Cairo Egypt and finally Lybia arriving 15 April 43. Did go to Bethleham and Jereslum, and stationed shortly in Tunisa and Sicily.
Their first Action was 25 April 43 but did not drop Bombs as Bomb Bay door didn't open. Dad had 14 flights in action with most of the same crew, bombing mainly locations in Sicily (Bari Aerodrome, Reggio, Messina, Catania, Auguste, Foggia etc). They were quite successful with the full crew returning intact each time including their toughest mission of 9 June 43, (see above Silver Star award and news articles (images) downloaded) until Dad ( S/Sgt Kreutzer ) was injured on that date. He ended up with shrapnel next to his spine (carried the shrapnel in his back until he died) and was grounded. On 1 August 43, 6 members of the original B-24 Dopey, flew a new plane (Margie A Virgin) and were involved in the infamous Ploesti raid.
The B-24 was shot up pretty bad, and upon landing somewhere in Europe, caught fire with 6 members of the former DOPEY CREW: Gooden, Perkins, McNeil, Beaudry, Cox, and Cochrane, losing their lives."
Family Members
Siblings
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Michael D Kreutzer
1923–2007
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Gilbert Kreutzer
1925–1927
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Wilfred Francis "Willy" Kreutzer
1926–2002
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Armella Belvajean Kreutzer Dickson
1928–1998
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Gilbert John Kreutzer
1929–1975
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Rita Marie Kreutzer
1931–2011
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Dorothy Margaret Kreutzer Dickson
1933–2010
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Kenneth Joseph Kreutzer
1939–2009
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Cletus John Kreutzer
1941–2020
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