Arthur Lewis Kemp
MilitaryArthur L. "Kempy" Kemp served as a Tail Gunner and Left Waist Gunner in the 508th Bomb Squadron of the 351st Bomb Group out of Polebrook, England. He flew 38 combat missions (35 credited) earning the Air Medal with 1 Silver Oak Leaf Cluster and the DFC.
"Kempy" was credited with two kills within minutes of each other on his 11th mission to Merseburg, Germany on 28 Jul 1944 aboard B-17 42-97843.
Art is a long-time volunteer at the Champaign Aviation Museum in Urbana, Ohio.
Two interesting interviews with him: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bHBSKBk2PM and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3hJlbIJmFk
And a great article written about him: https://www.sidneydailynews.com/news/106803/the-story-of-art-kempy-kemp
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 351st Bomb Group 508th Bomb Squadron 509th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Hot Rocks
- Unit: 351st Bomb Group 510th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 351st Bomb Group 508th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Bedlam ball
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Port Jefferson, Ohio | 9 February 1924 | BornPort Jefferson, Ohio |
Enlisted |
Fort Hayes, Columbus, Ohio | 18 February 1943 | EnlistedFort Hayes, Columbus, Ohio |
Revisions
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / www.351st.org/ken.harbour/