William Arthur Kneisl

Military

Assigned to 345BS, 98BG, 9AF USAAF. Waist Gunner B-24 42-40312 'Aire Lobo', Lost over Ploesti 1 Aug 43 - A/C was hit by flak before the target and again on the cockpit area after bombing. Gunners believed wounded. A/C came down in the target area striking the ground with the left wing before disintegrating. Killed in Action (KIA) MACR 227



Awards: DFC, AM, PH.

Connections

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Units served with

Three airmen of the 389th Bomb Group stand with a B-24 Liberator used as a Flight Assembly Ship. Image via Tim Bivens. Handwritten caption from Bivens: 'My friend remembers it being named "Bucksheesh Benny" that it was used to fly Jack Benny around USA shows. Says it flew in North Africa with Benny and was eventually assigned to 389th as a hack and later as a form-up ship. He thinks it was originally with another group (possibly 376th or 98th).' Handwritten caption on reverse: '389th BG Form-up ship.'

98th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Ninth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

John Thomas

John Blakeslee Thomas

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: Ninth Air Force 345th Bomb Squadron 98th Bomb Group
  • Service Numbers: O-659415
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

42-40312

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Aire Lobo
  • Unit: Ninth Air Force

Missions

Events

Event Location Date Description

Enlisted

Milwaukee, WI 24 June 1942 Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Died

Ploiești, Romania 1 August 1943 KIA, Waist Gunner B-24 42-40312 'Aire Lobo', Lost over Ploesti 1 Aug 43 - A/C was hit by flak before the target and again on the cockpit area after bombing. Gunners believed wounded. A/C came down in the target area striking the ground with the left wing before disintegrating. 9 KIA 1 POW. MACR 227
Wausau, WI, USA Wausau, Wisconsin, USA.

Buried

Ardennes American Cemetery and Memorial Ardennes American Cemetery and Memorial Liège, Belgium Plot A Row 37 Grave 37

Born

Wisconsin

Revisions

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

https://www.fold3.com/image/29418756
https://www.fold3.com/image/203931151
https://www.fold3.com/record/84417781/world-war-ii-army-enlistment-reco…
https://www.fold3.com/record/529856750/american-battle-monuments-commis…
https://www.fold3.com/record/702345811/u-s-wwii-hospital-admission-card…
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56359184/william-a.-kneisl
Removed # from A/C seial No. to aid clarity and consistency

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

http://www.findagrave.com