Kenneth R Lorch

Military
Kenneth Lorch UPL 72694 UPL 72694 Ken Lorch Photo

Family photo

On

Object Number - UPL 72694 - Ken Lorch Photo

Kenneth R Lorch was born in St Paul, Minnesota in 1920, the son of George and Blanche Lorch. He'd completed three years of college at the time of his enlistment in the United States Army Air Corps in January 1942. Second Lieutenant Lorch was assigned to the 100th Bomb Group as a Bombardier, flying with the crew of "Duration + 62", piloted by 1st Lt Roy F. Claytor.

Loach was shot down on the 17 August 1943 mission to Regensburg. He was part of the lead crew of the second element, flying in B-17 "Alice From Dallas". Lorch evaded capture for eight months and worked with the French Underground to set up "helper lines" before finally being captured and sent to Stalag Luft III. Lorch retired from the USAF in 1976 with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. 

Kenneth Lorch is played by James Meunier in Apple TV's Masters of the Air (2024). 
 

Connections

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Units served with

Three airmen of the 100th Bomb Group, Lieutenant Kenneth Menzie, Lieutenant Donald Strout and Lieutenant Norman Scott, plan the route they will take during the next mission in their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30380). Image stamped on reverse: 'Reviewed and passed U.S. Army 23 Aug 1943 Press Censor E.T.O. U.S.A.' [stamp]'. Passed for publication 23 August 1943 INTLD 16 General Section Press Censorship Bureau '[stamp], 'Associated Press' [stamp] and '280035.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reve

100th Bomb Group

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

People

Portrait of William Macadoo Quinn

William Mcadoo Quinn

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 100th Bomb Group 350th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 6391477
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator / Gunner

Clifford Roger Starkey

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 100th Bomb Group 350th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 36189601
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Aircraft

A B-17 Flying Fortress (**-O, serial number 42-5867) nicknamed "Alice from Dallas" of the 100th Bomb Group flies in formation above the clouds with other Fortresses. Printed caption on reverse: 'A formation of B-17 "Flying-Fortresses" of the 100th Bomb Group flyes[sic] over a blanket of clouds en route to their target at Warnemunde, Germany. The plane in the foreground is the B-17 "Alice From Dallas". 29 July 1943. US Air Force Photo.' Handwritten caption on reverse: '100BG.'

42-5867

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: ALICE From DALLAS
  • Unit: 100th Bomb Group 350th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Other

Prisoner of War (POW)

17 August 1943 Stalag Luft 3 Sagan-Silesia Bavaria (Moved to Nuremberg-Langwasser) 49-11

Revisions

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ContributorHattie
Changes
Sources
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ContributorHattie
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Contributorjmoore43
Changes
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Added an association to “Thorpe Abbotts”, the home base of the 100th BG.

Added an Association to the 100th BG, the parent bomb group of the 349th, 350th, 351st & 418th Bomb Squadrons & the 412th Air Service group.

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ContributorNjlorch
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Family records

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Contributorjmoore43
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Added POW camp info to the POW event and a S/N from WW2 POW records at the National Archives (NARA).

Date
Contributorjmoore43
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Added a "-" to the A/C serial number in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity & consistency.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

100th Bomb Group Foundation Directory, 2000 - 2001; MACR 678 / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 678 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

Kenneth R Lorch: Gallery (1 items)