Kenneth Owen Burkheimer

Military

Kenneth Burkheimer was a Pilot in the 388th Bomb Group/560th Bomb Squadron. He was shot down twice. First on the 26 September 1944 mission to Bremen. Ditched his B-17# 42-31039 in the Channel off Calais, France. All the crew of ten was picked up by PT boat and returned to duty. No MACR. Had to crash-land B-17#43-37787 in Knokke, Belgium, on return from the Berlin mission 5 December 1944. All nine men on board returned to duty. No MACR.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 388th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 560th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 560th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 560th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 560th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 560th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier

Aircraft

A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-10706) nicknamed "Miss Bea Havin'" of the 388th Bomb Group flies over countryside. Image via Mark Brown, AFA. Written on slide casing: 'Miss Bea Havin 2107062 M, 562 BS.'
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Worry Bird/Miss Bea Haven
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 560th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Holy Smokes*

Missions

  • Date: 5 December 1944
  • Date: 26 September 1944

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Sedalia, Missouri 12 April 1919

Enlisted

26 December 1941 Los Angeles, California

Died

8 January 2003
Los Angeles, California
Huntington Park, California

Buried

Kenneth Burkheimer rests at the Desert Lawn Cemetery in Calimesa, California

Revisions

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

NARA WWII Enlistment records
WWII Draft Card
Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log (ditching of 42-31039)
Veterans Affairs BIRLS death File
VA Gravesite Locator

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / www.388bg.info/Personnel.html