Ben Kuroki

Military
media-15045.jpeg UPL 15045 Technical Sergeant Ben Kuroki with Distinguished Service Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross (×3) and Air Medal with oak leaf clusters (×5)

Object Number - UPL 15045 - Technical Sergeant Ben Kuroki with Distinguished Service Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross (×3) and Air Medal with oak leaf clusters (×5)

Crew member B-24 41-24105, flew on 1st Aug 43 Ploesti raid, returning safely to Libya. Second generation Japanese. Finished war as one of most highly decorated sergeants in WW II. Believed to be only enlisted man to fight in three theaters (Western Europe, Mediterranean, Far East). Story was told in 'The Boy From Nebraska', 1946, by Ralph G. Martin. He flew 30 missions with the 8th AAF, 58 total with USAAF.



Awards: DSM, DFC (3OLC), AM (5OLC), WWII Victory, EAME (8 battle stars), AP (2 battle stars).

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 93rd Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 409th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 14042973 and O-434752
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 409th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 17032797 at enlistment in 1941 / 0-724625
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 409th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 409th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 14041464
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Engineer / Top Turret Gunner

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Red Ass
  • Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 409th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Tupelo Lass
  • Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 409th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Gothenburg, NE 69138, USA 16 May 1917 Son of Sam Shosuke and Naka [Yokoyama] Kuroki.

Enlisted

Fort Francis E Warren, Cheyenne, WY 6 January 1942 Fort Francis E Warren, Cheyenne, Wyoming

Other

Ploesti Raid Participant

Ploiești, Romania 1 August 1943 Flew on 1st Aug 43 Ploesti raid, returning safely to Libya.

Died

Camarillo, CA, USA 1 September 2015 Died Sept. 1, 2015 Camarillo, California

Buried

Conejo Mountain Memorial Park Camarillo, Ventura County, CA 4 September 2015 Conejo Mountain Memorial Park Camarillo, Ventura County, California
Hershey, NE, USA

Other

Assigned

Benghazi, Libya 409th BS, 93rd BG, 8th AF. TDY 9th AF.

Revisions

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Contributorag2in2ag
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Sources

His highest rank (Technical Sergeant) is verified by the picture accompanying his profile.

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ContributorAl_Skiff
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ContributorKD4ITI
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Sources

Dave Wentzel
Carolinas Aviation Museum

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ContributorAl_Skiff
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ContributorAl_Skiff
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ContributorAAM
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Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Dugan & Stewart 'Ploesti'/ The Most Honorable Son Ben Kuroki by Cal Stewart a new book out in 2004.

Ben Kuroki: Gallery (3 items)