Ben Kuroki
MilitaryCrew 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
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- 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
Missions
- Date: 1 August 1943
- Official Description:
Places
- Site type: Airfield
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
His highest rank (Technical Sergeant) is verified by the picture accompanying his profile.
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.