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Personal info

Full name
KANE, Fred Joseph "Freddie"
Date of birth
8 December 1919
Age
24
Place of birth
Olpe, Lyon County, Kansas
Hometown
Sedgwick County, Kansas

Military service

Service number
O-752921
Rank
Second Lieutenant
Function
Bombardier
Unit
578th Bombardment Squadron,
392nd Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
29 April 1944
Place of death
4 kilometres north of Fuhrberg/Hannover, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
D 24 4

Immediate family

Members
John E. Kane (father)

Plane data

Serial number
42-100100
Data
Type: B-24H
Nickname: Double Trouble
Destination: Berlin, Germany
MACR: 4444

More information

Eyewitness account by a returning Pilot, 2nd Lt R.E. Sabourin, stated that the ship was hit by flak just before a fighter attack; that it swung off to the left and started back with no apparent damage, no chutes were seen. In German report stated that this aircraft had crashed at 11:06 hours, 4 kilometres north of Fuhrberg/Hannover, Germany. One dead aviator was reported being found in the wreckage who was identified as Lt Kane, The Bombardier.
Lt Roper, the Navigator, stated in the Casualty Report that the plane had come under attack by enemy fighters and the nose of the aircraft took a direct hit by a 20mm shell which killed Lt Kane because as he (Lt Roper) was attempting to pull the member out of the nose turret, he found Lt Kane dead after the Pilot had given an abandon order.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Michel Beckers, Terry Hirsch, www.B.24.net, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.footnote.com, WWII Draft Card

Photo source: www.findagrave.com, Peter Schouteten, Arie-Jan van Hees, Bombardier Class Book 43-12, Deming AAF, New Mexico