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Kenneth L. Gurney

Radio Operator

S/Sgt. Kenneth L. Gurney served as radio operator of B-24H 42-110033, 330th Bomb Squadron, 93rd Bomb Group. Serial 32369378 per MACR 15201 (MACR 15202 lists 32369376). Position listed as 'RD' and 'HO' in the two MACR copies; confirmed as radio operator in the 3rd Indorsement.

The sole survivor of the 29 March 1944 mid-air collision over Malesworth Station. Per the 3rd Indorsement (HQ 93rd Bomb Group, 30 October 1944): 'Only one crew member, S/Sgt. Kenneth L. Gurney, Radio Operator was able to bail out, and was the only survivor.'

Sortie Log

5 CATALOGUED SORTIES
25 FEB 1944 — 29 MAR 1944

The sorties below are those we have been able to document for this airman, drawn from flight logs, mission records, and archival sources. It is not necessarily a complete account of every mission flown; gaps may reflect missing documentation, transferred assignments, or records lost to time.

8AF Mission
Date
Target
Aircraft
№ 235
25 FEB 1944
FürthA/I
Miss Star Dust42-100355
№ 237
28 FEB 1944
Target unrecorded
Miss Star Dust42-100355
№ 244
02 MAR 1944
Frankfurt Am MainM/Y
Ready and Willing41-24109
№ 250
06 MAR 1944
GenshagenI/A
Sweater Gal42-100150
№ 284
29 MAR 1944
Watton
B-24H serial 42-110033 (MACR documents cite 41-110033; corrected to 42-110033 per 3rd Indorsement, HQ 93rd Bomb Group, 30 October 1944), assigned to the 330th Bombardment Squadron, 93rd Bomb Group, departed Hardwick on 29 March 1944 for a bombing mission to Watton. During formation assembly over Malesworth Station at approximately 1015 hours, the aircraft collided with A/C 41-28590 (pilot Lt. Robert L. McPetrich). The nose of one B-24 struck the fuselage of the other aft of the right wing near the waist window. The aircraft hit in the waist lost its entire tail section and dived spinning. The aircraft with the dented nose entered a spin to the right, briefly pulled out, then entered the lower cloud deck at a 45-degree angle. No parachutes were observed by the eyewitness. Only one crew member, S/Sgt. Kenneth L. Gurney (radio operator), was able to bail out and survived. All other nine crew members were killed in action. Eyewitness statement provided by 2nd Lt. George F. Hase, 330th Bombardment Squadron, dated 16 April 1944. Complete details were submitted on an Aircraft Accident Report (AAF Form 14) on 16 April 1944.
42-110033