Kenneth W. Neidenthal.
Waist Gunner · 328th Squadron · Of Brewster, OH.
The man.
Served as waist gunner with 93rd Bomb Group (H), 328th Bomb Sqdn., European and North African Theaters. His memorable experience was recorded in The Story of the 93rd Bombardment Group - the photo captioned "Lucky Miss" shows the flak hit beside his waist gunner position over Kiel on Dec. 13, 1943.
Service record.
Missions flown.
Before and after.
Born Sept. 19, 1921 in Brewster, OH. Enlisted in USAAC in 1942. Assigned to 93rd Bomb Group (H), 328th Bomb Sqdn. at Lowry Field, CO (Oct. 21, 1942). Altitude training at Salt Lake City (Dec. 1942); Wendover Aerial Gunnery School; Davis Monthan Gunnery School (March 1943); Army Air Base, Pueblo, CO, 804th Bomb Sqdn. (June 1943).
Discharged 1945 as staff sergeant. Received Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medals and three Oak Leaf Clusters. First wife Mary Jean Dunlevy (died 1973); three sons: Wally, Gary, Randy. Graduated Ohio State University with engineering degree. Worked for Ranco Controls, Battelle Memorial Institute; chief engineer of Federal Gas Company; retired from Vipco (division of Crane Plastics) as chief engineer. Married JoAnn Baker in 1988; lives in Columbus, OH.