2. WWII Veterans and Their Story

SSgt. Kenneth Crosthwait, 304th Squadron, 442nd Troop Carrier Group, 9th Air Force, European Theater

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  • Ken Crosthwait in 2010

    Ken Crosthwait in 2010

  • DAYTON, Ohio -- 442nd Troop Carrier Group plaque in Memorial Park at the National Museum of the United States Air Force.

    DAYTON, Ohio -- 442nd Troop Carrier Group plaque in Memorial Park at the National Museum of the United States Air Force.

  • 442nd Troop Carrier Wing Unit patch

    442nd Troop Carrier Wing Unit patch

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    2fde56900

  • War Theatre #12 (France) - AIRPLANES Douglas C-47 "Skytrains", 12th Air Force Troop Carrier Wing, loaded with paratroopers on their way for the invasion of southern France, 15 August 1944.

    War Theatre #12 (France) - AIRPLANES Douglas C-47 "Skytrains", 12th Air Force Troop Carrier Wing, loaded with paratroopers on their way for the invasion of southern France, 15 August 1944.

  • The 442nd's C-47s towed these wooden gliders in airborne assaults of D-Day and Market-Garden. Waco CG-4A (U.S. Air Force photo)

    The 442nd's C-47s towed these wooden gliders in airborne assaults of D-Day and Market-Garden. Waco CG-4A (U.S. Air Force photo)

  • Lawson Field, Fort Benning, Georgia, August 1946....At the command of their jump leader these twenty-one students of the Airborne School climb aboard a waiting Douglas C-47 of the 75th Troop Carrier Squadron which will take them up for a practice jump. After losing its cargo the plane will return quickly and pick up another load of jumpers without waiting long enough to turn off its motor.

    Lawson Field, Fort Benning, Georgia, August 1946....At the command of their jump leader these twenty-one students of the Airborne School climb aboard a waiting Douglas C-47 of the 75th Troop Carrier Squadron which will take them up for a practice jump. After losing its cargo the plane will return quickly and pick up another load of jumpers without waiting long enough to turn off its motor.

  • In the European theatre of operations during World War II, a 442nd Troop Carrier Group Waco CG-4A combat assault glider takes of on a mission towed by one of the group's C-47 s. The 442nd TCG was the 442nd Fighter Wing's WW II progenitor. The 442nd FW is an Air Force Reserve Command A-10 Thunderbolt II fighter unit based at Whiteman AFB, Mo. (442nd Fighter Wing archive photo)

    In the European theatre of operations during World War II, a 442nd Troop Carrier Group Waco CG-4A combat assault glider takes of on a mission towed by one of the group's C-47 s. The 442nd TCG was the 442nd Fighter Wing's WW II progenitor. The 442nd FW is an Air Force Reserve Command A-10 Thunderbolt II fighter unit based at Whiteman AFB, Mo. (442nd Fighter Wing archive photo)

  • Kenneth Crosthwait's photo of his squadron prior to D-Day. They were the greatest generation. I had the honor of interviewing him and other WW2 Vets.

    Kenneth Crosthwait's photo of his squadron prior to D-Day. They were the greatest generation. I had the honor of interviewing him and other WW2 Vets.

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    1246_02_f

  • 82nd Airborne members check their equipment before boarding a 442nd Troop Carrier Group C-47 bound for Drop Zone "T" near St. Mere Eglise in Normandy on D-Day, June 6, 1944. The 442nd Troop Carrier Group launched 45 C-47s with approximately 20 soldiers in each aircraft. The 442nd TCG was the World War II predecessor of the 442nd Fighter Wing, an Air Force Reserve Command A-10 Thunderbolt II unit based at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo. (Photo courtesy of the Herky Barbour estate)

    82nd Airborne members check their equipment before boarding a 442nd Troop Carrier Group C-47 bound for Drop Zone "T" near St. Mere Eglise in Normandy on D-Day, June 6, 1944. The 442nd Troop Carrier Group launched 45 C-47s with approximately 20 soldiers in each aircraft. The 442nd TCG was the World War II predecessor of the 442nd Fighter Wing, an Air Force Reserve Command A-10 Thunderbolt II unit based at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo. (Photo courtesy of the Herky Barbour estate)

  • Members of the 303rd Troop Carrier Squadron, 442nd Troop Carrier Group, prepare to launch C-47 aircraft to carry American soldiers across the Rhine River into Germany during World War II. Part of the job of the wing historian is to preserve documents and photos to remember events in a unit's history such as this momentous occassion.

    Members of the 303rd Troop Carrier Squadron, 442nd Troop Carrier Group, prepare to launch C-47 aircraft to carry American soldiers across the Rhine River into Germany during World War II. Part of the job of the wing historian is to preserve documents and photos to remember events in a unit's history such as this momentous occassion.

  • Less than three weeks before the end of the war in Europe, the 442nd Troop Carrier Group's, 305th Troop Carrier Squadron operated out of airfields in occupied Germany. With the end of military operations, and through its remaining days in Europe, the 442nd saw its mission change from troop carrier to transport. It was a mission that the 442nd, as a Reserve unit, would do until 1982.

    Less than three weeks before the end of the war in Europe, the 442nd Troop Carrier Group's, 305th Troop Carrier Squadron operated out of airfields in occupied Germany. With the end of military operations, and through its remaining days in Europe, the 442nd saw its mission change from troop carrier to transport. It was a mission that the 442nd, as a Reserve unit, would do until 1982.

  • Medical personnel load a litter patient aboard a 442nd Troop Carrier Group C-47 during World War II. The 442nd was a major air ambulance carrying wounded GIs to hospitals in England.

    Medical personnel load a litter patient aboard a 442nd Troop Carrier Group C-47 during World War II. The 442nd was a major air ambulance carrying wounded GIs to hospitals in England.

  • afg-041110-007

    afg-041110-007

  • Ken's Unit, the 442nd Troop Carrier, 304th Squadron participated in Operation Market-Garden, an airborne assault on Holland and an attempt to cross the Rhine River at Arnhem.

    Ken's Unit, the 442nd Troop Carrier, 304th Squadron participated in Operation Market-Garden, an airborne assault on Holland and an attempt to cross the Rhine River at Arnhem.

  • b8f367fe-ea5e-4628-bc1c-f7a598162b2e

    b8f367fe-ea5e-4628-bc1c-f7a598162b2e

  • 9th Air Force patch, parent organization of the 442nd

    9th Air Force patch, parent organization of the 442nd

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    Lawson Field, Fort Benning, Georgia, August 1946....At the command of their jump leader these twenty-one students of the Airborne School climb aboard a waiting Douglas C-47 of the 75th Troop Carrier Squadron which will take them up for a practice jump. After losing its cargo the plane will return quickly and pick up another load of jumpers without waiting long enough to turn off its motor.
    In the European theatre of operations during World War II, a 442nd Troop Carrier Group Waco CG-4A combat assault glider takes of on a mission towed by one of the group's C-47 s. The 442nd TCG was the 442nd Fighter Wing's WW II progenitor. The 442nd FW is an Air Force Reserve Command A-10 Thunderbolt II fighter unit based at Whiteman AFB, Mo. (442nd Fighter Wing archive photo)
    Kenneth Crosthwait's photo of his squadron prior to D-Day. They were the greatest generation. I had the honor of interviewing him and other WW2 Vets.