Bert Lee Kidd Jr. was born in Tennessee to Bert Lee Kidd Sr. and Nancy Catherine Tyson.
Graduate of Young High School Class of 1941, Knoxville, Tennessee
456th Bomb Group H, Stornara, Italy
Top Turret Gunner on B-24 Bomber. Plane was shot down over Yugoslavia on a bombing raid.
Enlisted on October 26, 1942, in Camp Forrest, TN, in the Army Air Corps
Buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, Saint Louis, Missouri, with his crew members from the B-24
Statement
On 13 February 1945, I was flying as Flight Control Officer in Dog 6 position. At approximately 1417 hours, 4635N/1554E, over Marbor, Yugoslavia, I observed aircraft #919, flying in Dog 3 position receive a direct flak hit in the bomb bays. It immediately burst into flames, but under control. The pilot, Lt. George W. Lambert, then pulled the aircraft out to the left of the formation while members of the crew bailed out. Aircraft #919 then fell behind the formation and I saw it go into a spin and crash. I observed five parachutes opening.
Crew members of aircraft B-24 with serial number 42-51919
Pilot, Instructor, 1st Lt George W. Lambers
Pilot, 2nd Lt Glenn A. Black
Navigator, 1st Lt Edward W. Walker
Bombardier, 1st Lt Melvin H. Milbrath
Engineer, S/Sgt William C. Lewis
Radio Operator, T/Sgt Noel C. Pirtle
Top Turret Gunner, S/Sgt Bert L. Kidd Jr.
Ball Turret Gunner, S/Sgt Norbert S. Ecker
Nose Gunner, S/Sgt Richard R. Hartline
Tail Turret Gunner, S/Sgt Sammy L. Cannedy
Left Waist Gunner, S/Sgt Frank S. Forde
The Knoxville Journal, March 5, 1945
SSgt Bert L. Kidd, Jr., 20, son of Mr. and Mrs. Bert L. Kidd of Neubert, was reported missing in action since Feb. 13 over Yugoslavia, according to War Department notice received by his parents. Formery a filling station employe, Sgt. Kidd volunteered for service with the Army Air Corps in October, 1942. He took his basic and gunnery training in Florida and went overseas in September, 1944. Kidd had completed more than 25 missions as top turret gunner on a Liberator bomber when reported missing. He attended Young High School.
- Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Date of birth: 8 May 1924
- Date of death: 13 February 1945
- County: Knox
- Hometown: Knoxville
- Service Branch: Army/Army Air Forces
- Division/Assignment: 456th Bomber Group, 744th Bomber Squadron
- Theater: Europe
- Conflict: World War II
- Awards: Purple Heart
- Burial/Memorial Location: Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, Saint Louis, Missouri
- Location In Memorial: Pillar XIV, Middle Panel
- Contact us to sponsor Bert L. Kidd Jr.
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