See also 1Lt Michael Edward Kleopfel Jr. Individual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF)
(Courtesy of Geoff Gentilini, Golden Arrow Research, LLC)
Disclaimer: IDPF files document efforts to locate, identify, move, notify relatives and provide final resting for Soldier Dead,
often months or years after death, thus some pages may contain potentially disturbing or distressing information.
If you are sensitive, please consider whether to read this or not.
Click Here for information on WWII IDPFs.
Notes:
A/C Last Sighted. Lost as a result of Enemy Anti-Aircraft. Plane hit by flak. Started to slow roll losing altitude; then fell straight down out of control.
Description:
Two planes were lost over enemy territory, ... From the planes that were lost, three chutes came from one, and two chutes from the other. The crews of the planes were Lt Blair H. Bradford, S/Sgt Clarence M. Gray, S/Sgt Vern E. Molver, Lt Michael E. Kleopfel, S/Sgt Ray Bankston, and S/Sgt LeRoy R. Shaw.
(416th BG History 1944)
See also MACR 4971 and Mission # 50
Photos and Documents
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Parents Marriage Record
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1920 US Census
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1930 US Census
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Michael E. Kleopfel School Portrait
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School Yearbook Portrait
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School Yearbook
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Flight Training
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Flight Training
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Flight Training
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1st Lt Michael E. Kleopfel
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L-R: Sgt LeRoy Shaw, Lt Michael Kloepfel, Sgt Ray Bankston prior to Overseas transfer
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L-R: Lt Michael Kloepfel, Sgt LeRoy Shaw, Sgt Ray Bankston at Leon & Eddie's Cafe, NYC prior to Overseas transfer
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1Lt. Kleopfel (center) with gunners SSgt Ray Bankston and SSgt Leroy Shaw
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Photo
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Letter Home (page 1)
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Letter Home (page 2)
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Letter Home (page 3)
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Letter Home (page 4)
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Post-War letter from S/Sgt. Ray Bankston, Jr to Michael's wife
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Headstone Application
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Headstone Application
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Rosters Of WW II Dead
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WW II Army and Army Air Force Casualty List
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National World War II Memorial Registry
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Source information can be viewed at WWII Military Service Fatalities Sources
