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Contact Info
Home Town Pender, Nebraska
Last Address Lovettsville, Virginia
Date of Passing Feb 12, 1988
Location of Interment Arlington National Cemetery (VLM) - Arlington, Virginia
He flew a total of 91 combat missions in Europe in WWII, the most of any bomber pilot in the 8th Air Force.
His DSC citation: Awarded for actions during World War II
(Citation Needed) - SYNOPSIS: Lieutenant Colonel (Air Corps) Immanuel Klette, United States Army Air Forces, was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a B-17 Heavy Bomber in the 324th Bombardment Squadron, 91st Bombardment Group (H), EIGHTH Air Force, while participating in a bombing mission on 21 November 1944, against enemy ground targets in the European Theater of Operations. On this date, Lieutenant Colonel Klette led the entire Eighth Air Force, a force of 1,291 bombers and 954 fighters, on a raid on oil refineries at Merseburg-Leuna, the most heavily defended target in Germany. In rapidly deteriorating weather, he made an on-the-spot decision to take the bombers down from 27,000 feet to visual bombing weather at 17,000, resulting in the war's most destructive strike on the refineries. The personal courage and zealous devotion to duty displayed by Lieutenant Colonel Klette on this occasion have upheld the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 8th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.
WWII - European Theater of Operations/Rhineland Campaign (1944-45)
From Month/Year
September / 1944
To Month/Year
March / 1945
Description Attempting to outflank the Siegfried Line, the Allies tried an airborne attack on Holland on 17 September 1944. But the operation failed, and the enemy was able to strengthen his defensive line from Holland to Switzerland. Little progress was made on the ground, but the aerial attacks on strategic targets continued. Then, having regained the initiative after defeating a German offensive in the Ardennes in December 1944, the Allies drove through to the Rhine, establishing a bridgehead across the river at Remagen.
