This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Sgt Duane Kimbrow (Skip)
to remember
Ambrose, Kenneth W., 1st Lt.
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Contact Info
Home Town Lincolnville/Marion
Last Address Blue Bell, Pennsylvania
Date of Passing Nov 28, 1942
Location of Interment Indiantown Gap National Cemetery (VA) - Annville, Pennsylvania
Lt. Ambrose was lost when his P-38 (#41-2276) crashed into a steep hillside in the North Cascades of Whatcom County, in the Pasayten wilderness east of Mount Baker, Washington while he was on a flight from Alaska to visit his wife in Berkeley, California. Because of war time secrecy, there was little information available at the time other than his aircraft was missing. His aircraft was found by hikers 60 years later in 1997 who came across the remains of the aircraft, quite accidentally. His remains were finally identified in 2006.
He had been stationed with the 54th Fighter Squadron in Elmendorf Field and Adak Island AAF fighting the Japanese in the Aleutian Islands. He was accorded with having shot down the first Japanese aircraft in his P-38 off the island of Atka.
He had enlisted in August 1940, attended flight school, and was stationed at McChord AB, Tacoma, Washington in October 1941. In the spring of 1942, he was sent to Elmendorf, Alaska and subsequent fighting in the Aleutian Campaign of World War II.
His remains were interred in Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Annville, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, 19 May 2006. He left a wife and a young daughter at his death.
Aircraft/Missile Information
Specifications StatsCentral Model Lockheed P-38J Lightning Length 37.83 ft | 11.53 m Width 52.00 ft | 15.85 m Height 9.81 ft | 2.99 m Engine(s) 2 x Allison V-1710-111 water-cooled inline piston engines generating 1,425hp. Empty Weight 12,800 lbs | 5,806 kg MTOW 21,601 lbs | 9,798 kg Max Speed 414 mph | 666 km/h | 360 kts Max Range 2,237 miles | 3,600 km Ceiling 43,963 ft | 13,400 m | 8.3 miles Climb Rate 2,500 ft/min (762 m/min) Hardpoints 2 Armament 1 x 20mm Cannon 4 x 12.7mm machine guns
10 x 5in high-explosive rockets (optional) 2 x Drop Tanks (optional) 2 x 500lb bombs (optional)
Up to 4,000lbs (908kg) of underwing ordnance. Accommodations 1
