DEDICATED TO 97th BG 414th BS

DEDICATED TO 97^th BG 414^th BS

Mechanic

SGT. ERNST F. KNOBLOCH

Army Air Corps Jan 12, 1942 - July 21, 1945

Deceased 1995

12^th AF 15^th AF 97^th BG 414^th BS

Material submitted by his son

Lowell Knobloch

Site edited and maintained by Doug Cook

Contacts from 97^th BG and 414^th Squadron Welcome!

Last Update January 2, 2017

126b

(as told to his Son Lowell Knobloch)

97^th Bomb Group Stations During Ernst Knobloch’s Service
Biskra, Algeria Q4 1942- Q1 1943

Chateaudun-du-Rhumel, Algeria, c. 8 Feb 1943
Pont-du-Fahs, Tunisia, c. 1 Aug 1943

Amendola, Foggia, Italy Nov 1943 – Oct 1945

97^th BG 400 Missions

Training Days

Ernst Knobloch Keesler Field, Biloxi, MS

Ernst Knobloch During Training MacDill Field, Tampa (Sarasota), FL 1942

Ernst and fiancé Helen Wilke 1942 CPL. Ernst Knobloch March 15, 1943

SGT. Ernst Knobloch received these Awards, Medals, and Citations

·      Mechanics Badge

·      Presidential Unit Citation Badge GO #66 WD ‘44

·      Good Conduct Medal GO #30 97^th BG ‘44

·      European-African-Middle East Theater Service Medal

·      Overseas Service Bars (5)

·      No Time Lost AW 107 Lapel Button

·      American Campaign Medal

·      WWII Victory Medal

·      Campaign Ribbons

·      Battle Stars (6)

·      Honorable Service Badge

WWII  Life North Africa and Italy

Paul Howe and James Bracewell with captured German BMW , N Africa

Bob Hope USO Show Dieppienne Base  N Africa

B-17 Snoozin’ Susan (Crew Chief Buck Jackson)

B-17 Nut Cracker  (see Col. Robert Rast’s story- shot down and POW)

B-17 Fort Alamo II  and Unknown Crew Foggia, Italy

B-17 with Ordinance  Maison Blanc, Africa

                          B-17 Maintenance  Ernst Knobloch top right        B-17 Biskra Ground Crew Buck Jackson, Paul Howe, and unknowns

Sgt. Ernst Knobloch Assistant Crew Chief B-17 Kwitchurbitchen II    Amendola, 1944

B-17 Could Be!   Ground Crew Carl Sieber and Ernst Knobloch     Foggia, Italy

Ernst Knobloch P-38 Belly Tank serving as water tank  Tents  Foggia

Ernst Knobloch’s tent buddies  1944 Foggia / Amendola, Italy

Joseph Newhart, Leo P Sliski, Carl J Sieber, Eugene H Turner, Angelo Fedele (Fiddle-dee-dee)

Turner and Knobloch making popcorn sent from home.  Foggia, Italy

Photograph of a WWII bomber salvage yard near Gioia, Italy with B-24s and the B-17 “All American”.

No serial number is shown so we cannot claim categorically that this is the famous “All American” of the 97^th BG 414^th BS.

Photo provided by Lowell Knobloch from a friend.

SGT. Ernst Knobloch WWII Memorabilia

Two Iowa 97^th BG WWII Vets Remembered

97^th BG Fellow Servicemen in Ernst’s Collection

Home from WWII

Ernst with his 1937 Plymouth March, 1945

Ernst and Helen Knobloch  Wedding Day Rock Rapids, IA    March 24, 1945

Wedding Day Alvord, IA    March 24, 1945

Earl, Adolph, Wilbert, Lydia, Ernst, Ben Knobloch and Charlie Hayden

Ernst Knobloch at 1993 Air Show in Cedar Rapids, IA

B-17 Sentimental Journey

97^th BG Fellow Servicemen Reunions

George Gable and Family Cedar Rapids, Iowa 1976

     James Bracewell (age 17)

1976 Reunion Colorado Springs, CO

Front Row: Al Moszyk, Unknown, Leonard (Little Howe, James N. (Shorty) Bracewell

Back Row: Ernst (Knobby) Knobloch, Wayne E. Jorgenson, Paul (Big) Howe, Wadsworth (Buck) Jackson, Herman (Hank / Hog Eyes) Heyland

1992 Reunion

Charles Heath, Benjamin Heath, Robert J Day, Orville Elliason

Ernst Knobloch and tent buddies

1944 Amendola, Italy

Front: Leo P Sliski, Eugene H Turner, Angelo Fedele (Fiddle-dee-dee)

Back: Joseph Newhart, Carl J Sieber, Ernst (Knobby) Knobloch

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