Kenneth H. Dahlberg (1917- October 4, 2011) was an American businessman and highly decorated World War II fighter ace.
He was drafted into the army in 1941 and originally desired to become a cook.
He eventually became an aviation cadet in the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF), where one of his instructors was future Senator Barry Goldwater.
After training, Dahlberg flew the P-47 Thunderbolt and P-51 Mustang with the USAAF 353rd Fighter Squadron, 354th Fighter Group Ninth Air Force in Europe.
As a fighter ace, Dahlberg was credited with 14-1/2 aerial victories.
He received numerous awards and decorations, including the Distinguished Service Cross for leading a flight of 16 P-47 Thunderbolts (354th) against an attack of 70 German Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighters on December 19, 1944.
Dahlberg shot down four enemy planes that day. Dahlberg was shot down three times, the last on February 14, 1945 near Bitburg, and became a Prisoner of War for the final three months of the war. Continuing his military service after the war, Dahlberg served with the Minnesota Air National Guard until 1951. |