Ens Kenneth Wayne “Ginger” Watkins
Monument

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Ens Kenneth Wayne “Ginger” Watkins

Birth
Carbon County, Utah, USA
Death
14 Nov 1944 (aged 21)
Philippines
Monument
Manila, Capital District, National Capital Region, Philippines Add to Map
Plot
Tablets of the Missing - United States Navy--Missing In Action
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Actual birth date April 11, 1923, according to the birth record & actual death date is November 14, 1944. The dates on the markers are incorrect. The official death date according to the military is one year +1 day after the actual death date before a soldier is listed as missing in action. See newspaper posted for actual death date. Ginger was born in Rains which was in Spring Canyon, Carbon County, Utah. There is a memorial in Manila.

Died in WWII, crashed into Manila Bay in the Philippines. Shot down by anti-aircraft fire from the Japanese. He took off from the Aircraft Carrier USS Hornet. Another pilot flying in formation with Kenneth saw him go down in Manila Bay.
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Ensign, Fighter Pilot, USS Bunker Hill (CV-17), U.S. Navy (Naval Reserve), World War II, Pacific Theater of Operations

Declared Missing in Action (MIA) or lost at sea; location Luzon Attacks, Philippine Islands, missing/date of loss November 14, 1944, (CasCode6221), later declared dead, November 15, 1945 (Std 1 year + 1 day later)

Awarded the Purple Heart, Air Medal, American Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal & Combat Action Ribbon
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https://www.seaforces.org/usnair/VF/Fighter-Squadron-11_A.htm
Link--The Red Rippers
"The squadron transferred to the Pacific Theatre. VF-4 deployed aboard USS Bunker Hill losing 5 F6Fs in operations off the Philippines in November 1944."
Actual birth date April 11, 1923, according to the birth record & actual death date is November 14, 1944. The dates on the markers are incorrect. The official death date according to the military is one year +1 day after the actual death date before a soldier is listed as missing in action. See newspaper posted for actual death date. Ginger was born in Rains which was in Spring Canyon, Carbon County, Utah. There is a memorial in Manila.

Died in WWII, crashed into Manila Bay in the Philippines. Shot down by anti-aircraft fire from the Japanese. He took off from the Aircraft Carrier USS Hornet. Another pilot flying in formation with Kenneth saw him go down in Manila Bay.
-------------------------
Ensign, Fighter Pilot, USS Bunker Hill (CV-17), U.S. Navy (Naval Reserve), World War II, Pacific Theater of Operations

Declared Missing in Action (MIA) or lost at sea; location Luzon Attacks, Philippine Islands, missing/date of loss November 14, 1944, (CasCode6221), later declared dead, November 15, 1945 (Std 1 year + 1 day later)

Awarded the Purple Heart, Air Medal, American Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal & Combat Action Ribbon
-------------------------
https://www.seaforces.org/usnair/VF/Fighter-Squadron-11_A.htm
Link--The Red Rippers
"The squadron transferred to the Pacific Theatre. VF-4 deployed aboard USS Bunker Hill losing 5 F6Fs in operations off the Philippines in November 1944."

Gravesite Details

Entered the service from Utah.

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  • Maintained by: Redriver
  • Originally Created by: War Graves
  • Added: Aug 8, 2010
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Redriver
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56786176/kenneth_wayne-watkins: accessed ), memorial page for Ens Kenneth Wayne “Ginger” Watkins (11 Apr 1923–14 Nov 1944), Find a Grave Memorial ID 56786176, citing Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Capital District, National Capital Region, Philippines; Maintained by Redriver (contributor 47269236).