World War II Honoree

Kenneth Fred 'Ken' Henrick

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Sublette, Illinois

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

WORKED IN THE LOFT DEPARTMENT FOR LOCKHEED VEGA AIRPLANE CORPORATION IN BURBANK, CALIFORNIA BEGINNING IN 1941. VEGA WAS A SUBSIDIARY OF LOCKHEED AND WAS INVOLVED IN THE PRODUCTION OF THE P-38 'LIGHTNING' FIGHTER PLANE, PV-1 'VENTURA' PATROL BOMBER, AND B-17 'FLYING FORTRESS' BOMBER THROUGHOUT THE WAR. THE LOCKHEED VEGA FACTORY WAS LOCATED NEXT TO BURBANK'S UNION AIRPORT. DURING THE WAR, THE ENTIRE AREA WAS CAMOUFLAGED TO FOOL ENEMY AERIAL RECONNAISSANCE. THE FACTORY WAS HIDDEN BENEATH A HUGE BURLAP TARP PAINTED TO DEPICT A PEACEFUL SEMI-RURAL NEIGHBORHOOD, REPLETE WITH RUBBER AUTOMOBILES. HUNDREDS OF FAKE TREES, SHRUBS, BUILDINGS AND EVEN FIRE HYDRANTS WERE POSITIONED TO GIVE A THREE DIMENSIONAL APPEARANCE. THE TREES AND SHRUBS WERE CREATED FROM CHICKEN WIRE TREATED WITH AN ADHESIVE AND COVERED WITH FEATHERS TO PROVIDE A LEAFY TEXTURE. LATER, ENLISTED IN MILITARY SERVICE AND SERVED IN THE AMERICAN THEATER AS A NAVIGATION INSTRUCTOR DURING THE WAR. AWARDED THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.