Kenneth Edward Brooks was born in 1915 in Chamberlain, South Dakota, the only son of Lawrence and Violet Brooks. His family moved to Redondo Beach, Inglewood, Bishop, and then to Arlington and Engracia Avenues in Torrance.  His parents were employees of the National Supply Company in Torrance.  Brooks completed two years of high school, worked as a barber and also at the National Supply Company, served in the National Guard, registered for the draft in October 1940, and enlisted in August 1942.  His Army Enlistment Record lists his marital status as married, although nothing is known about his spouse.

Kenneth Brooks was a Staff Sergeant on a B-17F “Flying Fortress” bomber in the U.S. Army Air Forces, assigned to the 365th Bomb Squadron, 305th Bomb Group, Heavy. Brooks listed his height at 5’7″ and weight at 127 lbs. and operated in cramped conditions as a Ball Turret Gunner in the bomber. The 305th Bombardment Group was nicknamed “Can Do” and the 365th Squadron was sent to England in 1942 and deployed to the European Theater of Operations to participate in the strategic bombing campaign against Germany.  

Available records are incomplete, but on May 13, 1943 Brooks was flying in a B-17F heavy bomber with a crew of nine others. Along with other B-17s, the target was the Avions Potez aircraft factory at Meaulte, France under German occupation. His plane was reportedly shot down as a result of action by enemy aircraft and crashed near Lucheux, France. Brooks and at least four other crew members were killed while others became prisoners of war.

Initially reported as missing, Kenneth Brooks’ parents received word on May 27, 1943 from the German government through the International Red Cross that their son had died on May 13, 1943 in the European area. Kenneth E. Brooks was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously and is buried at the Normandy American Cemetery in France.