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SEATTLE, Oct. 5, 2011--The Museum of Flight lost a great friend, supporter, and enthusiastic member of our Board of Trustees this morning with the passing of Kenneth H. Dahlberg at age 94.
An aviator and entrepreneur, Mr. 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, Mr. Dahlberg was credited with 14 aerial victories. During the course of WWII, Mr. Dahlberg was shot down three times behind enemy lines, escaping twice and spending the last few month of the war as a POW in Stalag 7-A in Moosburg, Germany. 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.
A leader in the business world as well, Mr. Dahlberg founded Dahlberg Electronics in 1948, a subsidiary of which is the Miracle-Ear hearing aids manufacturer. He went on to serve in leadership roles for a great many companies including Buffalo Wild Wings, Envoy Medical, and his venture capital firm Carefree Capital. Inducted into both the Minnesota and Arizona Aviation Halls of Fame, he continued flying into his 90s.
Mr. Dahlberg was tremendous supporter of The Museum of Flight, home of the Kenneth H. Dahlberg Center for Military Aviation History. The Dahlberg Center is the home of many of the museum's most valuable collections, including the Lee Embree Pearl Harbor Collection, the American Fighter Aces Association Collection, and the Champlin Museum Collection. Along with the museum's other research facilities, the Dahlberg Center hosted more than 1,700 researchers last year.
In addition to his wife of 64 years, Betty, Mr. Dahlberg is survived by his daughters Nancy Dahlberg and Dede Disbrow, his son K. Jeffrey (Michelle), his brother Arnold, sisters Marcella Savage and Harriet Dolny (Lenny) and sister-in-law Betty Dahlberg, seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at Colonial Church of Edina at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, October 12, 2011. Burial will be in Arlington National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Minnesota Military Appreciation Fund or the Colonial Church of Edina.
"Our thoughts go out to his family and friends, among which are many Museum of Flight trustees, employees, and members," said Museum President and CEO Doug King.
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