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Keck, George B

Individual Personnel Data
Name Keck, George B   
Rank Second Lieutenant / First Lieutenant
Serial Number O-730420   
Unit Assignments Assigned to the 547th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per 547th Bomb Squadron Unit History, effective 27 January 1943.
Duty Co-pilot / Pilot
MOS1091 - Pilot, B-17
Last Duty Date 12 August 1943
Results Killed In Action
Final Resting Place or Memorial: Ardennes American Cemetery, Neupré, Belgium: Plot D Row 1 Grave 40
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 1921
  • Promoted to First Lieutenant on 20 March 1943 per 547th Bomb Squadron Unit History.
Related Documents Missing Air Crew Report # 286 (21.422 MB)
Accident Report # 43-05-19-11 (5.690 MB)
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album




Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
547th BOMB SQUADRON MODEL CREW
The first combat crew assigned to the squadron.
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
1st Lt. Smith, James WilliamPilotPOW
2nd Lt. Keck, George BCo-pilotKIA
2nd Lt. Taber, Robin EverettNavigatorPOW
2nd Lt. Meyers, Francis Joseph, JrBombardierPOW
S/SGT. Reichwein, John JosephRadio Operator / GunnerPOW
S/SGT. Buckley, Robert HEngineer / Top Turret GunnerKIA
SGT. Jones, Lynn TiltonBall Turret GunnerPOW
SGT. Igou, William Fredrick, "Bill"Tail GunnerPOW
SGT. MacArthur, Stanley WilliamFlexible GunnerPOW
PFC. Pratt, David AllanFlexible GunnerPOW

Crew History

The James W Smith Crew was the first one to be assigned to the 547th BS of the 384th BG at Wendover - becoming its "Model Crew" and "Crew 71" (crew #1 of the 547th) - on 27 January 1943, joining Pratt who had arrived the day prior.

Co-pilot Keck was later given his own crew, #77, and was replaced by Robert B Kilmer, Jr., a pilot who had arrived with a new crew on 11 March 1943.

The Smith Crew, less Kilmer, Taber, and Igou, were shot down on its second mission, and Buckley was KIA. All the remainder were POW - which later was the fate of the remaining member of the crew who did not fly that mission.

Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 10 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
-- 19 May 1943 None
Non-combat sortie
Pilot 42‑5851 Non-combat sortie, ferrying aircraft from AAB Kearney, Nebraska, to Dow Field, Bangor, Maine, en-route to combat assignment in England. Failure of the left brake and subsequent pilot actions resulted in extensive damage to the aircraft.
Sortie Report
1 22 June 1943 Target: General Motors Truck Factory
Type: Industry
Location: Antwerp, Belgium
Pilot 42‑30065 Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron Deputy.
Sortie Report
2 25 June 1943 Target: Industrial Area & Submarine Pens
Type: Military
Location: Hamburg, Germany
Pilot 42‑30065 Combat Mission Credit
Bombed an unknown city.
Sortie Report
4 28 June 1943 Target: Fighter Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Beaumont-le-Roger, France
Pilot 42‑3235 Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑5849. Turned back with top turret and ball turret problems.
Sortie Report
5 29 June 1943 Target: duNord Aircraft Works, Villacoublay Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Paris, France
Pilot 42‑30043 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
6 4 July 1943 Target: Gnome et Rhone Aircraft Engine Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Le Mans, France
Pilot 42‑30065 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
8 14 July 1943 Target: Villacoublay Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Paris, France
Pilot 42‑30065 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
9 24 July 1943 Target: Aluminum & Magnesium Plants
Type: Industry
Location: Herøya, Norway
Pilot 42‑30065 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
11 28 July 1943 Target: Aircraft Engine Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Kassel, Germany
Pilot 42‑30065 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
12 29 July 1943 Target: Naval Base
Type: Military
Location: Kiel, Germany
Pilot 42‑30065 Combat Mission Credit
Lead Squadron deputy.
Sortie Report
13 30 July 1943 Target: Aircraft Assembly Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Kassel, Germany
Pilot 42‑30065 Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead. Landed away at Horham, AAF Station 119, on return with extensive battle damage, low fuel, and a wounded crewman.
Sortie Report
14 12 August 1943 Target: Synthetic Fuel Hydrogenation Plant
Type: Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Pilot 42‑3104 Combat Mission Credit
Failed To Return
Damaged by enemy aircraft; crashed near 'House Oelgarten', Hennef, Germany. MACR 286
Sortie Report

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