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 |
MOS | 1091 - 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 |
|
Related Documents | Missing Air Crew Report # 286⇓ (21.422 MB) Accident Report # 43-05-19-11⇓ (5.690 MB) |
Photo Album: | Crew Photo Album⇗ |
CREWMEMBER | POSITION | RESULTS |
---|---|---|
1st Lt. Smith, James William⇗ | Pilot | POW |
2nd Lt. Keck, George B | Co-pilot | KIA |
2nd Lt. Taber, Robin Everett⇗ | Navigator | POW |
2nd Lt. Meyers, Francis Joseph, Jr⇗ | Bombardier | POW |
S/SGT. Reichwein, John Joseph⇗ | Radio Operator / Gunner | POW |
S/SGT. Buckley, Robert H⇗ | Engineer / Top Turret Gunner | KIA |
SGT. Jones, Lynn Tilton⇗ | Ball Turret Gunner | POW |
SGT. Igou, William Fredrick, "Bill"⇗ | Tail Gunner | POW |
SGT. MacArthur, Stanley William⇗ | Flexible Gunner | POW |
PFC. Pratt, David Allan⇗ | Flexible Gunner | POW |
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.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⇗ |