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Personal info

Full name
PICKEL, Keith M
Date of birth
7 February 1921
Age
22
Place of birth
Cadillac, Wexford County, Michigan
Hometown
Wexford County, Michigan

Military service

Service number
O-687629
Rank
Second Lieutenant
Function
Co-Pilot
Unit
571st Bombardment Squadron,
390th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
11 December 1943
Place of death
Westeraccum, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
A 18 3

Immediate family

Members
Earl A. Pickel (father)
Dorothy A. (Johnson) Pickel (mother)
Marjarie K. Pickel (sister)
Patricia L. Pickel (sister)

Plane data

Serial number
42-30223
Data
Type: B-17F
Nickname: Rick-O-Shay
Destination: Emden, Germany
Mission: Bombing Industrial area
MACR: 1582

More information

2nd Lt Keith M. Pickel enlisted on 10 August 1942 at Grand Haven, Michigan.
The plane was shot down by Oblt Albin Meyer in a ME-410 A of ZG 26/5. The plane got in a spin and exploded. It was the third mission of this crew.
2nd Lt Pickel was first buried at Post Cemetery in Wittmund, Germany.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov - WWII Army Enlistment Record, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.8thafhs.org, www.joebaugher.com, www.ancestry.com - Doe Family Tree / U.S.,
Headstone and Interment Records for U.S. Military Cemeteries on Foreign Soil

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.findagrave.com - Patootie, https://www.390th.org/, www.ancestry.com - Cadillac High School yearbook 1938/1939