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Personal info

Full name
VAN KEUREN, Tobias Richard "Toby"
Date of birth
18 January 1919
Age
25
Place of birth
Kingston, Ulster County, New York
Hometown
Rensselaer County, New York
Ethnicity
White
Religion
Protestant

Military service

Service number
O-854313
Rank
First Lieutenant
Function
Navigator
Unit
410th Bombardment Squadron,
94th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
6 October 1944
Place of death
200 meters north of Neu-Vehlefanz, Osthavelland County, 4 kilometers west of Velten, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
B 35 4

Immediate family

Members
George A. Van Keuren (father)
Marion E. (Bennett) Van Keuren (mother)
Evelyn M. Van Keuren (sister)
Virginia Van Keuren (sister)
Helen Van Keuren (sister)

Plane data

Serial number
43-37630
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Our Baby Diana / Sassy Suzy
Destination: Berlin, Germany
Mission: Bombing of a tank factory
MACR: 9350

More information

1st Lt Tobias R. Van Keuren graduated from Van Rensselaer High School and attended Albany Academy.

He enlisted on 6 November 1941 in Albany, New York. He had been overseas a year.

The plane was hit in its tail by flak. It is also believed that the plane was shot down by an enemy fighter. Of the 10 crewmembers, 6 members were KIA and 4 members were captured and taken Prisoner of War.

1st Lt Tobias R. Van Keuren could at first not be identified. First internment took place on 6 October 1944 in the community center of Neu-Vehlefanz.

Source of information: Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov - WWII Enlistment Record, www.fold3.com - MACR, Individual Casualty Questionnaire, www.ancestry.com - 1920/1930 Census / Family Trees, www.newspapers.com - The Troy Record, WWII Draft Card

Photo source: Jac Engels, www.ancestry.com - Albany Academy Yearbook 1938