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name
DE KEYREL, Henry Rene - Date of
birth
10 November 1922 -
Age
20 - Place of
birth
Illinois City, Rock Island County, Illinois -
Hometown
Illinois City, Rock Island County, Illinois
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
16124836 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Ball Turret Gunner -
Unit
561st Bombardment Squadron,
388th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Missing in Action - Date of
death
2 October 1943 - Place of
death
North Sea
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten - Walls of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
Rene De Keyrel (father)
Helen De Keyrel (mother)
Madelene De Keyrel (sister)
Alois De Keyrel (brother)
Frank De Keyrel (brother)
Rosie De Keyrel (sister)
Margret De Keyrel (sister)
Wilma De Keyrel (sister)
Dorothy De Keyrel (sister)
Laura L. De Keyrel (sister)
Paul De Keyrel (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-30421 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Emden, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the industrial area
MACR: 3135
More information
S/Sgt Henry R. De Keyrel was a farmer.He volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States in Chicago, Illinois on 9 September 1942.
Three to four minutes after having dropped the bomb load the airplane ran into problems. Apparently it was hit by flak and the propeller on number one engine was feathered. At the same time a minor fire started in number two engine. The aircraft entered a spiral dive while the crew bailed out. All parachutes were seen crashing in the North Sea on position 53'35N 07'10E.
The entire crew of ten men was killed.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, www.ancestry.com - 1930/1940 Census / DeKeyrel Family Tree, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov - WWII Enlistment Record, IDPF
Photo source: www.findagrave.com, Will Habets