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Personal info

Full name
MC KEEN, Wilburn Lewis
Date of birth
20 May 1916
Age
28
Place of birth
Adkins, Bexar County, Texas
Hometown
Bexar County, Texas

Military service

Service number
O-704570
Rank
Second Lieutenant
Function
Navigator
Unit
856th Bombardment Squadron,
492nd Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
20 June 1944
Place of death
Baltic Sea

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
D 12 16

Immediate family

Members
William L. Mc Keen (father)
Maude (Anderson) Mc Keen (mother)
Mary E. (Henry) Mc Keen (1st wife)
Patricia A. Mc Keen (daughter)
Nelda (Kellron) Mc Keen (2nd wife)

Plane data

Serial number
44-40143
Data
Type: B-24J
Nickname: Mary Ellen
Destination: Politz, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the oil refinery
MACR: 7078

More information

The airplane was leading the high right element in the low left squadron. While approaching the target over the Baltic Sea, the Group was attacked by rocket firing ME-410s and JU-88s. None of the 10 man crew survived.
Terry Diggs, the co-pilot on Faucher's crew, recalled...
"The first indication that we were under attack was a huge ball of fire where the airplane of Pilot Curtis had been. He apparently took a direct hit in the gas tanks. I don't believe anyone could have possibly survived.

Source of information: Michel Beckers, Terry Hirsch, MACR 7078, 492ndbombgroup.com

Photo source: Astrid van Erp, Michel Beckers / 492ndbombgroup.com, www.ancestry.com San Antonio Light 6 July 1944