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name
KECK, George B - Date of
birth
1921 -
Age
unknown - Place of
birth
Michigan -
Hometown
San Francisco County, California
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-73050 -
Rank
First Lieutenant -
Function
Pilot -
Unit
547th Bombardment Squadron,
384th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
12 August 1943 - Place of
death
Haus Oelgarten, near Hennef/Bonn, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| D | 1 | 40 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Harry E. Keck (father)
Alice K. Keck (mother)
Harry E. Keck (brother)
Howard Keck (brother)
Alice Keck (sister)
Bernice (Luce) Keck (wife)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-30104 -
Data
Type B-17F
Destination: Bochum, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the synthetic oil installation
MACR: 286
More information
1st Lt George B. Keck graduated from Balboa High School in 1938.He enlisted on 29 January 1942 in San Francisco, California.
His plane was attacked by enemy aircraft and crashed in Haus Oelgarten, near Hennef, 7 miles east of Bonn.
He was first buried on 16 August 1943 at the Cemetery of Geistingen.
The week before the fatal crash, this crew was hit on a bombing run with two of four engines shot out, fuel leaking from their fuel tank, and jammed tail and side guns. They limped across the channel, unsure if they were going to crash into the English cliffs or make it over the top. They did make it over the cliffs and managed a safe landing. Their plane was scrapped, and they were given a replacement bomber.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Jennifer Dunn, David H. Keck (nephew), www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov - WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - 1940 Census, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.8thafhs.com
Photo source: Jac Engels, www.findagrave.com - TxOma, Dave Keck (nephew)