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Back row, left to right...
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Frank Benton, bombardier
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Samuel Turner, navigator
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Henry Meyer, co-pilot
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William Keeler, pilot
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Front row, left to right...
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Vincent Brdecka, nose gunner
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Robert Kohout, ball turret gunner
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Salvatore Stamerra, tail gunner
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Glen Woods, radio operator
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Robert Dixon, engineer
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Keeler Crew 918 Summary
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The Keeler Crew was one of the original crews for the 492nd BG that trained in Alamogordo, New Mexico. They transferred in as crew 1670 from the CCTS (Combat Crew Training School) in Biggs, Texas, on 3 Mar 44. Their crew remained intact with no personnel changes. They were assigned to the 859th BS, designated as Crew 918.
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Lt William Keeler signed out for a B-24J, 44-40156. To our knowledge they didn't give their plane a nickname. In April 1944, as they were ready to leave for Europe, two men were replaced at the last minute. Sgt Dixon was replaced by Sgt Lawing. The ground crew chief was replaced by Sgt Ganders, due to a slipping accident. Sgt Taylor went to England on the Queen Elizabeth in order to make room for the Crew Chief.
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We have read that the 489th BG had a Robert E Dixon with them. He was killed on 25 Jul 44, MACR 8237. We haven't been able to confirm that he's the same man that was on this crew.
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Lt Keeler flew as the aircraft commander for Crew 918 for 11 missions and 1 aborted one. We can't be positive of all of the personnel changes on some of their missions. It's always possible that the bombardier could have missed the pathfinder-led missions.
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The Keeler Crew was in the Group's first air battle with the Luftwaffe. They were attacked by the "Abbeyville Kids," aka the "yellow noses" because they painted their propeller hubs yellow. They were Goering's pet fighter group. The Keeler Crew survived it, hoping never to see any of those guys again.
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But Bill Keeler didn't get his wish. After the war, when Keeler was attending St Mary's University he was approached by his history professor. "Bill, we might have met before. I was a German pilot," he said. Turned out he was one of the Abbeyville Kids that attacked the 492nd on 19 May 44 on their mission to Brunswick.
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They had to abort another mission because one of the crewmen had forgotten to bring along his parachute. The disciplinary action taken relieved 1st Lt Keeler as commander of the crew and he was transferred to the 44th BG. He was replaced by Lt Jacks, the co-pilot of the Johnson Crew 903. Lt Meyer was reassigned to the Newman Crew 913 and was replaced by Lt Hawkley, the co-pilot from the dismantled Jaques Crew 909. The Newman Crew needed another co-pilot, as theirs was promoted to pilot his own crew.
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Jacks took the Crew on 9 more missions. Their story continues on the Jacks Crew 918 page.
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More Info |
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Original Roster for
Keeler Crew 918
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| Position |
Name |
Rank |
Serial # |
Notes |
Pilot
MOS 1024 |
Keeler, William J |
2nd Lt |
O-805844 |
29 May, promoted to 1st Lt
Reassigned to Stanhope Crew 710
Replaced by Lt Jacks
10 Jun, transferred to 44th BG, 66th BS |
Co-Pilot
MOS 1024 |
Meyer, Henry H |
2nd Lt |
O-702311 |
Reassigned to Newman Crew 913 |
Navigator
MOS 1034 |
Turner, Samuel L |
2nd Lt |
O-705048 |
POW, 7 Jul 44, MACR 7232, Stalag VIIA w/Jacks |
Bombardier
MOS 1035 |
Benton, Frank B |
F/O |
T-123092 |
POW, 7 Jul 44, MACR 7232, Stalag VIIA w/Jacks |
Engineer
MOS 748 |
Lawing, Talmadge H |
Sgt |
14059830 |
Joined Crew at Kansas
15 May, promoted S/Sgt
Replaced Dixon while at Kansas
POW, 7 Jul 44, MACR 7232, Stalag Luft IV |
Radio
Operator
RW Gunner
MOS 757 |
Woods, Glen D |
T/Sgt |
06990408 |
POW, 7 Jul 44 w/Jacks, MACR 7232, Stalag Luft IV |
Armorer
Ball Gunner
MOS 612 |
Kohout, Robert T |
Sgt |
17151663 |
15 May, promoted S/Sgt
POW, 7 Jul 44, MACR 7232, w/Jacks, Stalag Luft IV |
Nose Gunner
MOS 748 |
Brdecka, Vincent J |
Sgt |
18186703 |
15 May, promoted S/Sgt
KIA, 7 Jul 44, MACR 7232, w/Jacks |
Top Gunner
MOS 611 |
Taylor, Joseph B Jr |
Sgt |
13119981 |
Arrived in the UK via the Queen Elizabeth
15 May, promoted S/Sgt
POW, 7 Jul 44, MACR 7232, w/Jacks, Stalag Luft IV |
Tail Gunner
MOS 611 |
Stamerra, Salvatore E |
Sgt |
33422124 |
15 May, promoted S/Sgt
KIA, 7 Jul 44, MACR 7232, w/Jacks
Seen name as Stamera |
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Others Who Flew with Keeler Crew 918
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Crew Chief
MOS 750 |
Drieso, Angelo T |
Sgt |
12093143 |
Replaced during layover in Kansas |
Crew Chief
MOS 750 |
Ganders, Stanton H |
S/Sgt |
19059683 |
Replaced Drieso and flew to England w/crew
Promoted M/Sgt |
Engineer
LW Gunner
MOS 748 |
Dixon, Robert E |
S/Sgt |
33419829 |
Replaced during layover in Kansas |
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Keeler Crew 918
492nd BG Mission Record
859th Bomb Squadron
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Crew
Mission
Number |
Group
Mission
Number |
Group
Mission
Date |
Aircraft
Serial
Number |
Primary Target |
Mission Notes |
| 01 |
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13 May 44 |
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Tutow, Germany |
Target: Airfield |
| 02 |
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19 May 44 |
44-40156 |
Brunswick, Germany |
Target: Marshalling yard |
| 03 |
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21 May 44 |
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Siracourt, France |
Target: Crossbow (V-1 rockets) |
| 04 |
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23 May 44 |
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Avord, France |
Target: Airfield |
| 05 |
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24 May 44 |
44-40156 |
Melun, France |
Target: Airfield |
| 06 |
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27 May 44 |
42-110091 |
Saarbrucken, Germany |
Target: Marshalling yard |
| 07 |
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28 May 44 |
44-40156 |
Zeitz, Germany |
Target: Oil refinery
Don't know if aborted or failed to bombed, credit unconfirmed |
| 08 |
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2 Jun 44 |
44-40156 |
Berck-sur-Mer, France |
Target: Airfield |
| Abort |
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4 Jun 44 |
42-50370 |
Avord, France |
Target: Airfield
Aborted, uncredited, see Footnotes |
| 09 |
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6 Jun 44 |
44-40156 |
Caen, France |
Target: D-Day invasion coast |
| 10 |
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8 Jun 44 |
44-40156 |
Angers, France |
Target: Railroad junction
Aborted, initially uncredited, got credit later |
| 11 |
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10 Jun 44 |
44-40156 |
Boulogne, France |
Target: Airfield |
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