Bernard M Keene
MilitaryRWG, Saur crew. 381st BG, 532nd BS, 8th AF. Lost on mission #59 to the aircraft factories at Oschersleben, Germany on 11 Jan 1944. An ME109 exploded near B-17G #42-37962 'Betty Lou' and the engine split the bomber in two. MACR 1976. Prisoner of War at Stalag Luft XVIIb.
The 1st Bomb Wing/381st BG did not hear the recall while over the continent. 180 out of 700 bombers continued the mission without fighter cover. The 381st BG earned its second Distinguished Unit Citation.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 532nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 13003529
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 532nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-751095
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 532nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 33256915
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner; Flight Engineer
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 532nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 18098510
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 532nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-796571
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Betty Lou
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 532nd Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 11 January 1944
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Site type: Prisoner of war camp
- Known as: Stalag 17b, Krems an der Donau, Austria
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
2 January 1921 | ||
|
Based Prisoner of War (POW) |
2 December 1943 - 11 January 1944 | ||
|
Other Prisoner of War |
Wasserhofstraße, 3500 Krems an der Donau, Austria | 11 January 1944 |
Revisions
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 1876 / MACR 1876, 8th AF Losses / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database