Rothery McKeegan
MilitaryShot down 17 August 1943 in B-17F 42-30159 'Setting Bull'. Prisoner of War (POW).
Assisted after being shot down by Armee Blanche and the Comet Line - Belgian Resistance
After POW liberation returned to England after visiting Schweinfurt to pickup a few ball bearings as mementos of his last bomb run.
Bail our over Eupen, Belgium
Total number of missions: 18
Pilot - Alaska Air Rescue - B-17 339457 - Dropped boat(strapped to the bottom of the B-17) and supplies to stranded Alaskans
Flew smaller "Duck" aircraft that landed on the water - That aircraft was restored and currently in a collection in Florida.
Awards: POW, WWII Victory, EAME.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
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: 305th Bomb Group 366th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 305th Bomb Group 366th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 305th Bomb Group 366th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 305th Bomb Group 366th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 305th Bomb Group 366th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Setting Bull
- Unit: 305th Bomb Group 366th Bomb Squadron
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
27 January 1919 | ||
Other Prisoner of war |
85368 Moosburg, Germany | 17 August 1943 | Stalag VII A Liberated 29, April 1945 |
Died |
Burlington, WI | 10 April 2005 | |
Buried |
Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery Union Grove, Racine County, WI | 13 April 2005 | Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery Union Grove, Racine County, WI |
Revisions
Mac's War Story - Autobiography - Letters detailing his list flight, time as a POW, liberation and eventual return to England.
AutoBiography - Rothery McKeegan - interview for book "Twilight of Fury"
Declassified - Missing Air Crew Report 17-August-1943
German Red Cross Report 5-October 1943
6-3861,AF - Individual Casualty Questionnaire
Merged with duplicate entry to include details from:
- MACR 301;
- Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 301