Albert Thaddeus Keeler

Military
Lieutenant Albert Keeler a co- pilot of the 95th Bomb Group with his B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-97232 ) nicknamed "Sandy's Refueling Boys", August 1944. Image via Albert Keeler, 95th Bomb Group. Written on slide casing: 'Albert Keeler Co-Pilot 412 BS.' media-387793.jpg FRE 5844 Lieutenant Albert Keeler a co- pilot of the 95th Bomb Group with the B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-97232 ) nicknamed "Sandy's Refueling Boys", August 1944. Image via Albert Keeler, 95th Bomb Group. Written on slide casing: 'Albert Keeler Co-Pilot 412 BS.' Roger Freeman Collection

Co-pilot Albert Keeler's colored pictures featured on this page showed him and his fellow crewmen of the "Full House" (42-97797), Many of them showing the gunners near their respective positions on the B17 (including my father near the ball turret). The officers were often pictured near engines or the nose of the aircraft. In some of these photos the nose art "Sandy's Refueling Boys" (42-97232) can clearly be seen in the background which has resulted in the erroneous thinking the Dancisin/Keeler crew flew this airplane (see the captions beneath the photos). My father's recollection and the official records indicate the crew of the "Full House" never flew in "Sandy's Refueling Boys." It was just a handy aircraft at the time that Albert took this collection of photos since their "Full House" had been shot down while they were on leave. - Mark Makelky

Object Number - FRE 5844 - Lieutenant Albert Keeler a co- pilot of the 95th Bomb Group with the B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-97232 ) nicknamed "Sandy's Refueling...

Assigned to 412BS, 95BG, 8AF USAAF. 35 x combat missions. ETD





Awards: DFC, AM (4OLC), WWII Victory, EAME.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 95th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

Lieutenant George J "Danny" Dancisin a pilot of the 95th Bomb Group with his B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-97232 ) nicknamed "Sandy's Refueling Boys", August 1944. Image via Albert Keeler, 95th Bomb Group. Written on slide casing: '1/Lt Dancisin Pilot 412 BS.'
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 412th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 12093815 / O-?
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

A bomber crew of the 95th Bomb Group with a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-97232 ) nicknamed "Sandy's Refueling Boys", August 1944. Image via Albert Keeler, 95th Bomb Group. Written on slide casing: '"Full House" crew. Left to right: ' Morrison, Keeler, Langford, Sherwood, Dancisin. "Government Property" (roll of toilet paper) SANDY'S REFUELING BOYS.'
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: GI Issue : Sandy's Refueling Boys
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 412th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Full House
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 336th Bomb Squadron 412th Bomb Squadron

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Stevensville, PA 24 February 1922 Son of Eugene and Mabel Grey [Vandemark] Keeler.

Enlisted

Nashville, TN, USA 1 March 1943 At Nashville Air Corps Facilities

Died

5 October 2006

Buried

8 October 2006 Arlington National Cemetery Arlington, Virginia Section 11, Site 484-2

Based

Horham Assigned to 412BS, 95BG, 8AF USAAF.

Revisions

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

NARA enlistment record: https://aad.archives.gov/aad/record-detail.jsp?dt=893&mtch=4&cat=all&tf…

Correspondence with Lt. Col. Keeler's daughter, Martha.

Date
ContributorFullHouse
Changes
Sources

Albert's colored pictures featured on this page showed his fellow crewmen of the "Full House" (42-97797), Many of them showing the gunners near their respective positions on the B17 (including my father near the ball turret). The officers were often pictured near engines or the nose of the aircraft. In some of these photos the nose art "Sandy's Refueling Boys" (42-97232) can clearly be seen in the background which has resulted in people erroneously thinking the Dancisin/Keeler crew flew this airplane (see the captions beneath the photos). My father's recollection and the official records indicate the crew of the "Full House" never flew in "Sandy's Refueling Boys." It was just a handy aircraft at the time that Albert took this collection of photos. - Mark Makelky

Date
ContributorFullHouse
Changes
Sources

My father, Leo Makelky, was the ball turret gunner on George Dancisin/Albert Keeler piloted aircraft (which was usually the "Full House" #42-97797). He told me this series of color photos taken by Albert (Rube) Keeler were rather rare in WW2. Albert had a brother who worked for Kodak in New York state and provided the color film which was used to take them. - Mark Makelky

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

Associated photographs sent to Roger Freeman by Albert Keeler to Albert's entry.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes

Albert Thaddeus Keeler: Gallery (14 items)