Ernest A Keyes
Military ROLL OF HONOUR
Pilot - Crew #541
KIA - 9 August 1944
Object Number - UPL 22634 - 2LT Ernest A. Keyes Pilot - Crew #541 KIA - 9 August 1944
Killed in Action (KIA) Crashed near Rotterdam in B-24 Hot Box #4129374
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: 466th Bomb Group 785th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 18199819
- Highest Rank: Technician Fourth Grade
- Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 466th Bomb Group 785th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 16066436
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 466th Bomb Group 785th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 18135021
- Highest Rank: Technician Third Grade
- Role/Job: waist gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 466th Bomb Group 785th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 36149086
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Hot Box
- Unit: 466th Bomb Group 785th Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 9 August 1944
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Attlebridge Arsenal, Station 120
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Northbridge, MA, USA | 25 November 1916 | |
|
Died |
3181 Rozenburg, Netherlands | 9 August 1944 | Liberator Hot Box crashed on the island Rozenburg in the area known as "de Beer". 785th squadron of 466st BG left her base at Attlebridge, Norfolk on August 9th, 1944 for a bomb mission to Saarbrücken, Germany. One of the planes called "Hot Box" was attacked by fighters when entering the target area. Three of the engines were damaged and the liberator could not keep up with the main bomb force. It succesfully fought of an attack by Me-109's and escorted by two P-38fighters tried to reach its base. The problems were so severe that the pilot decided to turn around over the Nort Sea and return to the mainland where he ordered his crew to abandone the plane. His co-pilot and navigator stayed on board and assisted the pilot in his attempt to make an emergency landing on the island of Rozenburg. The emergency landing failed and the pilot was killed in the crash. The co-pilot survived the crash but sustained severe injuries to the head. He was transported to the hospital at the "Van Alkemadelaan" in the Hague, were he died within 10 min. after his arrival. Only the navigator would survive the crash. At least one crew member was fished out of the water of the "Nieuwe Waterweg" near Oostvoorne with severe injuries but must have survived as all other crew members are listed POW. |
|
Buried |
Plot H Row 9 Grave 11 Netherlands American Cemetery Margraten, Netherlands | ||
| Whitinsville, Northbridge, MA, USA | 5 Arcade Street |
Revisions
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 7380 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database
