Keith L Hafen

Military ROLL OF HONOUR

22-Feb-43 Assigned to the 303BG/358BS at Molesworth, UK as a Co-Pilot of the 2LT James R. Dunn crew.



31-Mar-43 Killed in Action (KIA) while serving as the Co-Pilot of B-17F #42-29573 "Two Beauts", 303BG/358BS in mid-air collision with B-17F #41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG 360BS during assembly for a mission to bomb the shipyards at Rotterdam, Holland. This occured less than an hour from takeoff with each carrying 6 bombs for the mission to Rotterdam. The planes crashed at Mears Ashby and 303rd reports a memorial to the two crews is there.



Paticipated in 2 Operations. See Biography events.

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

Official emblem of the 303rd Bomb Group approved 7 November 1942.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-727194
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Two Beauts
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: The Hunting Club
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Assigned to Unit

Molesworth, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28, UK 22 February 1943 Assigned as a Co-Pilot with the crew of 2LT James R. Dunn at Molesworth, UK.

Other

Mission #1, 2LT Keith L. Hafen, w/B-17F 42-5432, 303BG/358BS

Rouen, France 28 March 1943 Served as Co-Pilot of B17F 42-5432 'the Hunting Club", 303BG/358BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Roeun, France. RTB OK.

Other

Killed on Mission (KOM)

Mears Ashby, Northampton, Northamptonshire NN6, UK 31 March 1943 Killed when the aircraft sustained a mid-air collision over Mears Ashby during assembly.

Other

Mission #2, 2LT Keith L. Hafen, w/B-17F 42-29573, 303BG/358BS - KOM

Rotterdam, Netherlands 31 March 1943 Served as Co-Pilot of B17F 42-29573 "Two Beauts", 303BG/358BS on a mission to bomb the shipyards at Rotterdam, Holland. The aircraft sustained a mid-air collision during assembly and crashed. He was Killed on Mission. KOM

Born

Washington County, Utah

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added a "#" to the A/C serial number in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity.

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added a connection to pilot James R. Dunn.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 14-Mar-2016. Correcting typos in Mission #2 notes.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 14-Mar-2016. Added map location to crash location.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 14-Mar-2016. Added Mission #2 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 31-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/027.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 14-Mar-2016. Added Mission #1 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 28-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/026.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 14-Mar-2016. Added Assigned to Unit event per 303BG webiste, Gary Moncur, Historian, James R. Dunn crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/358dunn.html

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 14-Mar-2016. Added intial assignment info, loss account details and Paricipations statement to Summary Biography per 303BG webiste, Gary Moncur, Historian, James R. Dunn crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/358dunn.html

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 14-Mar-2014. Made connections to Place, AIrcraft and Missions per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, James R. Dunn crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/358dunn.html

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Unit history, Losses of the 8th & 9th AFs Vol. 1 by Bishop and Hey, p. 94, 303rd web site,, Roster