Thomas W Keefe
Military ROLL OF HONOURThomas Keefe was Right Waist gunner on B-24H #41-28642 'Libby Raider', which crashed on landing after a practice mission on 2 March 1944. Returned To Duty (RTD). He was on board B-24H #42-52226 when it fell out of formation after fighter attacks on return from a mission to Genshagen near Berlin on 6 March 1944. The crew baled over the Ijsselmeer, Holland, with three rescued and seven drowned, including Thomas. Killed in Action (KIA).
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
![A bomber crew of the 453rd Bomb Group wait on a jeep. Letter enclosed with print: '[Left to Right] James E Terwilliger- Waist Gunner, Luhter M Clark- Co-pilot, Carl Powell- Navigator, Lattie P Head- Nose Gunner, Nicholas Radosevich- Pilot, Edmund M Survilla- Tail Gunner, Lt ? Lee- Bombardier (Robert Burgess was the Bombardier on the original crew), Joseph D Craft- Radio operator, Robert Victor- Waist Gunner, Robert O Hanson- Engineer- Top Turret. Original Cadre- Model (Crew #41) 734th Squadron, 453rd Bomb](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380672.jpg.webp?itok=L5hegKpe)
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 734th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 17063523 at enlistment, then O-687662
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 734th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 18090466
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator / Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 734th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 16061076 at enlistment, then O-746308
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 734th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 16082294 at enlistment, then O-690377
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 734th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 17054896 at enlistment, then O-688935
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 734th Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 6 March 1944
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
21 September 1921 | Derby, New Haven County, Connecticut, United States | |
|
Enlisted |
6 November 1942 | Hartford, Connecticut | |
|
Other bailed out |
6 March 1944 | of B-24H #42-52226, over Noord-Holland | |
|
Other Killed In Action |
6 March 1944 | landed in the Ijsselmeer, The Netherlands, and drowned | |
|
Other body found |
21 April 1944 | floating in the waters of the Ijsselmeer, by Dutch fishermen near Bunschoten, Utrecht Province, The Netherlands | |
|
Buried |
25 April 1944 | at the East Cemetery in Amersfoort, Utrecht Province, The Netherlands | |
| Bridgeport, Fairfield County, Connecticut | |||
|
Buried |
after the liberation of the area, his remains were buried at the Margraten American Temporary Cemetery, The Netherlands | ||
|
Buried |
after the war, his remains were brought to USA, where Thomas rests at the Saint Michael’s Cemetery, Stratford, Connecticut |
Revisions
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 2970 / MACR 2970, Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces, The Liberator Men of Old Buc / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database