Thomas W Keefe

Military ROLL OF HONOUR

Thomas 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

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

Units served with

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 734th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 37228561
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 734th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 38244011
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 734th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 734th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 37440169
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner

Aircraft

Missions

Places

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

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

MACR 2970
NARA WWII Enlistment records
WWII Draft Card

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

MACR 2970

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

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