Walter Burton Keith Jr
MilitaryImage stamped on reverse: 'Planet News.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 12 Dec 1943.' [stamp] and '296491.' [Censor no.]
Printed caption on reverse: 'Photo shows: The pilot and co-pilot talking with Captain RJ White.
Left to right: Lieut Wardlaw Hammond, co-pilot of Philadelphia, Penn: Lieut Walter B Keith, pilot, of Hodgeville, Kentucky: and Capt RJ White of Kingsport, Tenn, who rescued the navigator from the burning plane. G. 11th December 1943. PN.'
Press caption for image series: 'FLYING FORTRESS CREW BACK IN ACTION FOLLOWING CRASH ON ENGLISH VILLAGE. All but two of the crew of a Flying Fortress which crashed on the village of Deenethorpe, Northamptonshire, and exploded with its cargo of bombs following the fire which broke out inside the bomber, are back on operational duties with the Eighth Air Force. The navigator and bomb-aimer are still in hospital, recovering from injuries. They were rescued from the blazing Fortress shortly before the explosion. Gai. December 11 1943. Note to censor: This story covers the set of four pictures under the above title.’ Roger Freeman Collection
IWM, Roger Freeman Collection
Assigned to 613BS, 401BG, 8AF USAAF. Close call 5-Dec-43 AC B-1742-39825 'Zenobia El Elephante 2' stalled and exploded on ground 20 minutes later. Crew had escaped and villagers warned so no civilian casualties and crew returned. 13 x combat missions. Shot down 28-May-44 in B-17 42-31557. Prisoner of War (POW). MACR 5308
Awards: POW, WWII Victory, EAME.
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: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 36151700
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 33398614
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 12127848
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 32809046
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 32565679
- Highest Rank: Corporal
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Fitch's Bandwagon
- Unit: 2nd Strategic Air Depot 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Zenobia El Elephante
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Sweat er Out
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 28 May 1944
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Benefield
- Site type: Prisoner of war camp
- Known as: Stalag Luft III, Sagan, Germany
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Other Prisoner of War (POW) |
Zagan, Poland | 28 May 1944 | Prisoner of War (POW). Stalag Luft III. |
Other Baled out |
Dessau, Dessau-Roßlau, Germany | 28 May 1944 | Failed to Return (FTR) Dessau Shot down 28-May-44 in B-17 42-31557. Prisoner of War (POW). MACR 5308 |
Born |
Noelys Landing, Missouri, USA | ||
Based |
Deenethorpe | 28 May 1944 | Assigned to 613BS, 401BG, 8AF USAAF. |
Revisions
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 5308 / MACR 5308, Losses of 8th & 9th AFs Vol I by Bishop & Hey pp. 409-10 w/ crew pix, http://www.401bg.org/Main/History/Members/Details.aspx?ID=132 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database