Keeley John T., Jr.

Monuments

B-17 (42-30264) 'Dorsal Queen' and B-17 'Raunchy Wolf' (42-3290) Plaque

Name:

John T., Jr. Keeley

Rank:

First Lieutenant

Serial Number:

O-792338

Unit:

551st Bomber Squadron, 385th Bomber Group, Heavy

Date of Death:

1943-10-26

State:

New York

Cemetery:

Cambridge American Cemetery, United Kingdom

Plot:

Row:

Grave:

Decoration:

Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster

Comments:

John T. Keeley, Jr. was born in 1918 in New York. He resided in Queens County, New York prior to the war. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps on January 2, 1942 at Mitchel Field, Hempstead, Long Island, New York. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed in the production of beverages and also as Single, without dependents.

John served as a First Lieutenant and Pilot on the B-17 "Raunchy Wolf" #42-3290, 551st Bomber Squadron, 385th Bomber Group, Heavy, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II. His plane, while on a return mission from Reims, France, was involved in a mid-air collision with B-17 #42-30264 "Dorsal Queen." They crashed at Tillingham Hall Farm, Bulphan, England. The entire crews of both B-17's were killed except Ssgt John J. Adams of the Dorsal Queen who was the only survivor.

1LT Keeley is now buried in the Cambridge American Cemetery, Cambridge, United Kingdom.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.abmc.gov