John Edward McKeague was born on January 17, 1922. He was married to Lahoma Joann Yates McKeague. He served in the 716th Bomber Squadron, 449th Bomber Group, as a Staff Sergeant and Tail Gunner of B-24J #42-64462 nicknamed “Stinky the B.T.O.” during World War II.

On February 22, 1944, the B-24J “Stinky the B.T.O.” joined the Regensburg mission during “Big Week.” On the return flight, the bomber was struck by flak and attacked by fighters before exploding in mid-air. It crashed near Wenigzell, Styria, Austria, resulting in the deaths of three crew members, while the remaining seven were captured and spent the rest of the war as prisoners of war.

SSgt McKeague was captured and imprisoned at Stalag Luft IV, Gross-Tychow, Pomerania, Prussia. He died on February 19, 2004, and is now buried in the Westminster Memorial Park, Westminster, Orange County, California, USA.

Source of information: 449th.com, aad.archives.gov, www.findagrave.com