Rank and Name, First Lieutenant Henry A. Keel.
Unit/Placed in, 13th Bomber (attack) Squadron “Grimm Reapers”, 3rd Bomber (Attack) Group (light).
Keel and possibly other crew members were captured by the Japanese Navy and became Prisoners Of War (POW). Initially transported to Lae then Rabaul. Keel and possibly others from the crew were detained by the Keibitai 81st Naval Guard Unit (81st Naval Garrison Unit) at the Keibitai Headquarters at Rabaul. During 1942, Keel was executed and buried in a mass grave on Matupi Island.
Henry is born approx. on no record in Lake County, Florida.
Parents and Siblings, No Record Available.
Henry enlisted the service in Florida with service number # 0-404018.
Henry ‘s Crew-members and their position on-board the plane a B-25 were,
2nd Lt. Henry A. Keel Pilot
2nd Lt. Durward R. Reed Co Pilot
Sgt. George H. Bengel Bombardier
Corp. Louis E. Murphy Gunner
Sgt. Danforth E. Wilkins Engineer
Sgt. Thomas Marsh (Aus) Gunner/Radio Operator
Henry died as a POW when he was executed by the Japanese in 1942, he is honored with a POW Medal, Silver Star Medal, Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, Distinguished Unit Citation, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, WW II Victory Medal.
Henry is buried/mentioned at Manila American Cemetery and Memorial Manila, Metro Manila, National Capital Region, Philippines.
Walls of the missing.
Thanks to, https://www.pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/b-25/41-12462.html
https://www.pacificwrecks.com/provinces/png_matupi.html
(look at the Bombing Raid at 23 May 1942)
http://13thattacksquadron.yolasite.com/resources/Documents/taps.pdf
Jean Louis Vijgen, WW2-Pacific Website.
Air Force Info, Rolland Swank.
ABMC Website, https://abmc.gov
Navy Info, http://navylog.navymemorial.org
POW Info, http://www.mansell.com Dwight Rider and Wes injerd.
Family Info, https://www.familysearch.org
Marines Info, https://missingmarines.com/ Geoffrey Roecker
Medals Info, https://www.honorstates.org
Philppine Info, http://www.philippine-scouts.org/
Find a Grave, https://www.findagrave.com
“Approximately five minutes after we had dropped the bombs (on Lae Airdrome) the formation was attacked by approximately eight type ‘0’ fighters. During the attack, our airplane received a direct hit which knocked out the right engine. I believe that due to the right engine being shot out and being unable to stay with the formation, and with four Zeros pressing their attack in, Lt. Keel (pilot) decided to change a landing on the water. The landing was accomplished smoothly, and we abandoned the hip and immediately launched the life raft. We began grouping around the raft and the four Zeros began strafing us. This making such a large target, we were ordered by the pilot to separate. At this time, we were all safe and intact. I began swimming in the opposite direction from the rest and this was the last I saw of my crew. I do not believe that Sgt. Marsh (RAAF) and the rest of the crew were ever hit by the enemy airplanes for after the four Zeros left, I could still hear them yelling to each other, and the flight of the Zeros that came back did not strafe but once or twice, then began circling the raft and stayed over head until dark, seemingly to be watching and signaling the position.”
© Pacific Wrecks – B-25C Mitchell Serial Number 41-12462
Source: https://www.pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/b-25/41-12462.html
