Captain Donald Francis O’Keefe
Captain Donald O’keefe was born November 18, 1924 and died May 25, 1987 at 62 years of age. He was from Pekin, Illinois at wartime. O’Keefe was a pilot for the 344th Bomb Group 494th Bomb Squadron (ETO). He flew missions from March 2, 1945 – April 17, 1945
Donald O’Keefe apparently a cadet. Not on the register for West Point.
This note written by Cpl. Joe Crossan is a list of O’Keefe’s training crew. Note how young O’Keefe was. Joe Crossan refers to him as “Grandpa.”
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March 2, 1945 O’Keefe’s first mission to our knowledge.
March 2, 1945 Road Junction Stadt, Meckenheim, Germany
According to 344th Silver Streaks– “On March 2 Stadt Meckenheim Road Junction and the Ordnance Depot at Weisbaden were attacked on the morning and afternoon, respectively. 34 Aircraft on the former and 15 at Weisbaden. Sixteen (16) Aircraft again bombed Cochem as a secondary target and the town of Offingen as a casual target by 1 Aircraft. Results of the bombing were again unobserved.
The formation diagram for March 2, 1945 to a Road Junction Stadt, Meckenheim, Germany. 2nd Lt. O’Keefe’s first mission was flown in B-26 43-34400 The Dixie Flyer K9-A piloted by Lt. Cormak in order to “check out” new pilot, O’Keefe in position 2-2-5.
The mission of March 2, 1945 to a Road Junction Stadt, Meckenheim, Germany. Their bombs were released on a secondary target. Because it was O’Keefe’s first mission, he was led by the seasoned pilot, 1st Lt. Cormak. The crew consisted of: 1st Lt. Cormak, pilot; 2nd Lt. O’Keefe, co-pilot; 2nd Lt. McKinney bombardier; Sgt. Poche, radio/gun; Sgt. Muller, eng/gunner; Sgt. Ermler, gunner. They took off at 2:20 pm in 43-34400 The Dixie Flyer K9-A n formation position 2-2-5 and landed at 6:30 pm.
Hand drawn map for March 2, 1945 to a Road Junction Stadt, Meckenheim, Germany- “Route not flown as briefed. 33 aircraft (including 2 ‘window‘) ships participated. PFF mission . Some ships dropped on primary target, the rest bombed the secondary target with GEE. 6 encountered weak to moderate flak at target. Fire was probably radar predicted. ‘Window‘ dropped but effect was not known.” They bombed from 12,500/12,000 ft. altitude at 4:23 pm. It was 8-10/10 patchy clouds topping at 8000 ft.
According to the mission debrief form completed by Pilot, Cormak, 2nd Lt. O’Keefe flew in, 43-34400 The Dixie Flyer K9-A, in formation position 2-2-5. The primary target was attacked (differs from load list) from 13,000 feet at 4:24 pm using a load of 8 x 500lb bombs. They hit their primary target with unobserved results. Moderate but inaccurate flak was indicated.
Lt. Donald O’Keefe in flight gear.
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March 3, 1945- Ordnance Depot Wermels-Kirchen, Traben 1 plane,
Daun 1 plane.
According to 344th Silver Streaks– “The Wermels-Kirchen Ordnance depot was attacked March 3 by 34 Aircraft while one Aircraft bombed Traben on “GEE” and another bombed Daun as a casual target.”
The mission of March 3, 1945 was an Ordnance Depot Wermels-Kirchen, Germany. 2nd Lt. O’Keefe’s plane, 44-67821 K9-S flew in position 2-3-5.
According to the mission debrief form completed by Pilot, 2nd Lt. O’Keefe flew in, 44-67821 K9-S, in formation position 2-3-5. The primary target was attacked from 12,500 feet at 11:01 am using a load of 8 x 500lb bombs. He did not indicate the results. No flak was indicated.
Pictures and data regarding the March 2&3 missions according to Sgt. Crossan, eng/gunner.
April 16, 1945 Marshaling Yard in Wittenburg, Germany
According to 344th Silver Streaks– “That afternoon the Wittenburg M/Y was to be bombed, but haze covered the target and obscured sighting operations; however, 3 Aircraft dropped their bombs when the Group leader’s plane, hit by flak, salvoed his bombs. Six Aircraft dropped on briefed flak positions in the area and the other planes returned their bombs to Base. Two men were wounded slightly and 5 ships received Category “A” damage.”
The mission of April 16, 1945 was a Marshaling Yard in Wittenburg, Germany. 2nd Lt. O’Keefe’s plane, 42-107669 Feudin Wagin K9-K flew in position 3-1-5.
The mission of April 16, 1945 was a Marshaling Yard in Wittenburg Germany. Their bombs were released on target as briefed. The crew consisted of: 2nd Lt. O’Keefe, pilot; 2nd Lt. Cestly, co-pilot; 2nd Lt. Melius bombardier; Sgt. Poche, radio/gun; Sgt. Crossan, eng/gunner; Sgt. Millet, gunner. They took off at 4:10 pm in 42-107669 Feudin Wagin K9-K in formation position 3-1-5 and landed at 9:05 pm.
Hand drawn map for April 16, 1945 to a Marshaling Yard in Wittenburg Germany.- “Route flown as briefed. Flak positions in target area. Heavy smoke and haze precluded bombing of the target except three ships making releases. Flak as shown.” They bombed from 10,000 ft. , bombing by flights. It was 4/10 with smoke and haze topping at 5000 ft. Five planes received Cat. A damage from flak.
According to the mission debrief form completed by Pilot, 2nd Lt. O’Keefe flew in, 42-107669 Feudin Wagin K9-K, in formation position 3-1-5. The flak position was attacked from 9,000 feet at 6:40 pm using a load of 16 x 250lb bombs. Results were unobserved due to haze and smoke. No flak was indicated.
April 17, 1945 Marshaling Yard Tubingen
According to 344th Silver Streaks– “That afternoon 35 Aircraft struck at the Tubingen Marshaling Yard, Germany, doing superior bombing in the briefed area. No flak was encountered.”
The mission of April 17, 1945 was to the Marshaling Yard of Tubingen Germany. Four of their bombs were released on target as briefed four were salvoed due to bomb rack malfunction. The crew consisted of: 2nd Lt. O’Keefe, pilot; 2nd Lt. Simms, co-pilot; 2nd Lt. Morrisette Navigator; Sgt. Poche, radio/gun; Sgt. Crossan, eng/gunner; Sgt. Millet, gunner. They took off at 5:15 pm in 42-95907 The Freddie Dees K9-G in formation position 2-2-2 and landed at 8:30 pm.
Hand drawn map for April 17, 1945 to the Marshaling Yard of Tubingen Germany.- “Route flown as briefed. No flak encountered.” They bombed from 11,400 ft./10,500, bombing by flights. It was 4-6/10 stratus clouds. No planes were damaged from flak.
April 17, 1945 Marshaling Yard Tubingen; According to the mission debrief form completed by Pilot, 2nd Lt. O’Keefe flew in, 42-95907 The Freddie Dees K9-G, in formation position 2-2-2. The primary target was attacked from 13,000 feet at 6:54 pm using a load of 16 x 250lb bombs. Four were salvoed immediately due to bomb rack malfunction. He did not indicate the results. No flak was indicated.
Data regarding missions 3 – 21 according to Sgt. Crossan, eng/gunner.
