384th Bombardment Group (Heavy) in World War II

Welcome to the 384th Bombardment Group (Heavy) Photo Gallery. This gallery makes available the photographic and documentary portion of the 384th BG record. All content on this gallery is visible to all visitors. Those wishing to enter a comment or contribute images will need to register and log in (links at left of Home page). Please register for an account when you need access beyond viewing gallery content. For additional information about the 384th BG, visit the 384th Bomb Group website⇗.

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George Keck Crew

keck1.jpg kc135 flypast 006ThumbnailsKeck crew 547th BS, Snuffykc135 flypast 006ThumbnailsKeck crew 547th BS, Snuffykc135 flypast 006ThumbnailsKeck crew 547th BS, Snuffy

Back row, left-to-right: 1Lt George B Keck, Pilot (KIA); 2Lt Raymond A. (Roy) Gaither, Co-pilot (KIA); 2Lt William W Juart, Navigator (POW); 2Lt Arthur R Bryant, Bombardier (POW).

Front row, left-to-right: S/Sgt Walden A. Hughes, Waist Gunner (KIA); S/Sgt Alfred Reiss, Tail Gunner (voluntarily withdrew from flight status); T/Sgt Frank H. Hollingsworth, Radio Operator (KIA); S/Sgt Theodore (Ted) Paduch, Waist Gunner (KIA); T/Sgt Milton J. Deville, Engineer (POW); S/Sgt Billy J. Jackson, Ball Turret Gunner (completed one tour with the 384th and one with the 486th BG, and returned home).

(Originally the James W. Smith crew, but Smith became POW along with Selden McMillan on Smith's second mission. He was flying as McMillan's co-pilot, probably getting mission training. Keck flew his first mission as pilot of this crew).

Identification provided by Jean Jackson (Billy J Jackson's wife).

Original site crew photo with this caption and identification:

Original crew assigned to the 547th BS. This crew made a crash-landing aboard B-17F 42-5851 in Bangor, Maine, on May 19, 1943. Upon landing, the brakes failed, and Keck spun the aircraft around to avoid hitting the aircraft in front of him. The crew was shot down on the August 12, 1943 mission to Gelsenkirchen, Germany, aboard B-17F 42-3104, code SO*A. The original ball-turret gunner, Billy Jackson, had been wounded on July 30 and did not fly. He was replaced by William Wolven, from the Johnny Butler crew, who was killed in action.

BACK ROW L-R: William Juart (N), George Keck (P), Ray Gaither (CP), Arthur Bryant (B)
FRONT ROW L-R: Ted Paduch, Weldon Hughes, Frank Hollingsworth, Alfred Reese, Melvin Deville, Billy Jackson: 2LT George B. Keck crew (547th BS)

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