Keele Claude E.

Monuments

B-17 'Heavenly Body' (43-37776) Memorial

490th Bombardment Group Roll of Honor

Name:

Claude E. Keele

Rank:

Technical Sergeant

Serial Number:

37416085

Unit:

849th Bomber Squadron, 490th Bombardment Group, Heavy

Date of Death:

1944-09-27

State:

Missouri

Cemetery:

Elmwood Cemetery, Mexico, Missouri

Plot:

Row:

Grave:

Decoration:

Comments:

Claude E. Keele was born on October 4, 1923, in Missouri. He was the son of Claude Paul Keele and Viola Keele. He resided in Audrain County, Missouri prior to the war and enlisted in the Army on February 3, 1943, at Jefferson Barrack's, Missouri. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed as a Manager and also as Single, with dependents.

Claude served in the 849th Bomber Squadron, 490th Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Technical Sergeant and Radio Operator on the B-17 #43-37776 'Heavenly Body' during World War II. He was Killed in Action on September 27, 1944, while on a routine night training mission when his airplane crashed on the Elmside Farm near the village of Nailstone in England. After turning, just North of Nailstone, near Ibstock, the B-17's nose dropped, and the port wing struck the ground. The machine was completely destroyed by fire and explosion. The cause of the crash remains unknown, which resulted in the death of all men aboard their plane.

TSgt Keele is now buried in the Elmwood Cemetery, Mexico, Audrain County, Missouri, USA.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com