Suggested edit from FAG Contributor: 48803557
1st/Lt. McKee had Basic at Shaw Field He was in the 392nd Bomb Gp 578th Bomb Sqdn. On Dec. 31, 1943 he was KIA. According to French researcher Bernard Ballanger, 1st Lt McKee was flying near the end of the 445th Bomb Group formation when they were attacked by a band of German fighters coming from all directions. A French eyewitness saw his B-24 start to smoke and then leave the formation. It exploded into several pieces. A burning wing fell on the home of Mrs. Yvonne Bourdejeau, who died on Jan. 20, 1944 from burns.
---------------------------------------
Pilot 1st/Lt. Thomas R. McKee KIA
Hometown: Lebanon Tennessee
Service# O-794560
Squadron: 578th 392nd BG
Awards: Air Medal, Purple Heart
Target: ST JEAN D'ANGLEY (FRANCE)
31 December 1943
MACR: 01676
AIRCRAFT: #42-7605 (NO NICKNAME) "T-Bar" 1st Mission
Cause: German fighters 9KIA 1POW
Location: France
On the last mission flown in 1943, the 14th Combat Wing accomplished an excellent bombing task. The target was an airfield southeast of St. Jean D'Angely, France. The Intelligence Annex to Field Order No. 173 stated that the target was "a continuation of the attack on the Luftwaffe only attacking it in its training stages rather than production or finished products."
The 392nd led the 2nd Bomb Division with 27 ships taking off and 23 bombing the briefed target. Fifteen mostly single engine enemy fighters were encountered, including 6 Me-109s, 7 FW-190s, and 3 JU-88s. #42-7605 exploded going into the target area due to this fighter action.
MISSION LOSS CIRCUMSTANCES: Eye-witness account of a returning Group crew man was "ship #605 blew up going to target area; no chutes seen." Sgt. Malavasic's later 'Casualty Questionnaire' report after the war noted the following brief remarks: Their ship left the bomber formation over the target at about 1215 hours, altitude 18,000 feet; (though not available in this single page report, it is presumed that enemy fighter attacks caused this aircrew's downing); that all other crewmen were in their respective positions either seriously wounded or dead at the time of this plane's destruction; and that the aircraft struck the ground about (20) miles from the target.
INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTS OF CREWMEN FATES: The only existing report on this aircrew's loss is the account of Sgt. Malavasic noted above. He was taken as a POW, however no German reports are appended in this MACR regarding his capture, nor any record on the crash of this plane.
According to French researcher Bernard Ballanger, 1st Lt McKee was flying near the end of the 445th Bomb Group formation when they were attacked by a band of German fighters coming from all directions. A French eyewitness saw his B-24 start to smoke and then leave the formation. It exploded into several pieces. A burning wing fell on the home of Mrs. Yvonne Bourdejeau, who died on Jan. 20, 1944 from burns. Another eyewitness saw one of the crew fall to earth in his turret, held in place by his safety harness and seemingly asleep at his guns. Two parachutes were seen and an observer watched in horror as one of them was strafed by the fighters and killed. The other parachutist was tail gunner Sgt Anthony Malavasic, the sole survivor. He was captured within an hour of landing.
BURIAL RECORDS: The crewman who was strafed was buried initially in the village cemetery in Bédenac, France; the rest of the crew was buried initially in the cemetery of St. Vivien. U.S. Cemetery lists record the following; At the RHONE Cemetery, (28) miles west of Cannes and (16) miles inland (France): McKee (Grave C-11-1); Walker (Grave D-6-6); Dinsmore (Grave A-6-19); and Sackal (Grave A-12-5);Simons (Grave D-1-24). No records exist on any of the other deceased crew members, German or U.S. On recorded citations, On recorded citations, McKee, Walker, and Simons are noted as having been awarded an Air Medal and the Purple Heart; Sackal was given awards of an Air Medal with (2) Oak Leaf Clusters and the Purple Heart; and Dinsmore, the Purple Heart.
A memorial to the McKee crew near their crash site was unveiled on December 31, 1947 by the organization French Memory. Each anniversary since then, flowers have been laid at the memorial and at Mrs. Boudejeau's grave. In another tribute to the McKee crew and other Allied airmen who participated in that mission, a street in Montlieu-la Garde was renamed "Rue du 31 Décembre 1943."
McKee Crew(Walker as CP) *
CREW POSITIONS AND STATUS:
P l/LT. Thomas R. McKee KIA
CP 2/LT. Thomas G. Walker KIA
N 2/LT Robert S. Dinsmore KIA
B 2/LT Lee Simons KIA
EnG T/S Ward Mechen Sackal KIA
R/O T/S Thomas C. Morrison KIA
NG S/S Horace Greely Murphy Jr KIA
WG S/S Richard E. Painter KIA
WG S/S Marion E. Nuzum KIA
TG S/S Anthony F. Malavasic, POW
--------------------------------------------------------
1st Combat mission of the 392nd
Target: Abbeville
Mission #1 Date: 9-Sep-1943
AIRCRAFT:
McKee Crew
CREW POSITIONS AND STATUS:
l/LT. Thomas R. McKee Pilot
2/LT. Thomas G. Walker Co Pilot
2nd/Lt D. C. Johnson Navigator
2/LT Lee Simons Bombardier
T/S Ward Mechen Sackal Engineer
T/S Thomas C. Morrison Radio Op.
S/S Horace Greely Murphy Jr Gunner
S/S Charles Harrod Jr. Gunner
WG S/S Marion E. Nuzum
S/S George J. Mislinski Gunner
1st/Lt. McKee had Basic at Shaw Field He was in the 392nd Bomb Gp 578th Bomb Sqdn. On Dec. 31, 1943 he was KIA. According to French researcher Bernard Ballanger, 1st Lt McKee was flying near the end of the 445th Bomb Group formation when they were attacked by a band of German fighters coming from all directions. A French eyewitness saw his B-24 start to smoke and then leave the formation. It exploded into several pieces. A burning wing fell on the home of Mrs. Yvonne Bourdejeau, who died on Jan. 20, 1944 from burns.
---------------------------------------
Pilot 1st/Lt. Thomas R. McKee KIA
Hometown: Lebanon Tennessee
Service# O-794560
Squadron: 578th 392nd BG
Awards: Air Medal, Purple Heart
Target: ST JEAN D'ANGLEY (FRANCE)
31 December 1943
MACR: 01676
AIRCRAFT: #42-7605 (NO NICKNAME) "T-Bar" 1st Mission
Cause: German fighters 9KIA 1POW
Location: France
On the last mission flown in 1943, the 14th Combat Wing accomplished an excellent bombing task. The target was an airfield southeast of St. Jean D'Angely, France. The Intelligence Annex to Field Order No. 173 stated that the target was "a continuation of the attack on the Luftwaffe only attacking it in its training stages rather than production or finished products."
The 392nd led the 2nd Bomb Division with 27 ships taking off and 23 bombing the briefed target. Fifteen mostly single engine enemy fighters were encountered, including 6 Me-109s, 7 FW-190s, and 3 JU-88s. #42-7605 exploded going into the target area due to this fighter action.
MISSION LOSS CIRCUMSTANCES: Eye-witness account of a returning Group crew man was "ship #605 blew up going to target area; no chutes seen." Sgt. Malavasic's later 'Casualty Questionnaire' report after the war noted the following brief remarks: Their ship left the bomber formation over the target at about 1215 hours, altitude 18,000 feet; (though not available in this single page report, it is presumed that enemy fighter attacks caused this aircrew's downing); that all other crewmen were in their respective positions either seriously wounded or dead at the time of this plane's destruction; and that the aircraft struck the ground about (20) miles from the target.
INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTS OF CREWMEN FATES: The only existing report on this aircrew's loss is the account of Sgt. Malavasic noted above. He was taken as a POW, however no German reports are appended in this MACR regarding his capture, nor any record on the crash of this plane.
According to French researcher Bernard Ballanger, 1st Lt McKee was flying near the end of the 445th Bomb Group formation when they were attacked by a band of German fighters coming from all directions. A French eyewitness saw his B-24 start to smoke and then leave the formation. It exploded into several pieces. A burning wing fell on the home of Mrs. Yvonne Bourdejeau, who died on Jan. 20, 1944 from burns. Another eyewitness saw one of the crew fall to earth in his turret, held in place by his safety harness and seemingly asleep at his guns. Two parachutes were seen and an observer watched in horror as one of them was strafed by the fighters and killed. The other parachutist was tail gunner Sgt Anthony Malavasic, the sole survivor. He was captured within an hour of landing.
BURIAL RECORDS: The crewman who was strafed was buried initially in the village cemetery in Bédenac, France; the rest of the crew was buried initially in the cemetery of St. Vivien. U.S. Cemetery lists record the following; At the RHONE Cemetery, (28) miles west of Cannes and (16) miles inland (France): McKee (Grave C-11-1); Walker (Grave D-6-6); Dinsmore (Grave A-6-19); and Sackal (Grave A-12-5);Simons (Grave D-1-24). No records exist on any of the other deceased crew members, German or U.S. On recorded citations, On recorded citations, McKee, Walker, and Simons are noted as having been awarded an Air Medal and the Purple Heart; Sackal was given awards of an Air Medal with (2) Oak Leaf Clusters and the Purple Heart; and Dinsmore, the Purple Heart.
A memorial to the McKee crew near their crash site was unveiled on December 31, 1947 by the organization French Memory. Each anniversary since then, flowers have been laid at the memorial and at Mrs. Boudejeau's grave. In another tribute to the McKee crew and other Allied airmen who participated in that mission, a street in Montlieu-la Garde was renamed "Rue du 31 Décembre 1943."
McKee Crew(Walker as CP) *
CREW POSITIONS AND STATUS:
P l/LT. Thomas R. McKee KIA
CP 2/LT. Thomas G. Walker KIA
N 2/LT Robert S. Dinsmore KIA
B 2/LT Lee Simons KIA
EnG T/S Ward Mechen Sackal KIA
R/O T/S Thomas C. Morrison KIA
NG S/S Horace Greely Murphy Jr KIA
WG S/S Richard E. Painter KIA
WG S/S Marion E. Nuzum KIA
TG S/S Anthony F. Malavasic, POW
--------------------------------------------------------
1st Combat mission of the 392nd
Target: Abbeville
Mission #1 Date: 9-Sep-1943
AIRCRAFT:
McKee Crew
CREW POSITIONS AND STATUS:
l/LT. Thomas R. McKee Pilot
2/LT. Thomas G. Walker Co Pilot
2nd/Lt D. C. Johnson Navigator
2/LT Lee Simons Bombardier
T/S Ward Mechen Sackal Engineer
T/S Thomas C. Morrison Radio Op.
S/S Horace Greely Murphy Jr Gunner
S/S Charles Harrod Jr. Gunner
WG S/S Marion E. Nuzum
S/S George J. Mislinski Gunner
Suggested edit from FAG Contributor: 48803557
1st/Lt. McKee had Basic at Shaw Field He was in the 392nd Bomb Gp 578th Bomb Sqdn. On Dec. 31, 1943 he was KIA. According to French researcher Bernard Ballanger, 1st Lt McKee was flying near the end of the 445th Bomb Group formation when they were attacked by a band of German fighters coming from all directions. A French eyewitness saw his B-24 start to smoke and then leave the formation. It exploded into several pieces. A burning wing fell on the home of Mrs. Yvonne Bourdejeau, who died on Jan. 20, 1944 from burns.
---------------------------------------
Pilot 1st/Lt. Thomas R. McKee KIA
Hometown: Lebanon Tennessee
Service# O-794560
Squadron: 578th 392nd BG
Awards: Air Medal, Purple Heart
Target: ST JEAN D'ANGLEY (FRANCE)
31 December 1943
MACR: 01676
AIRCRAFT: #42-7605 (NO NICKNAME) "T-Bar" 1st Mission
Cause: German fighters 9KIA 1POW
Location: France
On the last mission flown in 1943, the 14th Combat Wing accomplished an excellent bombing task. The target was an airfield southeast of St. Jean D'Angely, France. The Intelligence Annex to Field Order No. 173 stated that the target was "a continuation of the attack on the Luftwaffe only attacking it in its training stages rather than production or finished products."
The 392nd led the 2nd Bomb Division with 27 ships taking off and 23 bombing the briefed target. Fifteen mostly single engine enemy fighters were encountered, including 6 Me-109s, 7 FW-190s, and 3 JU-88s. #42-7605 exploded going into the target area due to this fighter action.
MISSION LOSS CIRCUMSTANCES: Eye-witness account of a returning Group crew man was "ship #605 blew up going to target area; no chutes seen." Sgt. Malavasic's later 'Casualty Questionnaire' report after the war noted the following brief remarks: Their ship left the bomber formation over the target at about 1215 hours, altitude 18,000 feet; (though not available in this single page report, it is presumed that enemy fighter attacks caused this aircrew's downing); that all other crewmen were in their respective positions either seriously wounded or dead at the time of this plane's destruction; and that the aircraft struck the ground about (20) miles from the target.
INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTS OF CREWMEN FATES: The only existing report on this aircrew's loss is the account of Sgt. Malavasic noted above. He was taken as a POW, however no German reports are appended in this MACR regarding his capture, nor any record on the crash of this plane.
According to French researcher Bernard Ballanger, 1st Lt McKee was flying near the end of the 445th Bomb Group formation when they were attacked by a band of German fighters coming from all directions. A French eyewitness saw his B-24 start to smoke and then leave the formation. It exploded into several pieces. A burning wing fell on the home of Mrs. Yvonne Bourdejeau, who died on Jan. 20, 1944 from burns. Another eyewitness saw one of the crew fall to earth in his turret, held in place by his safety harness and seemingly asleep at his guns. Two parachutes were seen and an observer watched in horror as one of them was strafed by the fighters and killed. The other parachutist was tail gunner Sgt Anthony Malavasic, the sole survivor. He was captured within an hour of landing.
BURIAL RECORDS: The crewman who was strafed was buried initially in the village cemetery in Bédenac, France; the rest of the crew was buried initially in the cemetery of St. Vivien. U.S. Cemetery lists record the following; At the RHONE Cemetery, (28) miles west of Cannes and (16) miles inland (France): McKee (Grave C-11-1); Walker (Grave D-6-6); Dinsmore (Grave A-6-19); and Sackal (Grave A-12-5);Simons (Grave D-1-24). No records exist on any of the other deceased crew members, German or U.S. On recorded citations, On recorded citations, McKee, Walker, and Simons are noted as having been awarded an Air Medal and the Purple Heart; Sackal was given awards of an Air Medal with (2) Oak Leaf Clusters and the Purple Heart; and Dinsmore, the Purple Heart.
A memorial to the McKee crew near their crash site was unveiled on December 31, 1947 by the organization French Memory. Each anniversary since then, flowers have been laid at the memorial and at Mrs. Boudejeau's grave. In another tribute to the McKee crew and other Allied airmen who participated in that mission, a street in Montlieu-la Garde was renamed "Rue du 31 Décembre 1943."
McKee Crew(Walker as CP) *
CREW POSITIONS AND STATUS:
P l/LT. Thomas R. McKee KIA
CP 2/LT. Thomas G. Walker KIA
N 2/LT Robert S. Dinsmore KIA
B 2/LT Lee Simons KIA
EnG T/S Ward Mechen Sackal KIA
R/O T/S Thomas C. Morrison KIA
NG S/S Horace Greely Murphy Jr KIA
WG S/S Richard E. Painter KIA
WG S/S Marion E. Nuzum KIA
TG S/S Anthony F. Malavasic, POW
--------------------------------------------------------
1st Combat mission of the 392nd
Target: Abbeville
Mission #1 Date: 9-Sep-1943
AIRCRAFT:
McKee Crew
CREW POSITIONS AND STATUS:
l/LT. Thomas R. McKee Pilot
2/LT. Thomas G. Walker Co Pilot
2nd/Lt D. C. Johnson Navigator
2/LT Lee Simons Bombardier
T/S Ward Mechen Sackal Engineer
T/S Thomas C. Morrison Radio Op.
S/S Horace Greely Murphy Jr Gunner
S/S Charles Harrod Jr. Gunner
WG S/S Marion E. Nuzum
S/S George J. Mislinski Gunner
1st/Lt. McKee had Basic at Shaw Field He was in the 392nd Bomb Gp 578th Bomb Sqdn. On Dec. 31, 1943 he was KIA. According to French researcher Bernard Ballanger, 1st Lt McKee was flying near the end of the 445th Bomb Group formation when they were attacked by a band of German fighters coming from all directions. A French eyewitness saw his B-24 start to smoke and then leave the formation. It exploded into several pieces. A burning wing fell on the home of Mrs. Yvonne Bourdejeau, who died on Jan. 20, 1944 from burns.
---------------------------------------
Pilot 1st/Lt. Thomas R. McKee KIA
Hometown: Lebanon Tennessee
Service# O-794560
Squadron: 578th 392nd BG
Awards: Air Medal, Purple Heart
Target: ST JEAN D'ANGLEY (FRANCE)
31 December 1943
MACR: 01676
AIRCRAFT: #42-7605 (NO NICKNAME) "T-Bar" 1st Mission
Cause: German fighters 9KIA 1POW
Location: France
On the last mission flown in 1943, the 14th Combat Wing accomplished an excellent bombing task. The target was an airfield southeast of St. Jean D'Angely, France. The Intelligence Annex to Field Order No. 173 stated that the target was "a continuation of the attack on the Luftwaffe only attacking it in its training stages rather than production or finished products."
The 392nd led the 2nd Bomb Division with 27 ships taking off and 23 bombing the briefed target. Fifteen mostly single engine enemy fighters were encountered, including 6 Me-109s, 7 FW-190s, and 3 JU-88s. #42-7605 exploded going into the target area due to this fighter action.
MISSION LOSS CIRCUMSTANCES: Eye-witness account of a returning Group crew man was "ship #605 blew up going to target area; no chutes seen." Sgt. Malavasic's later 'Casualty Questionnaire' report after the war noted the following brief remarks: Their ship left the bomber formation over the target at about 1215 hours, altitude 18,000 feet; (though not available in this single page report, it is presumed that enemy fighter attacks caused this aircrew's downing); that all other crewmen were in their respective positions either seriously wounded or dead at the time of this plane's destruction; and that the aircraft struck the ground about (20) miles from the target.
INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTS OF CREWMEN FATES: The only existing report on this aircrew's loss is the account of Sgt. Malavasic noted above. He was taken as a POW, however no German reports are appended in this MACR regarding his capture, nor any record on the crash of this plane.
According to French researcher Bernard Ballanger, 1st Lt McKee was flying near the end of the 445th Bomb Group formation when they were attacked by a band of German fighters coming from all directions. A French eyewitness saw his B-24 start to smoke and then leave the formation. It exploded into several pieces. A burning wing fell on the home of Mrs. Yvonne Bourdejeau, who died on Jan. 20, 1944 from burns. Another eyewitness saw one of the crew fall to earth in his turret, held in place by his safety harness and seemingly asleep at his guns. Two parachutes were seen and an observer watched in horror as one of them was strafed by the fighters and killed. The other parachutist was tail gunner Sgt Anthony Malavasic, the sole survivor. He was captured within an hour of landing.
BURIAL RECORDS: The crewman who was strafed was buried initially in the village cemetery in Bédenac, France; the rest of the crew was buried initially in the cemetery of St. Vivien. U.S. Cemetery lists record the following; At the RHONE Cemetery, (28) miles west of Cannes and (16) miles inland (France): McKee (Grave C-11-1); Walker (Grave D-6-6); Dinsmore (Grave A-6-19); and Sackal (Grave A-12-5);Simons (Grave D-1-24). No records exist on any of the other deceased crew members, German or U.S. On recorded citations, On recorded citations, McKee, Walker, and Simons are noted as having been awarded an Air Medal and the Purple Heart; Sackal was given awards of an Air Medal with (2) Oak Leaf Clusters and the Purple Heart; and Dinsmore, the Purple Heart.
A memorial to the McKee crew near their crash site was unveiled on December 31, 1947 by the organization French Memory. Each anniversary since then, flowers have been laid at the memorial and at Mrs. Boudejeau's grave. In another tribute to the McKee crew and other Allied airmen who participated in that mission, a street in Montlieu-la Garde was renamed "Rue du 31 Décembre 1943."
McKee Crew(Walker as CP) *
CREW POSITIONS AND STATUS:
P l/LT. Thomas R. McKee KIA
CP 2/LT. Thomas G. Walker KIA
N 2/LT Robert S. Dinsmore KIA
B 2/LT Lee Simons KIA
EnG T/S Ward Mechen Sackal KIA
R/O T/S Thomas C. Morrison KIA
NG S/S Horace Greely Murphy Jr KIA
WG S/S Richard E. Painter KIA
WG S/S Marion E. Nuzum KIA
TG S/S Anthony F. Malavasic, POW
--------------------------------------------------------
1st Combat mission of the 392nd
Target: Abbeville
Mission #1 Date: 9-Sep-1943
AIRCRAFT:
McKee Crew
CREW POSITIONS AND STATUS:
l/LT. Thomas R. McKee Pilot
2/LT. Thomas G. Walker Co Pilot
2nd/Lt D. C. Johnson Navigator
2/LT Lee Simons Bombardier
T/S Ward Mechen Sackal Engineer
T/S Thomas C. Morrison Radio Op.
S/S Horace Greely Murphy Jr Gunner
S/S Charles Harrod Jr. Gunner
WG S/S Marion E. Nuzum
S/S George J. Mislinski Gunner
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from Tennessee.
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