Skip to main content
Download Image

By downloading this image, you are agreeing to our Terms and Conditions

Unidentified photos which could potentially be the Squadron staff crew (Keller Crew) for Captain Lawrence McGuire (Which had 5 officers). If so, this crew was MIA 4/13/44 and made it to Switz. This crew would have included: Capt. Oliver Keller, (N)Bill Bird, (B) Jesse Smith, (FE) Coleman Hodges, (RO) Bob McReynolds (BTG) Eddes King, (WG) Stan Postelnik, (WG) Tony Coputo, (TG) Lt John Hodge

Connections

Units

  • 447th Bomb Group

    447th Bomb Group

    Group
    The 447th Bomb Group flew B-17 Flying Fortresses on strategic bombardment missions out of Rattlesden, Suffolk. With their first mission coming on Christmas Eve, December 24, 1943, their main focus was hitting sites that would weaken enemy forces...

  • 711th Bomb Squadron

    711th Bomb Squadron

    Squadron

People

  • William Bird

    Military | Lieutenant | Navigator
    Shot down 13 April 1944 in B-17 #4297064. Landed in Switzerland. Interned.

  • Coleman Hodges

    Military | Technical Sergeant | Top Turret Gunner
    Shot down 13 April 1944 in B-17 #4297064. Landed in Switzerland. Interned.

  • John Hodges

    Military | Lieutenant | Tail Gunner
    Shot down 13 April 1944 in B-17 #4297064. Landed in Switzerland. Interned.

  • Oliver Keller

    Military | Captain | Pilot

  • Eddis King

    Military | Staff Sergeant | Ball Turret Gunner
    Shot down 13 April 1944 in B-17 #4297064. Landed in Switzerland. Interned.

  • Robert McReynolds

    Military | Technical Sergeant | Radio Operator Gunner
    Shot down 13 April 1944 in B-17 42-97064. Landed in Switzerland. Interned.

  • Jesse Smith

    Military | Second Lieutenant | Bombardier
    Shot down 13 April 1944 in B-17 #4297064. Landed in Switzerland. Interned.

Missions

  • 301

    13 April 1944

Locations

  • Rattlesden

    Military site : airfield
    Built for the Eighth Air Force in 1942, Rattlesden had three concrete runways, 50 hardstandings and two dispersed T2 hangars. Intended to be a twin-engine B-26 bomber base, it was originally a satellite for nearby Rougham, and first occupied from...

  • Rattlesden Memorial

    Other location

  • St Nicholas, Rattlesden

    Other location

  • Rattlesden Gliding Club

    Other location

Edit entry 

Collection name
Pictorial History of the 447th Bombardment Group (H)
Object number
UPL 43860

Revisions

Date Contributor Update
20 October 2020 01:21:37 pamccolgan Changes to caption, unit associations, person associations, place associations and mission associations
Sources

447 Bomb Group History
Date Contributor Update
04 June 2020 21:45:55 timothymotz Created entry with collection, unit associations and place associations
Sources

Timothy Motz, from Pictorial History of the 447th Bombardment Group (H) https://www.americanairmuseum.com/media/41056

Share