1ST LT 323rd Bomb Group 454th Squadron, killed in action WWII
Contributor: Roy Bozych Historian 323rd BG (50760069)
The 'Marauder Men'
Bill Kehoe was born March 7, 1916, in Washington, D.C., and grew up in Bealeton. He attended Warrenton High school, where he played varsity football, basketball and baseball, graduating in 1935. He then went to work for Transportation, Inc., in Greenville, S.C., where he met Miss Jane Martin of Elberton, Ga. They were married in January 1940, and later moved to Kingsport, Tenn., where Bill was employed as an assistant manager for Mason and Dixon Lines.
World War II began on Dec. 7, 1941, and the following April, Bill entered the U. S. Army as an Aviation Cadet. He received his pre-flight instruction at Kelly Field, Texas, followed by basic flight training at Parks Air College in East St. Louis, Ill.
With the birth of William J. Kehoe, III on Oct. 16, 1942, the young cadet became a father.
Bill completed advanced training at Enid Flight School, Enid, Okla., and received his commission as a 2nd lieutenant on Jan. 14, 1943, at the Lubbock Army Flying School, Lubbock, Texas.
Bill Kehoe's first assignment flying combat aircraft was with the 336th Bomb Group at the Avon Park Flying School, Avon Park Fla. There, he was trained to fly the twin-engine Martin Marauder B-26 medium bomber.
While on a raid near Dunkirk, France on April 18, 1944, a B-26 piloted by 1st Lt. Frank Hannes, flying in the formation behind Bill Kehoe's plane, took adirect hit by Germ an anti-aircraft artillery. According to witnesses, the shell struck the bottom of the plane in the cokpit area, apparently killing Hannes and his co-pilot instantly.
Out of control, the crippled bomber pulled up, striking Bill Kehoe's B-26, nicknamed the "Tee Ess Ticket," in the tail section. Both planes plummeted to the ground in flames, and first reports indicated that there were no survivors among the 10 men on board.
However, SSgt. Michael J. Glenn, the radioman-gunner on the "Tee Ess Ticket" did manage to bail out, and was captured by the Germans. He ended up as a prisoner of war in Stalag 17B near Kenns, Austria. Once released, SSgt. Glenn reported that two other members of his aircrew managed to bail out as well, "...but were never heard from again." While in captivity, Glenn wrote a poem about the "Tee Ess Ticket" and the men on board that summed up the feelings of many "Marauder Men" who served in combat:
"Her engines roared her frameshook,
She strained to take the blue;
And then, with motors throttled down,
She paused, awaited the pilots cue.
Again her engines roared on high,
Her wheels began to roll.
She raised her nose and left the earth.
And started toward her goal.
Five gallant men comprised her crew,
Five gallant men and me.
A nobler band, a prouder ship,
There never more could be."
[News & Notes from the Fauquier Historical Society, Vol. 3. No.1, By JOHN T. TOLER Newsletter Editor]
www.fauquierhistory.com/ckfinder/userfiles/files/Vol_30No_1.pdf
Contributor: Roy Bozych Historian 323rd BG (50760069)
The 'Marauder Men'
Bill Kehoe was born March 7, 1916, in Washington, D.C., and grew up in Bealeton. He attended Warrenton High school, where he played varsity football, basketball and baseball, graduating in 1935. He then went to work for Transportation, Inc., in Greenville, S.C., where he met Miss Jane Martin of Elberton, Ga. They were married in January 1940, and later moved to Kingsport, Tenn., where Bill was employed as an assistant manager for Mason and Dixon Lines.
World War II began on Dec. 7, 1941, and the following April, Bill entered the U. S. Army as an Aviation Cadet. He received his pre-flight instruction at Kelly Field, Texas, followed by basic flight training at Parks Air College in East St. Louis, Ill.
With the birth of William J. Kehoe, III on Oct. 16, 1942, the young cadet became a father.
Bill completed advanced training at Enid Flight School, Enid, Okla., and received his commission as a 2nd lieutenant on Jan. 14, 1943, at the Lubbock Army Flying School, Lubbock, Texas.
Bill Kehoe's first assignment flying combat aircraft was with the 336th Bomb Group at the Avon Park Flying School, Avon Park Fla. There, he was trained to fly the twin-engine Martin Marauder B-26 medium bomber.
While on a raid near Dunkirk, France on April 18, 1944, a B-26 piloted by 1st Lt. Frank Hannes, flying in the formation behind Bill Kehoe's plane, took adirect hit by Germ an anti-aircraft artillery. According to witnesses, the shell struck the bottom of the plane in the cokpit area, apparently killing Hannes and his co-pilot instantly.
Out of control, the crippled bomber pulled up, striking Bill Kehoe's B-26, nicknamed the "Tee Ess Ticket," in the tail section. Both planes plummeted to the ground in flames, and first reports indicated that there were no survivors among the 10 men on board.
However, SSgt. Michael J. Glenn, the radioman-gunner on the "Tee Ess Ticket" did manage to bail out, and was captured by the Germans. He ended up as a prisoner of war in Stalag 17B near Kenns, Austria. Once released, SSgt. Glenn reported that two other members of his aircrew managed to bail out as well, "...but were never heard from again." While in captivity, Glenn wrote a poem about the "Tee Ess Ticket" and the men on board that summed up the feelings of many "Marauder Men" who served in combat:
"Her engines roared her frameshook,
She strained to take the blue;
And then, with motors throttled down,
She paused, awaited the pilots cue.
Again her engines roared on high,
Her wheels began to roll.
She raised her nose and left the earth.
And started toward her goal.
Five gallant men comprised her crew,
Five gallant men and me.
A nobler band, a prouder ship,
There never more could be."
[News & Notes from the Fauquier Historical Society, Vol. 3. No.1, By JOHN T. TOLER Newsletter Editor]
www.fauquierhistory.com/ckfinder/userfiles/files/Vol_30No_1.pdf
1ST LT 323rd Bomb Group 454th Squadron, killed in action WWII
Contributor: Roy Bozych Historian 323rd BG (50760069)
The 'Marauder Men'
Bill Kehoe was born March 7, 1916, in Washington, D.C., and grew up in Bealeton. He attended Warrenton High school, where he played varsity football, basketball and baseball, graduating in 1935. He then went to work for Transportation, Inc., in Greenville, S.C., where he met Miss Jane Martin of Elberton, Ga. They were married in January 1940, and later moved to Kingsport, Tenn., where Bill was employed as an assistant manager for Mason and Dixon Lines.
World War II began on Dec. 7, 1941, and the following April, Bill entered the U. S. Army as an Aviation Cadet. He received his pre-flight instruction at Kelly Field, Texas, followed by basic flight training at Parks Air College in East St. Louis, Ill.
With the birth of William J. Kehoe, III on Oct. 16, 1942, the young cadet became a father.
Bill completed advanced training at Enid Flight School, Enid, Okla., and received his commission as a 2nd lieutenant on Jan. 14, 1943, at the Lubbock Army Flying School, Lubbock, Texas.
Bill Kehoe's first assignment flying combat aircraft was with the 336th Bomb Group at the Avon Park Flying School, Avon Park Fla. There, he was trained to fly the twin-engine Martin Marauder B-26 medium bomber.
While on a raid near Dunkirk, France on April 18, 1944, a B-26 piloted by 1st Lt. Frank Hannes, flying in the formation behind Bill Kehoe's plane, took adirect hit by Germ an anti-aircraft artillery. According to witnesses, the shell struck the bottom of the plane in the cokpit area, apparently killing Hannes and his co-pilot instantly.
Out of control, the crippled bomber pulled up, striking Bill Kehoe's B-26, nicknamed the "Tee Ess Ticket," in the tail section. Both planes plummeted to the ground in flames, and first reports indicated that there were no survivors among the 10 men on board.
However, SSgt. Michael J. Glenn, the radioman-gunner on the "Tee Ess Ticket" did manage to bail out, and was captured by the Germans. He ended up as a prisoner of war in Stalag 17B near Kenns, Austria. Once released, SSgt. Glenn reported that two other members of his aircrew managed to bail out as well, "...but were never heard from again." While in captivity, Glenn wrote a poem about the "Tee Ess Ticket" and the men on board that summed up the feelings of many "Marauder Men" who served in combat:
"Her engines roared her frameshook,
She strained to take the blue;
And then, with motors throttled down,
She paused, awaited the pilots cue.
Again her engines roared on high,
Her wheels began to roll.
She raised her nose and left the earth.
And started toward her goal.
Five gallant men comprised her crew,
Five gallant men and me.
A nobler band, a prouder ship,
There never more could be."
[News & Notes from the Fauquier Historical Society, Vol. 3. No.1, By JOHN T. TOLER Newsletter Editor]
www.fauquierhistory.com/ckfinder/userfiles/files/Vol_30No_1.pdf
Contributor: Roy Bozych Historian 323rd BG (50760069)
The 'Marauder Men'
Bill Kehoe was born March 7, 1916, in Washington, D.C., and grew up in Bealeton. He attended Warrenton High school, where he played varsity football, basketball and baseball, graduating in 1935. He then went to work for Transportation, Inc., in Greenville, S.C., where he met Miss Jane Martin of Elberton, Ga. They were married in January 1940, and later moved to Kingsport, Tenn., where Bill was employed as an assistant manager for Mason and Dixon Lines.
World War II began on Dec. 7, 1941, and the following April, Bill entered the U. S. Army as an Aviation Cadet. He received his pre-flight instruction at Kelly Field, Texas, followed by basic flight training at Parks Air College in East St. Louis, Ill.
With the birth of William J. Kehoe, III on Oct. 16, 1942, the young cadet became a father.
Bill completed advanced training at Enid Flight School, Enid, Okla., and received his commission as a 2nd lieutenant on Jan. 14, 1943, at the Lubbock Army Flying School, Lubbock, Texas.
Bill Kehoe's first assignment flying combat aircraft was with the 336th Bomb Group at the Avon Park Flying School, Avon Park Fla. There, he was trained to fly the twin-engine Martin Marauder B-26 medium bomber.
While on a raid near Dunkirk, France on April 18, 1944, a B-26 piloted by 1st Lt. Frank Hannes, flying in the formation behind Bill Kehoe's plane, took adirect hit by Germ an anti-aircraft artillery. According to witnesses, the shell struck the bottom of the plane in the cokpit area, apparently killing Hannes and his co-pilot instantly.
Out of control, the crippled bomber pulled up, striking Bill Kehoe's B-26, nicknamed the "Tee Ess Ticket," in the tail section. Both planes plummeted to the ground in flames, and first reports indicated that there were no survivors among the 10 men on board.
However, SSgt. Michael J. Glenn, the radioman-gunner on the "Tee Ess Ticket" did manage to bail out, and was captured by the Germans. He ended up as a prisoner of war in Stalag 17B near Kenns, Austria. Once released, SSgt. Glenn reported that two other members of his aircrew managed to bail out as well, "...but were never heard from again." While in captivity, Glenn wrote a poem about the "Tee Ess Ticket" and the men on board that summed up the feelings of many "Marauder Men" who served in combat:
"Her engines roared her frameshook,
She strained to take the blue;
And then, with motors throttled down,
She paused, awaited the pilots cue.
Again her engines roared on high,
Her wheels began to roll.
She raised her nose and left the earth.
And started toward her goal.
Five gallant men comprised her crew,
Five gallant men and me.
A nobler band, a prouder ship,
There never more could be."
[News & Notes from the Fauquier Historical Society, Vol. 3. No.1, By JOHN T. TOLER Newsletter Editor]
www.fauquierhistory.com/ckfinder/userfiles/files/Vol_30No_1.pdf
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