Foil: 6 Panel: Distinguished Flying Cross Society Column: 1 Line: 50

Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:

* Joseph F. “Joe” Keenan, born June 3, 1924 in Springfield, MA.
* Entered the service April 1943. Attended basic training at Miami Beach, FL in 1943. Armament school on P-39 and P-40 aircraft at Buckley Field, CO. Gunnery School, in Fort Myers, FL, and B-17 training at Avon Park, FL in 1944.
* Served with the 8th Air Force, 100th Bomb Group, 418th Squadron at Thorpe Abbotts, England as ball turret gunner. He flew 35 missions in B-17 #4297071, named “Andy’s Dandy’s.” Flew five missions to Berlin in May 1944. Dropped armament and supplies to Marquis (French resistance) and flew on D-Day June 6, 1944.
* Discharged in September 1945 as Staff Sergeant.
* Awards:
o Distinguished Flying Cross
o Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters
o Presidential Unit Citation, European Theater of Operations with 4 battle stars
o French Croix de Guerre with palm
o French D-Day Medal.
* Retired as postmaster.
* He has two sons, Joe and Jim, and one daughter, Susan.