Another Ancient One from WW II checked out of this vale of tears about 4:30 this morning, my No. 1 Daughter's father-in law.  Robert Keiter, Des Moines, Ia. 87, B-17 Pilot in the 15th Air Force.  Of the 16,2 Million that served there only about 2.9 Million left, and checking out at the rate of 12 to 15 hundred a day.  Won't be long and there will be no more eye witnesses to the greatest armed conflict in the history of man kind. MAY HE REST IN PEACE. 

My deepest sympathies to the family.
 
Paul

Associate member of the Awon
http://www.awon.org/
__________________

Fighters for Victory (357th FG)

Jack my deepest sympathies  to you and your family. Another hero deployed to Heaven.
 
We Must Never Forget
Mickey

Mickey
Devoted Sister of S/Sgt George L. Winkler
13th Air Force/FEAF/Jungle Air Force
KIA 3 April 1945 Cebu, Philippines

"A Place Called Home"
WWII Families

Jack....If he flew on a B-17, he was not in the 9th AF...it had to be the 8th AF....do you know his Bomb Group ?
 
Jim :-)

James S. Peters Sr. T/Sgt
B-17 Flt Engr, 27 missions
99 BG, 348BS, 5th Wing, 15th AAF
Tortorella, (Foggia#2), Italy
My Tour was from 12/03/44-06/19/45
M/Sgt USAF (Retired)

Commiserations from down under Jack. 
 
As you know Jack, my dad served with the RAAF from '43 to end of hostilities and thought the 'yanks 'were marvellous people.    Their motto of, 'What do you want and when do you want it' was just unbelievable whilst the RAAF were often scrounging for hardware during those desperate times. 
 
Bruce
 
Vale  Robert Keiter.

Watch your six.

[[Jack....If he flew on a B-17, he was not in the 9th AF...it had to be the 8th AF....do you know his Bomb Group ]]
 
Jim  -- He flew out of Italy, I was thinking it was the 9th that flew out of Italy.  Must be he was in your 15th.  I'll have to check with my son-in-law and see if he knows the Group number.  Me, I was in that "Forgotten Fifth" in the SWPA - don't know too much about that little skirmish you had going in the ETO.
Jack

ORIGINAL: jonjac

Another Ancient One from WW II checked out of this vale of tears about 4:30 this morning, my No. 1 Daughter's father-in law.  Robert Keiter, Des Moines, Ia. 87, B-17 Pilot in the 15th Air Force.  Of the 16,2 Million that served there only about 2.9 Million left, and checking out at the rate of 12 to 15 hundred a day.  Won't be long and there will be no more eye witnesses to the greatest armed conflict in the history of man kind. MAY HE REST IN PEACE. 

 
Thoughts and prayers with you and your family. 

Howard Keller (LTC, USA, Ret)

Jack,
     My condolences to the family.  I'm certain there's a special place in heaven for those heroes who fought hell on earth to preserve our way of life.
 
Linda

Jack...The 8th flew out of England, the 9th Flew from France, and the 9th started out in N.Africa and moved to France,...the 12th and 15th flew from N. Africa and the 15th then flew from Italy,...with the 12th   then flying from primarily the island of Corsica.

The  B-17 BGs in Italy were the 2nd, 97th,99th, 301st, 463rd and 483rd.

Depending on the time frame....this will determine which B-17 BG he flew with.

When you find out which B-17 BG he flew with, please let us know.

Jim :-)

James S. Peters Sr. T/Sgt
B-17 Flt Engr, 27 missions
99 BG, 348BS, 5th Wing, 15th AAF
Tortorella, (Foggia#2), Italy
My Tour was from 12/03/44-06/19/45
M/Sgt USAF (Retired)

Jack - With deep sympathy and prayers to your family and gratitude to you Robert Keiter, I wish you a blessed rest.
 
Regards,
Bernadette

In Memory of:
Sgt. Arthur A. Bloom
Ball Turret Gunner
306th Bomb Group, 367th Squadron
KIA 20 December 1942

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Here is an additional attachment that has the back of the photo with the names of the men in the crew.
Thanks!

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Jack and Jennifer Peterson my condolences on the loss of Robert Keiter.I lost my father several years ago so I understand the devastating emotional hardship of the loss.There is not a day that I don't think about my father.
At the 463rd's new website http://www.463rd.org/index.htm the old one is still valid too be sure to visit the forum     http://www.websitetoolbox.com/tool/mb/rascal2                                        and sign up.If you have any pictures,documents,Pilots log book etc. Joel (Swindy) is taking
scans (You can scan them yourself and send them to him on a CD) of these for his pictoral history of the 463rd B.G. CD's.He is currently working on a 3rd one for all of us(It's to save the history).Be sure to read the other posts as well (Some of my dad's missions are featured in a computer flight simulation and a B-17 of the 774th B.S. is in the updated version (a payware add on with most of the Pilot,Copilot controls of a B-17) for Microsoft Flight Simulator X).
Here are the posts about the Pictoral History of the 463rd CD's.
http://www.websitetoolbox.com/tool/post/rascal2/vpost?id=1144937
http://www.websitetoolbox.com/tool/post/rascal2/vpost?id=1601589

I am saddened by your loss.My father will welcome his fellow 463rd Pilot
Robert Keiter in heaven.My dad was in the 772nd B.S. by the way.

By the way Jennifer I noticed the same picture of the Reid crew at the 463rd's website. http://www.463rd.org/crewsLtoR/reid.htm
 
And both of you please don't be shy about posting on the 463rd's message board.

At 11:OO this morning the funeral for Robert H. Keiter was held at the First Federated Church in Des Moines, Ia. It was attended by his children, several grand children and great grand children; and many friends and family members.  Following he was laid to rest in Glendale Cemetary in Des Moines.  An Air Force Honor Guard played Taps and presented the flag to his oldest son Bob.  He has now joined his Comrades in Arms from the 463rd Bomb. Gp. that have preceeded him in that flight to the heavenly kingdom.

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Jennifer,
 
My sincerest condolences to you and your family.  I know there is little we can say to ease the pain of the loss of a loved one except we care about them and you as well.
 
I will report his "Last Flight" to the Historical Society HQ for inclusion in the next newsletter.
 
Sincerely,
 

Joel Swindlehurst
463rd Bomb Group Historian
www.463rd.org
Proud son of 1/Lt Leroy J. Swindlehurst (1921-1950)
Navigator, 772nd Sq., 463rd BG

It is too bad that we could not all thank him in person for his service. Too many veterans never hear that they are appreciated. My deepest sympathy in this loss of a true hero.
 
Vic

Vic Walzel, brother of 1st Lt Leland H. Walzel, bombardier with the 93rd Bomb Group, 330th Squadron. KIA 6 March 1944 on his 25th mission.
www.lelandwalzel.150m.com