Keylor, Okey G.
- Date of birth:
- June 14th, 1924 (Barnsville/Ohio, United States)
- Nationality:
- American (1776 - present, Republic)
Biography
Servicenumber 35 602 857.
Okey G. Keylor was born on June 14th, 1924 in Barnsville, Ohio. Previous to the war he worked as a Patternmaker/Wood Apprentice.
He was called on for service on February 20th, 1943 and was enlisted on September 13th in Fort Hayes, Ohio. Keylor was trained as a Radio Operator and Mechanic with the U.S. Army Air Corps and served on board of Boeing B 17 planes.
He left for Europe as Technical Sergeant on May 1st, 1944 to arrive there on May 4th. On November 13th, 1944 he temporarily returned to the States, where he arrived on November 20th. On March 19th, 1945 he left for the Burma-India Theatre of Operations, where he served until November 23rd to arrive in the States again on December 24th. Okey Keylor served with 850th Bomb Squadron.
Okey Keylor was discharged from active service on 6th January 1946 with the day before as the entry date.
He was also entiteld to wear the Distinguished Unit Badge.
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- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Technical Sergeant
- Unit:
- 850th Bomb Squadron
Okey Keylor was a radio operator on a B-17 during Normandy invasion and a radio mechanic. Also he was a left waist gunner during enemy aircraft action. He carried the tail gunner across open bomb bay doors at approx 22k feet after taking off his oxygen mask a carrying him to safety, which ended in saving the injured gunner's life.
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
Sixth Air Medal received as a silver oak leaf cluster to replace the bronze oak leaves and in recognition for receiving five additional Air Medals, to place on the ribbon of the first Air Medal.
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
Received with four bronze campaign stars for
"NORMANDY", "NORTHERN FRANCE", "RHINELAND" and "AIR OFFENSIVE EUROPE".
Sources
- - Enlisted Record and Report of Seperation, Honorable Discharge
- Honorable Discharge certificate