401st Bomb Group (H) Association
The best damned outfit in the USAAF!
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Margie Keck Francese
2/4/2002 9:43:06 PM
My Uncle, Lt. Robert J. Keck, pilot of "Homing Pigeon", would like any information on his Navigator, Bill Freeman, his Bombadier, Sam Shepperd or his Co-pilot, Larry Istel.
If anyone knows anything about these men, please email me at  Magado@aol.com.  I will send all replys to my uncle as he is not on-line.  Thank you.
l.a.mitchell
2/17/2002 7:49:18 PM
since 1974 401st bomb group has had association of ex-members. i do not see r.j.keck's name on our roster of about 500 members. please send me your u.s. mail address an will send you application for mr. keck to join our outfit.also, in addition to the 3 people you ask about, please send me first names and middle initials of stoeger, metcalf, and fialkowski.they were the other members of his crew.
signed  l. a. mitchell apt. 1211  6520 ambrosia lane
carlsbad,ca 92009. thank you
Margie Keck Francese
2/21/2002 10:48:16 PM
Thank you for your response.  I'll be sending you a SASE for my Uncle's application.  As soon as he returns home, I'll ask him about the other crewmembers and post their names. Margie
Margie Keck Francese
3/15/2002 8:48:37 PM
Received the application today.  Will forward it to my Uncle when he returns in April.  He remembers only one first name...Bill Metcalf, tailgunner.  Stoeger was the mechanic.  He remembers an Elwood Norr (not sure of spelling) and a Nothnagel.  However, Nothnagel was not on the plane when it went down.  By the way, I will be sending in my application as well.  Thank you for your help....Margie
l.a.mitchell
4/9/2002 8:19:57 PM
Margie,search engine,www.switchboard.com,has helped very much in finding people.I tried it for Larry Istel. I used "Larry"...Lawrence... then L.A. istel.
BINGO  they show L.A. Istel  at 100 n. Collier Blvd.Marco Island,FL34145...Phone (941) 642-5525.
couldd be another guy with same name ..but it a shot.
Sgts. Engler and Norr were both KIA in fighter attack.

William Metcalf, tail gunner,was severely wounded ,but parachutd to safety and survived.