Seeking info about two collided in midair with P 51 D

[jarecki71]

Hi all,
Looking for information on a topic in the air collision of two planes P 51D
The collision occurred in Stargard Pom, 7 October 1944.
P 51D 44-14331
P 51D 44-13541
The pilots bailed out and became POW.
I'm interested in what units, names of the pilots,which they came to Stalag? (IID Stargard?)
Best Regards,
Jarek

[Tony Kambic]

Found some notes on the Web:

13541 (55th FS, 20th FG, 8th AF0 collided in midair with P-51D 44-14331
and crashed at Zartzig, 2km SE of Stargard,
Poland Oct 7, 1944. MACR 9255. Pilot bailed out and became POW.

14331 (55th FS, 20th FG, 8th AF) collided in midair with P-51 D 44-13541 and crashed near Stargard, Poland
Oct 7, 1944. MACR 9256. Pilot bailed out and became POW.

44-13541 P-51D 55 KI-N Randolph Lt.Col. John P "Nancy"
Lost 7 Oct 44 - Maj. Joseph T McKeon POW 9255

44-14331 P-51D 55 KI-
Lost 7 Oct 44 - Lt. Robert C Brown POW 9256

Joseph Thomas McKeon
Born on 14 September, 1916, in New York City, Joseph Thomas McKeon
enlisted in the Army Air Corps from Maspeth, Long Island, and received
his wings at Maxwell Field, Alabama, Class 41-H, on 31 October 1941.
Assigned to the 15th Pursuit Group in Hawaii, he arrived two weeks
before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. He then transferred to
the 35th Fighter Squadron, 8th Fighter Group in the Southwest Pacific
in June 1942, he scored his first victory on the anniversary of Pearl Harbor.

By the fall of 1943 McKeon was a Captain flying P-38s with the 475thFG 433rdFS. He ran up four victories during September and October, and became an ace before returning to the States in January 1944.
Following P-38 instructor duty at Santa Maria, California, McKeon began his second overseas tour in June 1944 with the 20thFG, 77thFS at King's Cliffe in England, again flying P-38s. The 20th converted to P-51s in late July and it was in a Mustang that McKeon scored his sixth and last victory on 16 August.

While flying his 40th. mission from England, McKeon was captured by the Germans after bailing out of his aircraft following a mid-air collision over Galinow on 7 October. He remained in German captivity until mid May 1945.

DECORATIONS: Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart and the Air Medal with 9 OLCs
McKeon piloted P-51 Serial #44-13992, Squadron Code LC-C.

This is from a 20th FG photo caption of the aircraft:
Lt.Col.J. P. Randolph. Schertz, TX. HQ 20th Fighter Group. P-51D 44-13541 MC-N_ "Nancy". Cpl. Harold K Falkenbach, St. Joseph, MO., armourer by Nancy's name.
Assistant crew chief S/Sgt. Green sitting on wing root.

[jarecki71]

Tony, thanks a lot.

Regards,
Jarek