Handley Page Halifax ace James G. Keys

[knusel]

Good evening,

if heavy bomber pilots had been credited with the kills of their gunners, the top Handley Page Halifax ace would have been an American in the Royal Canadian Air Force: James G. Keys with 9 victories.
http://www.bombercommandmuseum.ca/s,jameskeys.html
What was his middle name ?
Is he still alive ?

Michael

[RSwank]

His middle name was Grant. He died in 2001 in Harrisburg, PA.

An interview with him done by his granddaughter.
http://www.bombercommandmuseum.ca/s,jameskeys.html

[knusel]

Oh how sad.
R.I.P.
Can you tell me the date of his death ?

Michael

[RSwank]

He died November 1, 2001


From "The Sentinel", (Carlisle, PA) - Saturday, November 3, 2001

"James G. Keys Jr., 79, of Lower Paxton Township, Dauphin County, died Thursday, Nov. 1, 2001 in Villa Teresa Nursing Home, Harrisburg.

Born March 26, 1922 in Allentown, he was the son of the late James G. Sr. and Elsie Delong Keys. He was the widower of June E. Keys.

An avid antique dealer, Mr. Keys was retired from Glenn Gary Brick Company.

He was a Royal Canadian Air Force pilot and received the Distinguished Flying Cross from the British government. He was also a U.S. Army Air Corps pilot during World War II.

He enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren."

[Col Bruggy]

Hello,

See: http://rcafassociation.ca/heritage/s...umber&type=all

Hit Click to view.

Col.

[knusel]

Hello Col,

I though that heavy bomber pilots were not credited with the kills of their gunners but reading the description it sounds like Keys was.

Thanks for the link,

Michael

[knusel]

Why were so many VC's given to Lancaster aircrew compared to the few given to Halifax aircrew ?

[Adriano Baumgartner]

I am not sure what the RAF Official regulations says about "crew victories". However, in spite of the air gunner taking aim and firing the guns, often one depended of crew coordination and cooperation to achieve such a claim (the pilot, in most of cases needed to manoeuver the airplane, either avoiding an attack or looking for a favourable position for his gunners to shoot). Radio-telephony was paramount on most of those claims, I believe (and have read about).

It is strange that Keys' name is not recorded here:
http://aces.safarikovi.org/victories...th-gunner.html

[knusel]

Good evening Adriano,

this is a gunner list. James Keys is represented by his gunners Peter Engbrecht and Gordon Gillanders who happen to be the most successful Halifax gunners of them all. That makes it virtually certain that Keys would have been the highest-scoring Halifax pilot if the British Commonwealth had credited heavy bomber pilots with the score of their crews.

Best greetings from Switzerland, sincerely,

Michael

[Adriano Baumgartner]

So, if we count up the claims of the 2 gunners...we do have 10 victories! Surely, amongst RAF, RCAF, SAAF, RNZAF and RAAF in Bomber Command, he may rank as the "Top Guns". Now it would be nice to "match" their claims...isn't it?
Really a pitty that a full biography or History of this crew have NOT YET seen light!!!!!!

All the best for you and the land of my forebears

Adriano - from Brazil (now taking-off again! it seems so)