43-3933           MACR 15465

 

On 9 May 1945 a B-25, # 43-3933, assigned 14th Air Force, 341st Bomb Group, 22nd Bomb Squadron, was in a formation over China, was hit by enemy fire and veered out of formation in a steep dive from 6,500’ and crashed. The crew was:

 

                        1stLt Yale A. Ketchum            Jr.        0-814700

                        2ndLt Willard E. Crook           0-709299

                        TSgt Gorden R. Causey           33524647

                        TSgt Rudolph Elkins               31312978

                        1stLt William A. Howard         0-759456

                        SSgt James Kokonis                 13114271

 

The crew is most likely listed in terms of crew positions, as on the average MACR. No next-of-kin list was in the folder.

KETCHUM, YALE AUSTIN, JR., First Lieutenant, # 0-814700, USAAF

 

Yale A. Ketchum Jr. was born on 11 July 1918 in Syracuse, New York, to Yale A. Ketchum (1892-1947) and Ellen Irene (Heagle) Ketchum (1897-1978) (married 15 March 1917 in Syracuse, NY). Siblings were Vernon Ketchum (1920-1995), Gortdon Warren Ketchum (1925-2001). He married

 

After enlisting in the USAAF, he completed flight instruction through advanced school and was assigned to fly the B-25 Mitchell. He earned his commission and pilot wings. He was sent through India to China. On 9 May 1945 a B-25, # 43-3933, assigned 14th Air Force, 341st Bomb Group, 22nd Bomb Squadron, was in a formation over China, was hit by enemy fire, and veered out of formation in a dive from 6,500’ and crashed. After recovery from China, crew remains (Causey, Crook, Elkins, Howard, Ketchum & Kokonis) were indistinguishable and were buried in a group ceremony and burial in the Jefferson barracks National Cemetery, Lemay, Missouri, on 2 February 1950 (Sec. 78, Graves 1034-1034A). He was awarded the Air Medal and the Purple Heart.

 

His brother, Vernon Ketchum, born 21 March 1920, enlisted in the USAAF on 16 September 1940, at Syracuse, New York, and on 19 July 1948 in the New York National Guard, Sergeant, # 12003852, 108th Infantry Regiment, Headquarters Co. He died 30 August 1995 in California.

 

His brother, Gordon W. Ketchum, born 3 June 1925, served in the U.S. Army from 19 August 1943 to 4 April 1947. He died 18 March 2001.