1060:
567:
This officer has completed many sorties since being awarded a Bar to the
Distinguished Flying Cross and his record is outstanding. Within the past few months he has led large formations of aircraft on air operations during which forty enemy aircraft have been destroyed. The successes obtained reflect
539:
aircraft and he destroyed a Ju 88 and a Fw 190, two of twelve German aircraft claimed by pilots of his wing during the day. A few days later, No. 126 Fighter Wing began operating from airstrips within the beachhead, using these as re-fuelling posts in between patrols before returning to their base in
655:
in a management position, eventually rising to be a vice-president with the company before resigning to start up his own business. He purchased a plastics company, Plastal
Manufacturing, that made components for the aviation industry; under his management it made parts for major aircraft
261:. He spent several months with the squadron and achieved a number of aerial victories before being assigned to instructing duties. He returned to the United Kingdom in early 1943 and after a few months resumed operational flying with a posting to the RCAF's
605:, he shot down a Fw 190, his final aerial victory of the war. In July, he was awarded a Bar to his DSO. He was one of four RCAF personnel to receive medal bars to both the DFC and the DSO. He was also recognised by the governments of
554:
on 25 June and then two days later shot down a Bf 109 in the
Beaumont region. The following month he was rested and went to Canada on leave. He returned to active duty in September with a posting to London at the headquarters of
626:
Keefer ended the war credited with having definitively shot down twelve German and
Italian aircraft, probably destroying two others, and damaging nine aircraft. He was also credited with destroying five aircraft on the ground.
281:
in the final stages of the war in Europe. He remained in the RCAF until 1947 and in civilian life, he worked in the aerospace industry. At the time of his sudden death in 1985, he was running a manufacturing company.
1420:
495:
later in the day. At around this time, he took command of the squadron and it soon began to upgrade to the
Spitfire Mk IXb. Flying one of these, he claimed a Fw 190 as probably destroyed to the south of
438:
33:
1430:
1051:
1410:
568:
the greatest credit on the skill, gallantry and resolution of Wing
Commander Keefer. This officer has been responsible for the destruction of eight hostile aircraft.
413:, landing nearby to collect and fly him back to his airfield, both men squeezed into the cockpit of Keefer's Hurricane. Four days later Keefer shot down a
585:
in
November. At the time, the wing was supporting the Allied advance into Belgium, Holland and Germany. On 2 March 1945 he destroyed a Bf 109 north of
339:
984:
597:
on 16 April and then two days later, while attacking
Parchim Airfield, destroyed five Bf 109s on the ground. On 20 April he destroyed a Bf 109 at
1056:
998:
1400:
253:
to
Canadian parents, Keefer joined the RCAF in late 1940. Once his training was completed, he was sent to the United Kingdom to serve with the
1425:
442:
230:
182:
1405:
265:. He took command of the unit soon after his arrival there, and shot down further aircraft on sorties to occupied Europe. Promoted to
1415:
1359:
635:
Keefer remained in the RCAF in the immediate postwar period, returning to Canada in August 1945. He served initially at the
162:
935:
1039:
1020:
1364:
306:
in Canada. Once Keefer finished his schooling, he returned to the United States in 1939 to study engineering at
582:
278:
137:
354:
At the time Keefer joined the unit, No. 274 Squadron was serving in the Middle East. It was based in Egypt at
1209:
615:
540:
the United
Kingdom at the end of the day. It began permanently flying from Beny-sur-Me in France on 18 June.
469:
298:, in the United States of America on 11 July 1921. His parents, Canadian citizens, subsequently relocated to
188:
1158:
1249:
560:
373:, the Allied advance into Libya. On 7 December, Keefer achieved his first aerial victories, destroying a
334:. Two months later, he was sent to the United Kingdom to join in the war effort there, serving with the
219:
174:
1395:
1291:
556:
422:
421:, he destroyed a Bf 109. On 17 June, he damaged a MC.202. No. 274 Squadron flew extensively during the
417:
fighter in the same area. He claimed a Bf 109 as damaged on 12 June, and then four days later, east of
384:
1032:
Aces High: A Tribute to the Most Notable Fighter Pilots of the British and Commonwealth Forces in WWII
543:
With the fighter wing supporting the Allied ground forces as they advanced inland, Keefer destroyed a
369:
shipping and bomber escorts. From November to December 1941, No. 274 Squadron flew extensively during
1201:
610:
1118:
311:
246:(RCAF) during the Second World War. He was credited with having shot down at least twelve aircraft
243:
101:
912:
892:
741:
644:
590:
152:
409:. On 4 June, he was involved in the rescue of a South African pilot who had been shot down near
1331:
1299:
1150:
636:
450:
446:
327:
262:
129:
824:
1390:
1385:
1099:
544:
524:
473:
465:
414:
388:
343:
303:
274:
258:
8:
374:
445:. Returning to the United Kingdom in February 1943, three months later he was posted to
917:
897:
829:
746:
489:
370:
206:
157:
957:
1035:
1016:
657:
620:
528:
505:
477:
379:
270:
194:
133:
476:. On 12 June, while the squadron was on a shipping reconnaissance, Keefer damaged a
1142:
640:
454:
362:
359:
295:
147:
59:
1193:
1126:
1080:
485:
461:
335:
307:
254:
523:
role, Keefer's command was heavily engaged in operations in anticipation of the
1323:
1185:
1166:
520:
501:
323:
266:
119:
531:
itself, No. 126 Wing provided aerial cover to the east of the beachhead up to
481:
1379:
1315:
1271:
547:
399:
396:
392:
331:
299:
291:
250:
55:
1223:
355:
1307:
1134:
606:
509:
492:
257:. After further training, he was posted to the Middle East to serve with
535:
but saw little opposition. On 7 June, Keefer's wing encountered several
1065:
581:
Keefer returned to a command post with an appointment as the leader of
426:
410:
366:
239:
1421:
Canadian recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
647:. He left the RCAF in February 1947 and joined an aviation company in
441:, remaining here for six months. During this time, he was awarded the
429:. A week later, a Bf 109 was also damaged in the same area by Keefer.
873:
837:
602:
598:
536:
513:
310:. He broke off his tertiary education after a year, enlisting in the
234:
223:
178:
793:
769:
697:
695:
693:
80:
691:
689:
687:
685:
683:
681:
679:
677:
675:
673:
652:
648:
532:
76:
861:
849:
594:
488:
after the engine of his Spitfire failed. He was rescued by a RAF
472:(2TAF), paired up with two other squadrons of the RCAF to form a
383:(Italian Air Force), and damaging a second, to the south west of
805:
781:
670:
32:
1059:
586:
497:
418:
406:
405:
Keefer probably destroyed a Bf 109 on 25 May 1942 southwest of
712:
710:
997:
Historical Section of the Royal Canadian Air Force (1945).
983:
Historical Section of the Royal Canadian Air Force (1944).
722:
643:
as a Canadian representative before taking a course at the
551:
707:
484:. The following month, he was forced to bale out over the
391:
fighter in the same area. On 21 December, flying over the
759:
757:
322:
Keefer underwent flight training in Canada, gaining his
425:
and on 10 July, he claimed two MC.202s as damaged near
1431:
Canadian Companions of the Distinguished Service Order
754:
1411:Royal Canadian Air Force personnel of World War II
996:
982:
879:
867:
855:
843:
811:
799:
787:
775:
519:As part of the 2TAF and beginning to operate in a
500:on 1 December. In April 1944, he was promoted to
1377:
468:Mk V fighter. It was soon to become part of the
1013:Fighter Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft
1029:
728:
701:
1030:Shores, Christopher; Williams, Clive (1994).
273:, leading it in operations in support of the
901:(Supplement). 20 October 1944. p. 4812.
986:The R.C.A.F. Overseas: The First Four Years
750:(Supplement). 22 January 1943. p. 437.
651:. Four years later, he started working for
449:for a brief period before proceeding onto
349:
31:
921:(Supplement). 24 July 1945. p. 3834.
589:and a second on 19 March, this time over
1010:
911:
891:
823:
763:
740:
716:
930:
928:
613:for his war service, being awarded the
1378:
593:. He caught and damaged a Fw 190 over
1401:Military personnel from New York City
1360:List of World War II aces from Canada
1055:
1000:The R.C.A.F. Overseas: The Fifth Year
437:In August 1942, Keefer was posted to
925:
660:. He died suddenly in January 1985.
563:(DSO). The published citation read:
512:in this role. He was also awarded a
238:(11 July 1921 – January 1985) was a
1006:. Toronto: Oxford University Press.
992:. Toronto: Oxford University Press.
317:
269:in April 1944, he became leader of
13:
365:, providing aerial protection for
290:George Clinton Keefer was born in
163:Western Allied invasion of Germany
14:
1442:
1406:Canadian World War II flying aces
1015:. London: MacDonald & James.
559:. In October, he was awarded the
439:No. 1 Middle East Training School
1426:Recipients of the Airman's Cross
1365:List of World War II flying aces
1058:
342:, in September he was posted to
340:No. 59 Operational Training Unit
1416:Royal Air Force wing commanders
950:
905:
885:
817:
833:. 14 April 1944. p. 1712.
734:
460:No. 412 Squadron was based at
387:. The next day he shot down a
326:in April 1941 and receiving a
1:
976:
960:. Fondation Aérovision Québec
938:. Air Force Museum of Alberta
630:
480:fighter to the north east of
285:
576:, No. 36756, 20 October 1944
338:. After a period of time at
7:
561:Distinguished Service Order
175:Distinguished Service Order
16:Canadian flying ace of WWII
10:
1447:
729:Shores & Williams 1994
702:Shores & Williams 1994
443:Distinguished Flying Cross
423:First Battle of El Alamein
183:Distinguished Flying Cross
1355:
1178:
1111:
1092:
1073:
1068:with 10+ aerial victories
656:manufacturers, including
470:Second Tactical Air Force
453:where he was appointed a
432:
201:
170:
143:
125:
115:
107:
95:
87:
66:
42:
30:
23:
663:
504:and appointed leader of
314:(RCAF) in October 1940.
312:Royal Canadian Air Force
244:Royal Canadian Air Force
102:Royal Canadian Air Force
1034:. London: Grub Street.
1011:Rawlings, John (1976).
880:Historical Section 1945
868:Historical Section 1945
856:Historical Section 1945
844:Historical Section 1945
812:Historical Section 1945
800:Historical Section 1945
788:Historical Section 1944
776:Historical Section 1945
350:Western Desert campaign
153:Western Desert campaign
1064:Canadian World War II
579:
277:. He subsequently led
637:Joint Chiefs of Staff
565:
108:Years of service
583:No. 125 Fighter Wing
545:Messerschmitt Bf 110
525:invasion of Normandy
466:Supermarine Spitfire
389:Messerschmitt Bf 109
304:Prince Edward Island
279:No. 125 Fighter Wing
275:invasion of Normandy
271:No. 126 Fighter Wing
158:Invasion of Normandy
138:No. 125 Fighter Wing
134:No. 126 Fighter Wing
1327:(10 & 1 shared)
1319:(10 & 1 shared)
1311:(10 & 1 shared)
1303:(10 & 5 shared)
1295:(10 & 8 shared)
1253:(12 & 5 shared)
1213:(13 & 1 shared)
1189:(14 & 1 shared)
1162:(15 & 1 shared)
1154:(15 & 3 shared)
1146:(15 & 4 shared)
1138:(16 & 1 shared)
1130:(17 & 2 shared)
1122:(18 & 4 shared)
1084:(31 & 1 shared)
882:, pp. 251–252.
846:, pp. 134–135.
802:, pp. 120–123.
778:, pp. 106–107.
719:, pp. 386–387.
704:, pp. 368–369.
601:and then, close to
958:"George C. Keefer"
918:The London Gazette
898:The London Gazette
830:The London Gazette
747:The London Gazette
645:RCAF Staff College
490:Supermarine Walrus
371:Operation Crusader
242:who served in the
1396:Canadian aviators
1373:
1372:
1348:
1342:
1336:
1328:
1320:
1312:
1304:
1296:
1288:
1282:
1276:
1268:
1265:Donald MacFayden
1262:
1254:
1246:
1240:
1234:
1228:
1220:
1214:
1206:
1198:
1190:
1171:
1163:
1155:
1147:
1139:
1131:
1123:
1104:
1085:
658:McDonnell Douglas
478:Focke-Wulf Fw 190
464:and operated the
395:, he destroyed a
380:Regia Aeronautica
212:
211:
197:(The Netherlands)
37:Keefer, 1942–1943
1438:
1346:
1340:
1334:
1332:Frederick Aikman
1326:
1318:
1310:
1302:
1294:
1286:
1280:
1274:
1266:
1260:
1252:
1244:
1238:
1232:
1226:
1218:
1212:
1204:
1196:
1188:
1169:
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1145:
1137:
1129:
1121:
1102:
1083:
1063:
1062:
1053:
1052:
1045:
1026:
1007:
1005:
993:
991:
970:
969:
967:
965:
954:
948:
947:
945:
943:
932:
923:
922:
909:
903:
902:
889:
883:
877:
871:
865:
859:
853:
847:
841:
835:
834:
821:
815:
809:
803:
797:
791:
785:
779:
773:
767:
761:
752:
751:
738:
732:
726:
720:
714:
705:
699:
641:Washington, D.C.
619:with a Star and
595:Hagenow Airfield
577:
455:flight commander
451:No. 412 Squadron
447:No. 416 Squadron
360:Hawker Hurricane
344:No. 274 Squadron
318:Second World War
263:No. 412 Squadron
259:No. 274 Squadron
237:
228:
148:Second World War
130:No. 412 Squadron
97:
73:
52:
50:
35:
21:
20:
1446:
1445:
1441:
1440:
1439:
1437:
1436:
1435:
1376:
1375:
1374:
1369:
1351:
1339:Leslie Gosling
1194:Robert Fumerton
1174:
1127:Willie McKnight
1119:Vernon Woodward
1107:
1088:
1081:George Beurling
1069:
1057:
1049:
1042:
1023:
1003:
989:
979:
974:
973:
963:
961:
956:
955:
951:
941:
939:
936:"George Keefer"
934:
933:
926:
910:
906:
890:
886:
878:
874:
866:
862:
854:
850:
842:
838:
822:
818:
810:
806:
798:
794:
786:
782:
774:
770:
762:
755:
739:
735:
727:
723:
715:
708:
700:
671:
666:
633:
616:Croix de Guerre
591:Rheine Airfield
578:
572:
486:English Channel
435:
377:fighter of the
352:
336:Royal Air Force
320:
308:Yale University
288:
255:Royal Air Force
226:
218:
202:Other work
193:
189:Croix de Guerre
186:
181:
136:
132:
75:
71:
62:, United States
54:
48:
46:
38:
26:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1444:
1434:
1433:
1428:
1423:
1418:
1413:
1408:
1403:
1398:
1393:
1388:
1371:
1370:
1368:
1367:
1362:
1356:
1353:
1352:
1350:
1349:
1343:
1337:
1329:
1324:Hamilton Upton
1321:
1313:
1305:
1300:Irving Kennedy
1297:
1289:
1283:
1279:Donald Gordon
1277:
1269:
1263:
1255:
1247:
1241:
1237:John Turnbull
1235:
1229:
1221:
1215:
1210:Roderick Smith
1207:
1199:
1191:
1186:William Klersy
1182:
1180:
1176:
1175:
1173:
1172:
1167:Don C. Laubman
1164:
1159:Edward Charles
1156:
1148:
1140:
1132:
1124:
1115:
1113:
1109:
1108:
1106:
1105:
1096:
1094:
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1089:
1087:
1086:
1077:
1075:
1071:
1070:
1047:
1046:
1040:
1027:
1021:
1008:
994:
978:
975:
972:
971:
949:
924:
904:
884:
872:
870:, p. 249.
860:
858:, p. 247.
848:
836:
816:
814:, p. 133.
804:
792:
790:, p. 109.
780:
768:
766:, p. 429.
753:
733:
721:
706:
668:
667:
665:
662:
632:
629:
623:respectively.
621:Airman's Cross
574:London Gazette
570:
521:fighter-bomber
502:wing commander
434:
431:
351:
348:
319:
316:
287:
284:
267:wing commander
210:
209:
203:
199:
198:
195:Airman's Cross
172:
168:
167:
166:
165:
160:
155:
145:
141:
140:
127:
123:
122:
120:Wing Commander
117:
113:
112:
109:
105:
104:
99:
93:
92:
89:
85:
84:
74:(aged 63)
68:
64:
63:
44:
40:
39:
36:
28:
27:
24:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1443:
1432:
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1427:
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1419:
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1414:
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1407:
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1402:
1399:
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1392:
1389:
1387:
1384:
1383:
1381:
1366:
1363:
1361:
1358:
1357:
1354:
1345:James Walker
1344:
1338:
1333:
1330:
1325:
1322:
1317:
1316:John Mitchner
1314:
1309:
1306:
1301:
1298:
1293:
1290:
1284:
1278:
1273:
1272:Richard Audet
1270:
1264:
1259:
1258:George Keefer
1256:
1251:
1250:Robert Barton
1248:
1242:
1236:
1231:John McElroy
1230:
1225:
1222:
1217:Albert Houle
1216:
1211:
1208:
1203:
1200:
1195:
1192:
1187:
1184:
1183:
1181:
1177:
1168:
1165:
1160:
1157:
1152:
1151:James Edwards
1149:
1144:
1141:
1136:
1133:
1128:
1125:
1120:
1117:
1116:
1114:
1110:
1101:
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1091:
1082:
1079:
1078:
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1072:
1067:
1061:
1054:
1050:
1043:
1041:1-8-9869-7000
1037:
1033:
1028:
1024:
1022:0-354-01028-X
1018:
1014:
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1001:
995:
988:
987:
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919:
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876:
869:
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845:
840:
832:
831:
826:
820:
813:
808:
801:
796:
789:
784:
777:
772:
765:
764:Rawlings 1976
760:
758:
749:
748:
743:
737:
731:, p. 57.
730:
725:
718:
717:Rawlings 1976
713:
711:
703:
698:
696:
694:
692:
690:
688:
686:
684:
682:
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674:
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618:
617:
612:
608:
604:
600:
596:
592:
588:
584:
575:
569:
564:
562:
558:
557:RACF Overseas
553:
549:
548:heavy fighter
546:
541:
538:
534:
530:
526:
522:
517:
515:
511:
508:, succeeding
507:
503:
499:
494:
491:
487:
483:
479:
475:
471:
467:
463:
458:
456:
452:
448:
444:
440:
430:
428:
424:
420:
416:
412:
408:
403:
401:
400:medium bomber
398:
397:Junkers Ju 88
394:
393:Gulf of Bomba
390:
386:
382:
381:
376:
372:
368:
364:
361:
358:and operated
357:
347:
345:
341:
337:
333:
332:pilot officer
329:
325:
315:
313:
309:
305:
301:
300:Charlottetown
297:
293:
292:New York City
283:
280:
276:
272:
268:
264:
260:
256:
252:
251:New York City
247:
245:
241:
236:
232:
225:
221:
216:
215:George Keefer
208:
204:
200:
196:
191:
190:
184:
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161:
159:
156:
154:
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110:
106:
103:
100:
94:
90:
86:
82:
78:
69:
65:
61:
57:
56:New York City
45:
41:
34:
29:
25:George Keefer
22:
19:
1257:
1100:Henry McLeod
1048:
1031:
1012:
999:
985:
962:. Retrieved
952:
940:. Retrieved
916:
907:
896:
887:
875:
863:
851:
839:
828:
819:
807:
795:
783:
771:
745:
736:
724:
634:
625:
614:
580:
573:
566:
542:
518:
516:to his DFC.
506:No. 126 Wing
474:fighter wing
459:
436:
415:Macchi C.202
404:
378:
375:Macchi C.200
353:
321:
289:
248:
214:
213:
187:
144:Battles/wars
72:(1985-01-00)
70:January 1985
53:11 July 1921
18:
1391:1985 deaths
1386:1921 births
1308:Robert Kipp
1292:George Hill
1285:David Ness
1243:Eric Woods
1202:Stan Turner
1135:Buck McNair
1066:flying aces
913:"No. 37192"
893:"No. 36756"
825:"No. 36468"
742:"No. 35783"
611:Netherlands
510:Buck McNair
493:flying boat
482:Île de Batz
462:Perranporth
1380:Categories
1143:Mark Brown
977:References
631:Later life
427:El Alamein
411:Bir Hakeim
367:Royal Navy
328:commission
286:Early life
240:flying ace
205:Aerospace
88:Allegiance
49:1921-07-11
1224:John Kent
603:Pritzwalk
599:Wittstock
550:south of
537:Luftwaffe
207:executive
185:& Bar
111:1940–1947
653:Canadair
649:Montreal
571:—
533:Le Havre
363:fighters
296:New York
249:Born in
192:(France)
126:Commands
96:Service/
83:, Canada
77:Montreal
60:New York
385:El Adem
1038:
1019:
964:4 June
942:4 June
607:France
587:Rheine
498:Knokke
433:Europe
419:Tobruk
407:Gazala
356:Mariut
233:&
222:&
177:&
171:Awards
98:branch
91:Canada
81:Québec
1179:10–14
1112:15–19
1093:20–24
1004:(PDF)
990:(PDF)
664:Notes
529:D-Day
527:. On
330:as a
324:wings
229:
227:,
1347:(10)
1341:(10)
1335:(10)
1287:(11)
1281:(11)
1275:(11)
1267:(12)
1261:(12)
1245:(13)
1239:(13)
1233:(13)
1227:(13)
1219:(13)
1205:(14)
1197:(14)
1170:(15)
1103:(21)
1036:ISBN
1017:ISBN
966:2023
944:2023
609:and
552:Caen
116:Rank
67:Died
43:Born
1074:25+
639:in
514:Bar
457:.
346:.
302:on
235:Bar
231:DFC
224:Bar
220:DSO
179:Bar
1382::
927:^
915:.
895:.
827:.
756:^
744:.
709:^
672:^
402:.
294:,
217:,
79:,
58:,
1044:.
1025:.
968:.
946:.
51:)
47:(
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