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Contact Info
Home Town Jacksonville, Florida
Last Address Sumter, South Carolina
Date of Passing May 29, 1992
Location of Interment Evergreen Memorial Park - Sumter, South Carolina
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
He destroyed 6 enemy aircraft in aerial combat, plus 1 probable, 1 damaged, and 4 destroyed on the ground. One source says that in 2002 his victory record was corrected to 7 aerial and 7 on the ground.
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Second Lieutenant (Air Corps) Robert J. Keen (ASN: 0-810513), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a P-47 Fighter Airplane in the 61st Fighter Squadron, 56th Fighter Group, EIGHTH Air Force, in aerial combat against enemy forces on 13 May 1944, in the European Theater of Operations. On this date Lieutenant Keen alone with his flight of fighter aircraft, unmindful of the overwhelming odds, courageously attacked 30 FW 190's, which were positioning for a pass at a box of B-17 bombers, and immediately destroyed one. So closely did he press his attack that no sooner had he set his sights on another enemy and fired than the German bailed out. Lieutenant Keen now found himself separated from his flight, yet despite the fact that he was alone, deep in enemy territory and surrounded by hostile planes he disregarded his personal safety and engaged and destroyed two more FW 190's. So great was his will to destroy the enemy that he refused to disengage from the enemy until his final rounds of ammunition were expended. The skill, aggressiveness and heroism displayed by Lieutenant Keen on this occasion reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.
General Orders: Headquarters, U.S. Strategic Forces in Europe, General Orders No. 43 (July 15, 1944)
