This Military Service Page was created/owned by
A3C Michael S. Bell (Unit Historian)
to remember
Bell, Keith Willard, A1C.
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Contact Info
Home Town Peoria
Last Address Milpitas, CA
Date of Passing Jan 05, 2011
Wall/Plot Coordinates Ashes at sea
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
Keith Bell
PEORIA - Keith Willard Bell, 79, of Milpitas, Calif., formerly of Peoria, passed away Jan. 5, 2011, at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Fremont, Calif.
There will be no services or visitation. Cremation was accorded by San Jose Neptune Society.
Published in Peoria Journal Star on June 2, 2011
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From Global Security:
In July 1948, the 314th transferred to Smyrna AFB, Tennessee, and reorganized as the 314th Troop Carrier Wing in September 1949. On September 20, 1949, the 62nd was re-designated and, one month later, activated as the 62nd Troop Carrier Squadron (Medium). That same month, the C-47 Skytrain was replaced by the new airlift mainstay, the C-119 Flying Boxcar.
In August 1950, the 62nd went out on the road for what was intended to be a 60-day temporary duty assignment to Japan. It was to become a four-year stay in sunny, scenic Ashiya, Japan. The unit was originally tasked to join United Nations forces in the Korean conflict as a rotational unit. However, as the fighting on the Korean peninsula escalated, the commitment of the 62nd TCS to theater operations expanded and the squadron remained in Japan for approximately 4 years. During the Korean Conflict, while assigned in Ashyia, the 62d temporarily became known as the "Blue Barons." The blue portion of their emblem derived from their squadron color. "Baron" was chosen because history designates a baron as one of high position and honor, and a leader in the line of peers. The 62nd, having earned nearly every major honor and award for participating in the Korean War, returned from Ashiya, Japan to Sewart AFB, TN, with a distinctive title that captured the true spirit of the squadron...
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The 314th and 62nd late in Keith's service had their Boxcars stripped of insignia in order to carry out supply and napalm missions over Vietnam in support of the French under seige at Dien Bien Phu.
Other Comments:
Note from Michael S. Bell - 21 Mar 2011
Keith Bell was my uncle.
Following the war, Keith became a lifelong Pacifist and eventually retired as a Social Worker.
His female heirs, 12 Mar 2011 in La Crescent, MN reunion:
His male heirs, 12 Mar 2011 in La Crescent, MN reunion:
1950-1953, C-82 Packet
From Year 1950
To Year 1953
Personal Memories
Not Specified
Image
C-82 Packet Details
Aircraft/Missile Information
Developed by Fairchild, the aircraft was first flown in 1944. 223 were built, with most used for cargo and troop transport, although a few were used for paratroop operations or towing gliders. During its brief operational life several C-82 Packets were utilized during the Berlin Airlift, primarily bringing assembled vehicles into the city.
Only moderately successful, the C-82 was designed to be used in a number of roles, including cargo carrier, troop transport, ambulance airplane and glider tow. Problems surfaced almost immediately as the aircraft was found to be underpowered and its airframe inadequate for the heavy lifting it was designed to do. As a result the Air Force turned to Fairchild for a solution to the C-82's shortcomings. A redesign was quickly performed under the designation XC-82B, which would overcome all of the C-82A's initial problems. First flown in 1947, the XC-82B would go into production as the C-119B Flying Boxcar.
General characteristics
* Crew: three * Capacity: 42 paratroops or 34 stretchers * Length: 77 ft 1 in (23.50 m) * Wingspan: 106 ft 6 in (32.47 m) * Height: 26 ft 4 in (8.03 m) * Wing area: 1,400 ft² (130.9 m²) * Empty weight: 16,530 lb (12,045 kg) * Useful load: 42,000 lb (19,050 kg) * Max takeoff weight: 54,000 lb (24,545 kg) * Powerplant: 2× Pratt & Whitney R-2800-85 radials, 2,100 hp (1,567 kW) each
Performance
* Maximum speed: 250 mph (400 km/h) * Range: 2,140 miles (3,424 km) * Service ceiling 27,000 ft (8,232 m) * Rate of climb: 1,600 ft/min (488 m/min) * Wing loading: 30 lb/ft² (146 kg/m²) * Power/mass: 0.10 hp/lb (0.16 kW/kg)
