This Military Service Page was created/owned by
SSgt Robert Bruce McClelland, Jr.
to remember
McKeon, Joseph Thomas, Lt Col USAF(Ret).
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Contact Info
Home Town New York City, NY
Last Address Oceanside, California
Date of Passing Feb 01, 2002
Location of Interment Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery (VA) - San Diego, California
Wall/Plot Coordinates Section CBH, Row 3, Site 169
He destroyed 5 enemy aircraft in aerial combat in the Pacific Theater and then went to Europe and shot down 1 German aircraft before he was himself shot down and held as a POW.
Synopsis of his Silver Star citation: Awarded for actions during World War II
(Citation Needed) - SYNOPSIS: First Lieutenant (Air Corps) Joseph T. McKeon, United States Army Air Forces, was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in connection with military operations against an opposing armed force while serving as a Pilot with the 433d Fighter Squadron, 475th Fighter Group, FIFTH Air Force during World War II.
General Orders: Headquarters, V Fighter Command, General Orders No. 5 (1943)
Aircraft/Missile Information
Model Curtiss P-40N / Kittyhawk IV Length 33.46 ft | 10.20 m Width 37.47 ft | 11.42 m Height 12.37 ft | 3.77 m Engine(s) 1 x Allison V-1710--81 inline piston engine generating 1,360hp. Empty Weight 6,005 lbs | 2,724 kg MTOW 8,858 lbs | 4,018 kg Max Speed 378 mph | 609 km/h | 329 kts Max Range 240 miles | 386 km Ceiling 38,156 ft | 11,630 m | 7.2 miles Climb Rate 2,142.86 ft/min (653 m/min) Hardpoints 1 Armament 6 x 12.7mm machine guns 1 x 500lb bomb under fuselage Accommodations 1
Major Variants
* Model 75I - Prototype Base Model derived from XP-37A airframe fitted with Allison 1,150hp V-1710-11 inline engine. * P-40 - United States Army Air Corps production version fitted with V-1710-33 powerplant. * Hawk 81-A1 - Export model for French use. * P-40B - Improved model featuring improved armor and armament with seal-sealing fuel tanks. * P-40C - Additional 2 x 12.7mm machine guns added to wings; improved seal-sealing fuel tanks. * P-40D - Fitted with V-1710-39 generating 1,150hp; increase performance at high altitude; improved supercharger. * P-40E - Only 4 x 12.7mm machine guns in wings. * P-40F - Improved supercharger. * P-40L - Similar to the P-40F with improved supercharger and 1,300hp Packard V-1650-1 (license-built 1,300hp Rolls-Royce Merlin) powerplant. * P-40K - Based on the P-40E model with V-1710-33 powerplant. * P-40M - Fitted with V-1710-71 powerplant. * P-40N - Fitted with V-1710-81 OR V1710-99 OR V1710-115 powerplants; improved performance capabilities; decreased overall weight.
