CARPETBAGGERS Allen, Keith Nichols

John Robertson

Administrator
Staff member
  • SURNAME
Allen
  • FORENAME
Keith Nichols
  • UNIT
1403 AAF Base Unit,Leuchars
  • RANK
Lieutenant Colonel
  • NUMBER
0-303181
  • DATE OF DEATH
19th-20th September 1944
  • AGE
36
  • GRAVESITE
Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia, USA. Section 3, Site 1960-A
  • ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
born 22.06.1908, Charlotte, Michigan
father Howard R. Allen (1876-1935)
mother Lodica Edna (nee Nichols) Allen (1880-1951)
wife Agnes G. Allen (1905-1999)
from Cook County,Illinois
pilot
shot down by Russian AA gunners over Murmansk,Russia
 

DATE OF DEATH:

Sep-1944

AWARD:

https://www.specialforcesroh.com/index.php?threads/allen-keith-nichols.58097

CITATION:

Distinguished Service Cross : The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Lieutenant Colonel (Air Corps) Keith Nichols Allen (ASN: 0-303121), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of an Airplane in the 1403d Base Unit, in aerial action on 20 September 1944, over Norway. On that date Lieutenant Colonel Keith Allen, pilot, Captain Schreiner, co-pilot, and seven crew members took off from Leuchars on an operational mission to drop supplies to the underground in Norway. After crossing the coastline in Norway, number one engine began to smoke and run rough. This condition continued until they reached the target area and released the containers. The engine then caught fire and was feathered and the fire extinguished itself. They decided to head for Murmansk as heading back across the North Sea was a bit risky. The plane finally crossed the mouth of the Kola inlet as the crew looked for a place to land. Three searchlight cones of three each were turned on, indicating an airfield. In attempting to turn back toward the airfield, without knowing it, the pilot flew over the Russian Battleship Archangel. During this time the Russian colors of the day were being fired from the Very pistol, all lights on the plane were turned on, including the landing lights, and calls were being made on the International distress frequency. At this time, the battleship Archangel opened fired along with some shore batteries, hitting engine number two which caught fire, shooting off the left rudder and damaging the left wing. With the plane on fire Colonel Allen ordered Captain Schreiner to bail out the crew, advising that he would follow. The engineer released two life rafts through the bomb bay. The right waist gunner was hit by flak and bailed out, the navigator escaped thru the nose wheel well after destroying the classified material and making sure the IFF was destroyed. The navigator escaped thru the nose wheel well after destroying the classified material and making sure the IFF was destroyed. Lieutenant Colonel Allen's unquestionable devotion to duty at the cost of his life is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself and the United States Army Air Forces.

WEB LINKS:

https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/6263

FINDAGRAVE:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/48999236/keith-nichols-allen
Last edited by a moderator:
Keith N. Allen

My father, John H. Jenkins, was a WWII navigator who served with Keith Allen. I was named after Lt. Col. Allen.
 
Keith N. Allen

There is no reference to it in the awards section, but Lt. Col. Allen was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) for his actions as pilot, that saved the lives of all of his crew.
 
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