Frank John Kees (1917 - 1943)

Born 9 May 1917 in Alexandria, Campbell, Kentucky, United States

Died 1 Aug 1943 at age 26 in Ploiești, Prahova, Romania

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Biography

Frank Kees was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States).

Frank Kees was awarded the Purple Heart.

Tech Sergeant Frank Kees served in the United States Army Air Forces in World War II
Service started: 7 May 1942
Unit(s): 565th Bombardment Squadron, 389th Bombardment Group, Ninth Air Force
Service ended: 1 Aug 1943

Tech Sergeant Frank Kees was killed in action when the bomber he was aboard crashed near the target during World War II.

Frank was born 9 May 1917 in Alexandria, Kentucky. He was the son of George Kees and Francis Thatcher.^[1]

Frank was the Flight Engineer/Top Turret Gunner aboard the B-24 Liberator bomber, Chattanooga Choo Choo - #42-40782, participating in Operation Tidal Wave the low-level attack on the Romanian oil refineries at Ploesti on 1 August 1943. The bomber was shot down near the target. Frank was the only crewmember that died in the crash. He was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for the mission.

• 1920 - Campbell, Kentucky.^[2]
• 1930 - Alexandria, Campbell, Kentucky.^[3]
• 1940 - Alexandria, Campbell, Kentucky.^[4]
• Memorial: Find a Grave (has image)
  Find A Grave: Memorial #115671330 (accessed 16 January 2024)
  Memorial page for Frank John Kees (9 May 1917-1 Aug 1943), citing Alexandria Cemetery, Alexandria, Campbell County, Kentucky, USA; Maintained by Ronald (contributor 51636782).

Sources

1. ↑ Birth: "Kentucky, Vital Record Indexes, 1911-1999"
   citing Birth, Kentucky, United States, Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives, Frankfort
   FamilySearch Record: QKHT-BQGB (accessed 16 January 2024)
   John F Kees born on 9 May 1917, child of Francis Thatcher, in Kentucky, United States.
2. ↑ 1920 Census: "United States Census, 1920"
   citing Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Affiliate Publication Number: T625; Line: 75; Digital film/folder number: 004965942; FHL microfilm: 1820564; Image number: 433; Sheet number: 2; Sheet letter: B; Packet letter: A; Indexing batch: N01937-3
   FamilySearch Record: MH2T-R4M (accessed 16 January 2024)
   FamilySearch Image: 33SQ-GRX8-7H6
   Frank J Kees (2 years 7 months), single grandchild, in household of John W Kees (56) in Campbell, Kentucky, United States. Born in Kentucky.
3. ↑ 1930 Census: "United States Census, 1930"
   citing Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Affiliate Publication Number: T626; Line: 53; Digital film/folder number: 004950739; FHL microfilm: 2340473; Image number: 522; Sheet number: 1; Sheet letter: A; Packet letter: A; Indexing batch: N03759-0
   FamilySearch Record: XM6S-YLG (accessed 16 January 2024)
   FamilySearch Image: 33SQ-GRZL-2GT
   Frank J Keys (12), single son, in household of George Keys (44) in Alexandria, Campbell, Kentucky, United States. Born in Kentucky.
4. ↑ 1940 Census: "United States Census, 1940"
   citing Affiliate Publication Number: T627; Line: 16; Digital film/folder number: 005460596; Image number: 1005; Sheet number: 10; Sheet letter: A
   FamilySearch Record: K7RC-JBX (accessed 16 January 2024)
   FamilySearch Image: 3QSQ-G9M1-37W8
   Frank Kees (23), single son, in household of George Kees (53) in Magisterial District 5 Alexandria, Campbell, Kentucky, United States. Born in Kentucky.

• Military: "U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947"
  National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; Wwii Draft Registration Cards For Kentucky, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 356
  Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 2238 #37714088 (accessed 16 January 2024)
  Name: Frank John Kees; Gender: Male; Race: White; Age: 23; Relationship to Draftee: Self (Head); Birth Date: 9 May 1917; Birth Place: Alexandria; Residence Place: Lexington, Fayette, Kentucky, USA; Registration Date: 16 Oct 1940; Registration Place: Kentucky, USA; Employer: University of Kentucky; Height: 67; Weight: 137; Complexion: Sallow; Hair Color: Brown; Eye Color: Hazel; Next of Kin: George Kees;
  Household Members (Name) Relationship:
  Frank John Kees Self (Head)
  George Kees Father.
• Military: "United States World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946"
  citing "Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, ca. 1938-1946," database, The National Archives: Access to Archival Databases (AAD) (http://aad.archives.gov : National Archives and Records Administration, 2002); NARA NAID 1263923, National Archives at College Park, Maryland
  FamilySearch Record: K8GB-5M2 (accessed 16 January 2024)
  Name: Frank J Kees; Marital Status: Single, without dependents; Race: White; Military Service Date: 07 May 1942; Military Service Place: Ft Thomas, Newport, Kentucky, United States; Birth Date: 1917; Birth Place: KENTUCKY; Arc Identifier: 1263923; Branch Alpha Orig: BI; Branch Code: Branch Immaterial - Warrant Officers, USA; Branch Code Orig: 00; Civil Occupation: Skilled meatcutters, except in slaughtering and packing houses; Civil Occupation Orig: 558; Component: Selectees (Enlisted Men); Component Orig: 7; Education: 4 years of college; Education Orig: 8; Enlistment Day: 07; Enlistment Month: May; Enlistment Month Orig: 05; Enlistment Place: FT THOMAS NEWPORT KENTUCKY; Enlistment Place Orig: 5242; Enlistment Term: Enlistment for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law; Enlistment Term Orig: 5; Enlistment Year: 1942; Enlistment Year Orig: 42; Event Type: Military Service; Grade Alpha Orig: PVT; Grade Code: Private; Grade Code Orig: 8; Major Force Of Assign: 9; Military Occupation: 6613; Reel Box Card: 09505.12; Serial Number: 35501754; Source: Civil Life; Source Orig: 0.
• 5 Local Youth At Keesler Field: "Newspapers.com"
  The Kentucky Post and Times-Star (Covington, Kentucky) Mon, Jun 22, 1942, page 3
  Newspapers Clip: 138904830 (accessed 16 January 2024)
• FOUR KENTUCKIANS LISTED AS MISSING IN ACTION: "Newspapers.com"
  The Owensboro Messenger (Owensboro, Kentucky) Fri, Aug 27, 1943, page 12
  Newspapers Clip: 133397173 (accessed 16 January 2024)
• Sergt. Frank Kees Killed in Raid: "Newspapers.com"
  The Kentucky Post and Times-Star (Covington, Kentucky) Mon, Sep 27, 1943, page 1
  Newspapers Clip: 138903432 (accessed 16 January 2024)
• 120 Kentucky War Dead On Their Way Home: "Newspapers.com"
  The Courier-Journal (Louisville, Kentucky) Sun, May 8, 1949, page 54
  Newspapers Clip: 17645810 (accessed 16 January 2024)
• T. Sgt. Frank J. Kees: "Newspapers.com"
  The Kentucky Post and Times-Star (Covington, Kentucky) Tue, Jun 7, 1949, page 7
  Newspapers Clip: 138903275 (accessed 16 January 2024)
• Romanian ‘Mother’ To Yank Airmen Visits In Lexington: "Newspapers.com"
  Lexington Herald-Leader (Lexington, Kentucky) Thu, Apr 5, 1956, page 1
  Newspapers Clip: 138906848 (accessed 16 January 2024)
• Military: "U.S., Headstone Applications for Military Veterans, 1861-1985"
  National Archives at Washington DC; Washington DC, USA; Applications for Headstones For U.S. Military Veterans, 1925-1941; NAID: 596118; Record Group Number: 92; Record Group Title: Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General
  Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 2375 #1427880 (accessed 16 January 2024)
  Name: Frank J Kees; Birth Date: 9 May 1917; Service Number: 35501754; Service Branch: Army Air Forces; Unit: A/S - Ac 565 Bb Sq 389 Bb Gp (H); Company: 8th Air Force; Enlistment Date: 5 May 1942; Death Date: 1 Aug 1943; Cemetery: Alexandria Cem; Cemetery Location: Alexandria, Kentucky, USA.
• National Archives - Missing Air Crew Reports - MACR #158
• American Air Museum in Britain: #42-40782, Chattanooga Choo Choo