George Keefer was credited with having shot down at least twelve aircraft.
21 Facts About George Keefer
1.
2.
George Keefer spent several months with the squadron and achieved a number of aerial victories before being assigned to instructing duties.
3.
George Keefer returned to the United Kingdom in early 1943 and after a few months resumed operational flying with a posting to the RCAF's No 412 Squadron.
4.
George Keefer took command of the unit soon after his arrival there, and shot down further aircraft on sorties to occupied Europe.
5.
George Keefer subsequently led No 125 Fighter Wing in the final stages of the war in Europe.
6.
George Keefer remained in the RCAF until 1947 and in civilian life, he worked in the aerospace industry.
7.
George Clinton Keefer was born in New York City, New York, in the United States of America on 11 July 1921.
8.
Once George Keefer finished his schooling, he returned to the United States in 1939 to study engineering at Yale University.
9.
George Keefer broke off his tertiary education after a year, enlisting in the Royal Canadian Air Force in October 1940.
10.
George Keefer underwent flight training in Canada, gaining his wings in April 1941 and receiving a commission as a pilot officer.
11.
At the time George Keefer joined the unit, No 274 Squadron was serving in the Middle East.
12.
George Keefer probably destroyed a Bf 109 on 25 May 1942 southwest of Gazala.
13.
George Keefer was rescued by a RAF Supermarine Walrus flying boat later in the day.
14.
George Keefer was one of four RCAF personnel to receive medal bars to both the DFC and the DSO.
15.
George Keefer was recognised by the governments of France and Netherlands for his war service, being awarded the Croix de Guerre with a Star and Airman's Cross respectively.
16.
George Keefer ended the war credited with having definitively shot down twelve German and Italian aircraft, probably destroying two others, and damaging nine aircraft.
17.
George Keefer was credited with destroying five aircraft on the ground.
18.
George Keefer remained in the RCAF in the immediate postwar period, returning to Canada in August 1945.
19.
George Keefer served initially at the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Washington, DC as a Canadian representative before taking a course at the RCAF Staff College.
20.
George Keefer left the RCAF in February 1947 and joined an aviation company in Montreal.
21.
George Keefer purchased a plastics company, Plastal Manufacturing, that made components for the aviation industry; under his management it made parts for major aircraft manufacturers, including McDonnell Douglas.