OLDNAVYMCPO
US Veteran, Absent Comrade
During the invasion of Sicily, the 82nd Airborne Division suffered the most catastrophic friendly fire incident in American military history.
The invasion fleet had suffered at the hands of the German Air Force. The fleet anti-aircraft gunners were thus trigger happy. Even though warned by Gen Patton's staff of the flight of C-47s carrying American Airborne troops, they shot down 23 planes. Each plane carried 22 paratroopers. The remaining aircraft scattered jumpers over a 60 square mile area.
One of the C-47s shot down was carrying Assistant Division Commander, Brigadier General Charles "Bull" Keerans.
"Bull" had been ordered to remain in Tunisia by Major General Ridgway, 82nd Division Commander. "Bull" couldn't resist the chance to make his first combat jump and get into the fight with his fellow paratroopers.
On July 11, 1943, "Bull's" C-47 was peppered by anti-aircraft fire. The plane burst into flame and immediately dove towards the sea. Remarkably, one of the paratroopers fought his way thru the chaos into the cockpit and pulled the plane out of its dive, landing in the sea, 400 yards shy of the beach.
Sgt Fielding Armstrong was among others who were able to escape the ditched aircraft and manage to swim thru oil slick waters to the beach.
The following morning, Sgt Armstrong wandered the beach searching for the remainder of his stick of paratroopers. He ran upon a confused and disoriented Gen Keerans. The Gen informed the Sgt that he was going to move inland and try to find his staff.
That was the last ever seen of "Bull" Keerans. His body was never found and he was never listed among POWs taken by the Germans or Italians.
Since the General was one of only nine individuals knowledgeable of the entire invasion plan, the search for him was of the highest priority.
His fate was never resolved.
The invasion fleet had suffered at the hands of the German Air Force. The fleet anti-aircraft gunners were thus trigger happy. Even though warned by Gen Patton's staff of the flight of C-47s carrying American Airborne troops, they shot down 23 planes. Each plane carried 22 paratroopers. The remaining aircraft scattered jumpers over a 60 square mile area.
One of the C-47s shot down was carrying Assistant Division Commander, Brigadier General Charles "Bull" Keerans.
"Bull" had been ordered to remain in Tunisia by Major General Ridgway, 82nd Division Commander. "Bull" couldn't resist the chance to make his first combat jump and get into the fight with his fellow paratroopers.
On July 11, 1943, "Bull's" C-47 was peppered by anti-aircraft fire. The plane burst into flame and immediately dove towards the sea. Remarkably, one of the paratroopers fought his way thru the chaos into the cockpit and pulled the plane out of its dive, landing in the sea, 400 yards shy of the beach.
Sgt Fielding Armstrong was among others who were able to escape the ditched aircraft and manage to swim thru oil slick waters to the beach.
The following morning, Sgt Armstrong wandered the beach searching for the remainder of his stick of paratroopers. He ran upon a confused and disoriented Gen Keerans. The Gen informed the Sgt that he was going to move inland and try to find his staff.
That was the last ever seen of "Bull" Keerans. His body was never found and he was never listed among POWs taken by the Germans or Italians.
Since the General was one of only nine individuals knowledgeable of the entire invasion plan, the search for him was of the highest priority.
His fate was never resolved.
