Josef "Jupp" Keil
Oberfeldwebel
 
Josef Keil
 
    Josef “Jupp” Keil flew with Jagdgruppe 101 from early 1939 to 1940 in defence of Northern Germany. By March 1940, Keil was serving with JG 3 based at Jena-Rodingen.Unteroffizier Keil was assigned to the Stabstaffel of 8./JG 3. . He recorded his first victory over a RAF Blenheim twin-engine bomber on 15 May 1940. He shot down a French Morane fighter and claimed a second as a probable on 5 June but was then shot down by a RAF Hurricane fighter. His Bf 109 E-3 was written-off and Keil suffered wounds in the engagement. Keil participated in the Battle of Britain. On 18 August 1940, his Bf 109 was damaged in aerial combat south of London. He managed to nurse his aircraft back across the Channel to ditch in the sea off Calais, fortunately without suffering injury. Keil was badly wounded in aerial combat on 2 November 1940, which demanded a long convalescence. On recovery from his wounds, Keil was posted to Jagdgruppe Drontheim based in Norway. It is thought he joined the unit in 1941 and accompanied it on its relocation to France in 1943. In September 1944, Keil transferred to III./JG 301. By the end of 1944, he had raised his victory total to nine, including two USAAF B-24 four-engine bombers shot down on 26 November.
 
Oberfeldwebel Josef Keil of 10./JG 301. January 1945, Sachau.
Oberfeldwebel Josef Keil of 10./JG 301. January 1945, Sachau.

    He shot down two USAAF B-17 four-engine bombers on 1 January 1945 to record his 10th and 11th victories. By April 1945, Keil was serving in the  Stabsstaffel/JG 301, which was flying Focke Wulf Fw 190 D-9 and Ta 152 fighters. He became the first, and only, pilot to gain five victories on the Ta 152 H. He claimed his last victories on 21 April, when he shot down two Russian Yak-9 fighters over Berlin.
    Josef Keil was credited with at least 16 victories. Included in his victory total are five four-engine bombers.
 
No
Date
Time
A/c Type
Unit
Location / Comments
1.
14.5.1940
13:55
 Blenheim 8./JG 3 E Brüssel
2.
28.5.1940
7:50
 Hurricane 8./JG 3 W Dunkirk
3.
5.6.1940
7:25
 Morane 406 8./JG 3 SW Amiens
-
5.6.1940
7:28
 Morane 406 8./JG 3 SW Amiens / not confirmed
4.
24.8.1940
17:15
 Spitfire 8./JG 3  
5.
26.8.1940
-
 Hurricane 8./JG 3  
6.
1.10.1940
-
 Hurricane 8./JG 3  
7.
26.11.1944
12:30
 B-24 10./JG 301 Hildesheim
8.
26.11.1944
12:38
 B-24 10./JG 301 Hildesheim
9.
31.12.1944
-
 P-51 10./JG 301 Hamburg
10.
1.1.1945
-
 B-17 10./JG 301 Gardelegen
11.
1.1.1945
-
 B-17 10./JG 301 Stendal
12.
20.2.1945
-
 B-17 10./JG 301 Berlin
13.
1.3.1945
-
 P-51 10./JG 301 Reichsgebiet
14.
10.4.1945
-
 P-47 Stab JG 301 Kassel
15.
21.4.1945
-
 Yak-9 Stab JG 301 Berlin
16.
21.4.1945
-
 Yak-9 Stab JG 301 Berlin

Victories : 16
Awards : Deutsches Kreuz in Gold
Units : JGr. 101, JG 3, JGr. Drontheim, JG 301

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