January 1943 graduate of the United States Military Academy. Graduated tenth in the class, and was one of the first West Pointers to graduate with Air Corps wings. Within six months, he was in India and China flying with the Chinese American Composite Wing. Became Squadron Commander of the 28th Fighter Squadron by December 1944, and commanded Chinese pilots in P-51s. Recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross (see below), Silver Star (see below), Air Medal with Cluster and the Purple Heart. Also, the Chinese awarded him Chinese wings and the Breast order of Un Hui.
Extracted from memorial originally published in ASSEMBLY, March 1987.
SILVER STAR:
DATE OF BIRTH: June 10, 1919 ~ PLACE OF BIRTH: Opheim, Montana
HOME OF RECORD: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Keith Lindell graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Class of 1943. He was credited with destroying a total of THREE enemy aircraft in air-to-air combat during World War II. He served at a mathematics instructor at the U.S. Naval Academy from 1949 to 1952.
SILVER STAR AWARDED FOR ACTIONS during World War II
Service: Army Air Forces ~~ Division: 14th Air Force
GENERAL ORDERS: Headquarters, 14th Air Force, General Orders No. 81 (October 27, 1944)
CITATION: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain (Air Corps) Keith G. Lindell (ASN: 0-25442), United States Army Air Forces, for gallantry in action while serving with the 3d Fighter Group, FOURTEENTH Air Force. On 10 August 1944 he was pilot of one of eight fighter type aircraft that strafed an enemy airdrome in China. Heavy ground fire was set up by the enemy and on the second run over the target his plane was struck by a shell. It entered the cockpit and exploded, sending shrapnel fragments into his chest and left leg. Despite loss of blood and pain from his wounds, he made three additional strafing passes, bringing his total of planes destroyed on the ground to four and sharing in the destruction of one hostile aircraft in the air. On the return trip to his home base he strafed two additional airdromes. His aggressive spirit, courage and skill have inspired all members of his squadron and reflect great credit on himself and the Army Air Forces.
DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS awarded for action during WWII
Service: Army Air Forces ~~ Division: 14th Air Force
GENERAL ORDERS: Headquarters, 14th Air Force, General Orders No. 5 (January 17, 1945)
CITATION: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain (Air Corps) Keith G. Lindell (ASN: 0-25442), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while serving with the 3d Fighter Group, FOURTEENTH Air Force. Flying from bases in China as Pilot of fighter type aircraft, this officer distinguished himself while participating in fifty combat missions completed between 2 December 1943 to 12 October 1944. Although fire from enemy ground installations and hostile aircraft was encountered on many of his flights, he carried out his missions with aggressive determination and is credited with having inflicted heavy losses on the enemy in personnel and materiel. He flew dive-bombing, strafing, bomber escort, reconnaissance and interception missions directed against enemy installations, lines of communication and supply and troop concentrations. Many of his flights were made through adverse weather and over mountainous areas with a minimum of navigational aids. The outstanding skill and courage of this officer demonstrated in combat against the enemy reflect great credit upon himself and the Army Air Forces.
Extracted from memorial originally published in ASSEMBLY, March 1987.
SILVER STAR:
DATE OF BIRTH: June 10, 1919 ~ PLACE OF BIRTH: Opheim, Montana
HOME OF RECORD: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Keith Lindell graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Class of 1943. He was credited with destroying a total of THREE enemy aircraft in air-to-air combat during World War II. He served at a mathematics instructor at the U.S. Naval Academy from 1949 to 1952.
SILVER STAR AWARDED FOR ACTIONS during World War II
Service: Army Air Forces ~~ Division: 14th Air Force
GENERAL ORDERS: Headquarters, 14th Air Force, General Orders No. 81 (October 27, 1944)
CITATION: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain (Air Corps) Keith G. Lindell (ASN: 0-25442), United States Army Air Forces, for gallantry in action while serving with the 3d Fighter Group, FOURTEENTH Air Force. On 10 August 1944 he was pilot of one of eight fighter type aircraft that strafed an enemy airdrome in China. Heavy ground fire was set up by the enemy and on the second run over the target his plane was struck by a shell. It entered the cockpit and exploded, sending shrapnel fragments into his chest and left leg. Despite loss of blood and pain from his wounds, he made three additional strafing passes, bringing his total of planes destroyed on the ground to four and sharing in the destruction of one hostile aircraft in the air. On the return trip to his home base he strafed two additional airdromes. His aggressive spirit, courage and skill have inspired all members of his squadron and reflect great credit on himself and the Army Air Forces.
DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS awarded for action during WWII
Service: Army Air Forces ~~ Division: 14th Air Force
GENERAL ORDERS: Headquarters, 14th Air Force, General Orders No. 5 (January 17, 1945)
CITATION: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain (Air Corps) Keith G. Lindell (ASN: 0-25442), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while serving with the 3d Fighter Group, FOURTEENTH Air Force. Flying from bases in China as Pilot of fighter type aircraft, this officer distinguished himself while participating in fifty combat missions completed between 2 December 1943 to 12 October 1944. Although fire from enemy ground installations and hostile aircraft was encountered on many of his flights, he carried out his missions with aggressive determination and is credited with having inflicted heavy losses on the enemy in personnel and materiel. He flew dive-bombing, strafing, bomber escort, reconnaissance and interception missions directed against enemy installations, lines of communication and supply and troop concentrations. Many of his flights were made through adverse weather and over mountainous areas with a minimum of navigational aids. The outstanding skill and courage of this officer demonstrated in combat against the enemy reflect great credit upon himself and the Army Air Forces.
January 1943 graduate of the United States Military Academy. Graduated tenth in the class, and was one of the first West Pointers to graduate with Air Corps wings. Within six months, he was in India and China flying with the Chinese American Composite Wing. Became Squadron Commander of the 28th Fighter Squadron by December 1944, and commanded Chinese pilots in P-51s. Recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross (see below), Silver Star (see below), Air Medal with Cluster and the Purple Heart. Also, the Chinese awarded him Chinese wings and the Breast order of Un Hui.
Extracted from memorial originally published in ASSEMBLY, March 1987.
SILVER STAR:
DATE OF BIRTH: June 10, 1919 ~ PLACE OF BIRTH: Opheim, Montana
HOME OF RECORD: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Keith Lindell graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Class of 1943. He was credited with destroying a total of THREE enemy aircraft in air-to-air combat during World War II. He served at a mathematics instructor at the U.S. Naval Academy from 1949 to 1952.
SILVER STAR AWARDED FOR ACTIONS during World War II
Service: Army Air Forces ~~ Division: 14th Air Force
GENERAL ORDERS: Headquarters, 14th Air Force, General Orders No. 81 (October 27, 1944)
CITATION: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain (Air Corps) Keith G. Lindell (ASN: 0-25442), United States Army Air Forces, for gallantry in action while serving with the 3d Fighter Group, FOURTEENTH Air Force. On 10 August 1944 he was pilot of one of eight fighter type aircraft that strafed an enemy airdrome in China. Heavy ground fire was set up by the enemy and on the second run over the target his plane was struck by a shell. It entered the cockpit and exploded, sending shrapnel fragments into his chest and left leg. Despite loss of blood and pain from his wounds, he made three additional strafing passes, bringing his total of planes destroyed on the ground to four and sharing in the destruction of one hostile aircraft in the air. On the return trip to his home base he strafed two additional airdromes. His aggressive spirit, courage and skill have inspired all members of his squadron and reflect great credit on himself and the Army Air Forces.
DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS awarded for action during WWII
Service: Army Air Forces ~~ Division: 14th Air Force
GENERAL ORDERS: Headquarters, 14th Air Force, General Orders No. 5 (January 17, 1945)
CITATION: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain (Air Corps) Keith G. Lindell (ASN: 0-25442), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while serving with the 3d Fighter Group, FOURTEENTH Air Force. Flying from bases in China as Pilot of fighter type aircraft, this officer distinguished himself while participating in fifty combat missions completed between 2 December 1943 to 12 October 1944. Although fire from enemy ground installations and hostile aircraft was encountered on many of his flights, he carried out his missions with aggressive determination and is credited with having inflicted heavy losses on the enemy in personnel and materiel. He flew dive-bombing, strafing, bomber escort, reconnaissance and interception missions directed against enemy installations, lines of communication and supply and troop concentrations. Many of his flights were made through adverse weather and over mountainous areas with a minimum of navigational aids. The outstanding skill and courage of this officer demonstrated in combat against the enemy reflect great credit upon himself and the Army Air Forces.
Extracted from memorial originally published in ASSEMBLY, March 1987.
SILVER STAR:
DATE OF BIRTH: June 10, 1919 ~ PLACE OF BIRTH: Opheim, Montana
HOME OF RECORD: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Keith Lindell graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Class of 1943. He was credited with destroying a total of THREE enemy aircraft in air-to-air combat during World War II. He served at a mathematics instructor at the U.S. Naval Academy from 1949 to 1952.
SILVER STAR AWARDED FOR ACTIONS during World War II
Service: Army Air Forces ~~ Division: 14th Air Force
GENERAL ORDERS: Headquarters, 14th Air Force, General Orders No. 81 (October 27, 1944)
CITATION: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain (Air Corps) Keith G. Lindell (ASN: 0-25442), United States Army Air Forces, for gallantry in action while serving with the 3d Fighter Group, FOURTEENTH Air Force. On 10 August 1944 he was pilot of one of eight fighter type aircraft that strafed an enemy airdrome in China. Heavy ground fire was set up by the enemy and on the second run over the target his plane was struck by a shell. It entered the cockpit and exploded, sending shrapnel fragments into his chest and left leg. Despite loss of blood and pain from his wounds, he made three additional strafing passes, bringing his total of planes destroyed on the ground to four and sharing in the destruction of one hostile aircraft in the air. On the return trip to his home base he strafed two additional airdromes. His aggressive spirit, courage and skill have inspired all members of his squadron and reflect great credit on himself and the Army Air Forces.
DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS awarded for action during WWII
Service: Army Air Forces ~~ Division: 14th Air Force
GENERAL ORDERS: Headquarters, 14th Air Force, General Orders No. 5 (January 17, 1945)
CITATION: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain (Air Corps) Keith G. Lindell (ASN: 0-25442), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while serving with the 3d Fighter Group, FOURTEENTH Air Force. Flying from bases in China as Pilot of fighter type aircraft, this officer distinguished himself while participating in fifty combat missions completed between 2 December 1943 to 12 October 1944. Although fire from enemy ground installations and hostile aircraft was encountered on many of his flights, he carried out his missions with aggressive determination and is credited with having inflicted heavy losses on the enemy in personnel and materiel. He flew dive-bombing, strafing, bomber escort, reconnaissance and interception missions directed against enemy installations, lines of communication and supply and troop concentrations. Many of his flights were made through adverse weather and over mountainous areas with a minimum of navigational aids. The outstanding skill and courage of this officer demonstrated in combat against the enemy reflect great credit upon himself and the Army Air Forces.
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