Posted on 06/30/2018 3:18:25 PM PDT by eastforker
Following is a brief description of an incident encountered by Keith during World War II: 1941-1945 served with USMC - decorated with the Air Medal. "Brian was a Radio-Gunner in the rear cockpit of a two-man Douglass "Dauntless" (SDB) dive-bomber in a U.S. Marine squadron. During an attack on Rabaul, his plane was badly damaged by enemy ground fire. The pilot struggled to keep the plane in the air. Unable to keep up with the others, it fell behind. Two Japanese "Zero" fighters attacked the crippled plane from the rear. Both of Brian's machine guns jammed. He fired red tracer ammunition from his pistol. The Japs broke off the attack, but soon came again. Now completely out of ammunition, Brian reached for the Very pistol and fired a red rocket/flare at the fighters which immediately pulled up to figure out what that was. On the radio, Keith heard a New Zealand pilot saying, "Dont sweat it, Yank, I've got them surrounded up here!"
(Excerpt) Read more at marines.togetherweserved.com ...
Great site, thanks!
Great actor. Anyone else ever see the ‘Alfred Hitchcock Presents’ episode in which Keith played a guy in an iron lung with a really bitchy wife (played by that Southern gal who was Tatum O’Neal’s mom)?
He appeared as a likable actor.
“Uncle Bill” was a bad@ss!
A great Marine indeed!
I never knew the Dauntless allowed for a second man (gunner).
I was thinking about all of the “ordinary” men who have served when it ocurred to me that when I was a kid, virtually every adult man I knew was a vet. Serving was just part of being a man, including yours truly.
For a couple of years in his childhood, his stepmother was Peg Entwistle who later became infamous for jumping to her death from the “H” of the Hollywood sign.
Wow, what a story.
This photo is from one of my favorite movies, “The Russians are coming! The Russians are coming!”
Great yes indeed!
Actors of today.............no.
Very under rated as a cold war classic.
And had those piercing blue eyes.
I also remember an early episode of The Fugitive he starred in. I think he was some kind of a bad guy. Texas oil man type.
One of my favorite movies from my child hood with Brian Keith in it was the original “Parent Trap”, with Maureen O’Hara, they made at lest two pictures together.
I saw that as a first run movie as a kid, probably at Fort Rucker, looking at the release date.
A great Marine!
A Great American!
He played Jonas Cord in one of my favorite old movies, Nevada Smith. I pull it out to watch it every so often.
Every body to get from street!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.