A native of Magdalena, New Mexico, Mr. Keen enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1942– barely making weight! After receiving pilot training under the Western Flying Training Command atbases in Arizona and California, Lt. Keen was deployed to provide fighter support for air actions in the China-Burma-India Theater as part of the 58th Fighter Squadron, 38th Fighter Group, 10th Army Air Force.
Based in Moran Field, India, and Sahmaw Field, Burma, Lt. Keen flew 75 missions in his P-38, “B. Rose,” and logged another 100+ hours of combat time flying C-46’s on supply runs before the war ended. During the Korean War, Captain Clay Keen flew 100 missions out of K-14 AFB, primarily in his F-86 Sabre Jet, the "Eight Ball Express". A member of the New Mexico National Guard from 1947-1974, he retired after 32 years of service, but continued as a commercial pilot based in Albuquerque until 1993.
In the following months, the Foundation plans to have veterans talk about their experiences on major campaigns and/or battles of WWII (in Europe and the Pacific), Korea, Vietnam and the Gulf War. Admission is free; howeverdonations to the Foundations are always appreciated.