Lloyd
N. Keesling was born September 3, 1889 at Cedar Springs, VA.
In 1912 he graduated from Virginia Polytechnic Institute as
an electrical engineer.
Commissioned a provisional second lieutenant November 30,
1916, he was assigned to the 39th Infantry, and during WWI
was stationed at Camp Greene, Charlotte, NC. He was then detailed
to the Aviation Section, Signal Corps, and graduated from
the School of Military Aeronautics, Austin, TX, March 23,
1918, whereupon he was ordered to Kelly Field, San Antonio,
TX, for flying training, which he completed in August, 1918.
Transferred to Foreign Service, he was assigned as Commanding
Officer of Clark Field, Pampanga, Philippines, and served
there until September 2, 1921. In 1923-24 he was assigned
to Mitchel Field, Long Island, NY and served as Adjutant of
the Post and of the 9th Observation Group, among other duties,
until June, 1926.
After a long period of illness, which necessitated hospitalization,
he was assigned to March Field, Riverside, CA in July 1927.
He assumed command of the 53rd School Squadron until May 15,
1929.
Now he comes to the Davis-Monthan Airfield. Captain Lloyd
N. Keesling landed at Tucson on May 29, 1928 4:30 PM. He carried
Sgt. Conroy as passenger. Their home base was cited as Riverside,
CA March Field. They had departed San Diego, CA Rockwell Field,
and their airplane, a Douglas O2-J, carried military registration
number 28-127. They stayed overnight and departed the next
morning at 8:30 AM for El Paso, TX.
Keesling was a career officer. He became 1st Lieutenant on
November 30, 1916, Captain September 18, 1917, Major March
11, 1929 and Lt. Colonel March 16, 1935. After foreign service
and the New York assignment, he was stationed mostly in the
southwest through 1936. He was assigned to the Air Corps tactical
School, Maxwell Field, AL on August 21, 1936, graduating on
June 1, 1937.
The N.Y. Herald-Tribune of March 19, 1940 reports his death
at Fitzsimons General Hospital, Denver, CO on the 17th at
age 50. The boiler plate obituary says nothing of his family
life, survivors or cause of death.
UPLOADED: 12/30/05 REVISED:
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