// Workers AI · dad joke modeWho's Keith Birlem? A birlem good guy?

Keith Birlem
No. 23
Position	End
Personal information
Born	May 4, 1915; San Jose, California, United States
Died	May 7, 1943 (aged 28); Polebrook, East Northamptonshire, England, United Kingdom
Career information
College	San José State
Career history
1939	Chicago Cardinals
1939	Washington Redskins
Awards and highlights
	San José State Hall of Fame;
	Stats at Pro Football Reference
Other information
Military career
Allegiance	United States
Branch	U.S. Army Air Forces
Service years	1942
Rank	Major
Conflicts	World War II European air campaign †;

Keith G. Birlem (May 4, 1915 – May 7, 1943) was an American football end in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins and Chicago Cardinals.

Early life

Birlem was born San Jose, California and attended San Mateo High School.^[2]

Football career

Birlem attended and played college football at San José State University, where he played quarterback. He was inducted into their Sports Hall of Fame.^[1] He then played in the National Football League for the Chicago Cardinals and Washington Redskins in 1939; he was moved to end as a Cardinal and appeared in six games (starting three) before being released and signing with Washington.^[3]

Military career

Birlem, who reached the rank of major during World War II, was killed trying to land a combat-damaged B-17 bomber at RAF Polebrook^[4] in England in 1943.^[5] His bomber hit another plane and cut the tail off of it. Both crashed near the perimeter of RAF Polebrook and all 20 inside both planes died.

References

1 2 "Hall of Fame Members" (PDF). SJSUSpartans.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 28, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2009.
↑ "Keith Birlem profile". DatabaseFootball. Archived from the original on February 17, 2010. Retrieved April 23, 2009.
↑ Anton, Todd; Nowlin, Bill (November 15, 2013). When Football Went to War. Triumph Books. pp. 45–46. ISBN 978-1600788451.
↑ "CIF/Central Coast Section Athletic Alumni" (PDF). Central Coast Section. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 25, 2008. Retrieved April 23, 2009.
↑ "The National Football League's World War II Casualties". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved April 23, 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)

External links

Career statistics from Pro Football Reference
Football and America: WW II Honor Roll
303rd BG (H) Combat Mission No. 33-4 May 1943
Los Angeles Times Obituary^{[permanent dead link]}
World War II Memorial, San Rafael

[sjhof-1] 1 2 "Hall of Fame Members" (PDF). SJSUSpartans.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 28, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2009.

[2] "Keith Birlem profile". DatabaseFootball. Archived from the original on February 17, 2010. Retrieved April 23, 2009.

[WFWTW-3] Anton, Todd; Nowlin, Bill (November 15, 2013). When Football Went to War. Triumph Books. pp. 45–46. ISBN 978-1600788451.

[4] "CIF/Central Coast Section Athletic Alumni" (PDF). Central Coast Section. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 25, 2008. Retrieved April 23, 2009.

[5] "The National Football League's World War II Casualties". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved April 23, 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]