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name
KELLEY, Thomas D - Date of
birth
9 December 1915 -
Age
28 - Place of
birth
Metcalf, Edgar County, Illinois -
Hometown
Springfield, Sangamon County, Illinois
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
16122125 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Tail Gunner -
Unit
601st Bombardment Squadron,
398th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
24 May 1944 - Place of
death
Between Biesenthal and Melchow, 25 miles northeast of Berlin, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| D | 3 | 54 |
Immediate family
-
Members
William T. Kelley (father)
Sadie F. (Tower) Kelley (mother)
Effie Kelley (sister)
Margaret M. Kelley (wife)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-107132 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Berlin, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the city
MACR: 5253
More information
S/Sgt Thomas D. Kelley attended high school for 4 years and was a telephone operator. He joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve in Chicago, Illinois on 4 March 1943.According to a statement of an eyewitness, 2nd Lt Arthur S. Harris, the airplane followed another plane out of formation about one minute after bombs away. Both ships turned to the left. The n° 3 engine was feathered.
Statement of a surviving crew member, T/Sgt Frank Gnasdowski:
"We got through the flak allright but were hit by fighters on the turn for home. After noticing the ship losing altitude I tried to call the crew but the phones were knocked out."
Nine crew members were killed, one was taken prisoner.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Peter Schouteten, Terry Hirsch, www.398th.org, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, WWII Draft Card, 1930 US Census
Photo source: Jac Engels, Arie-Jan van Hees, Bombardier Class Book 43-13, USAAF Advanced Bombardier School, Big Spring, Texas