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Personal info

Full name
KELLY, Maurice Robert
Date of birth
9 March 1921
Age
23
Place of birth
Harpers Ferry, Allamakee County, Iowa
Hometown
Harpers Ferry, Allamakee County, Iowa

Military service

Service number
37651421
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Left Waist Gunner
Unit
725th Bombardment Squadron,
451st Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
5 May 1944
Place of death
Near Ploesti, Romania

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Lorraine
Plot Row Grave
D 22 28

Immediate family

Members
Michael D. Kelly (father)
Mary I. (Cota) Kelly (mother)
Mary C. V. Kelly (sister)
Lawrence D. Kelly (brother)
Leon M. Kelly (brother)
Joseph F. Kelly (brother)
Clement A. Kelly (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
42-52094
Data
Type: B-24H
Destination: Ploesti, Romania
Mission: Bombing of the marshalling yard
MACR: 4604

More information

S/Sgt Maurice R. Kelly was a stock clerk before he enlisted at Camp Dodge, Iowa on 19 December 1942.

S/Sgt Carl J. De Long:
"I was top turret gunner on the ship of 1st Lt Ralph N. Darrow, flying in the fourth position in the formation airplane No. 42-52094, piloted by 2nd Lt Paul E. Krueger, was flying off our right wing in No. five position. The fighter firing 20mm shells into the ship, caused the ship to catch on fire to the rear of the right wing. The ship then dropped out of my view. No parachutes were seen to open."

1st Lt Robert K. Barmore:
"I landed with Kelly and tried to help. He had lost a lot of blood and I couldn’t do much. He died at about 17,00 hours."

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov – WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / Whitty Family Tree / Iowa WWII Bonus Case Files, www.fold3.com, http://aircrewremembered.com/USAAFCombatOperations/May.44.html
Photo source: www.ancestry.com - Tonilou