On May 1, 1943 Kellner was a waist gunner on B-24D #41-42513 serving with the 10th Air Force, 7th Bombardment Group, 492nd Bombardment Squadron. They were part of an eight plane mission to bomb Japanese cargo ships in the harbor at Rangoon, Burma. Immediately after dropping their bombs they were attacked by enemy fighter planes, knocking out two engines and wounding four of the crew, including Kellner. Their plane fell out of formation and the fighters continued their attacks until the bomber was able to lose them in cloud cover.
Approximately an hour later they were finally unable to keep the plane in the air and crash landed in a rice paddy northwest of Bassein, Burma. Kellner was taken prisoner by the Japanese and some time later died of his wounds.
He was from Queens County, NY and received the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal and the Purple Heart.
Because his body was not recovered, he is memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing.
Approximately an hour later they were finally unable to keep the plane in the air and crash landed in a rice paddy northwest of Bassein, Burma. Kellner was taken prisoner by the Japanese and some time later died of his wounds.
He was from Queens County, NY and received the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal and the Purple Heart.
Because his body was not recovered, he is memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing.
On May 1, 1943 Kellner was a waist gunner on B-24D #41-42513 serving with the 10th Air Force, 7th Bombardment Group, 492nd Bombardment Squadron. They were part of an eight plane mission to bomb Japanese cargo ships in the harbor at Rangoon, Burma. Immediately after dropping their bombs they were attacked by enemy fighter planes, knocking out two engines and wounding four of the crew, including Kellner. Their plane fell out of formation and the fighters continued their attacks until the bomber was able to lose them in cloud cover.
Approximately an hour later they were finally unable to keep the plane in the air and crash landed in a rice paddy northwest of Bassein, Burma. Kellner was taken prisoner by the Japanese and some time later died of his wounds.
He was from Queens County, NY and received the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal and the Purple Heart.
Because his body was not recovered, he is memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing.
Approximately an hour later they were finally unable to keep the plane in the air and crash landed in a rice paddy northwest of Bassein, Burma. Kellner was taken prisoner by the Japanese and some time later died of his wounds.
He was from Queens County, NY and received the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal and the Purple Heart.
Because his body was not recovered, he is memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing.
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from New York.
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