Kelly was the flight engineer on B-17E #41-9153, nicknamed 'Tokyo Taxi', assigned to the 13th Air Force, 5th Bombardment Group, 23rd Bombardment Squadron. On July 19, 1943 they took off from Carney Field on Guadalcanal along with eight other B-17s on a bombing mission against Kahili Airfield on Bougainville.
Going into the bomb run, Kelly's plane was shot down by a Japanese J1N1 night fighter. The plane was seen to go down in flames, and an air search of the area failed to locate the plane or crew. They were all officially declared dead on January 11, 1946.
Because his body was not recovered, Kelly's name is inscribed on the Tablets of the Missing. He was awarded the Air Medal and the Purple Heart.
Kelly is also memorialized in Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego California.
Going into the bomb run, Kelly's plane was shot down by a Japanese J1N1 night fighter. The plane was seen to go down in flames, and an air search of the area failed to locate the plane or crew. They were all officially declared dead on January 11, 1946.
Because his body was not recovered, Kelly's name is inscribed on the Tablets of the Missing. He was awarded the Air Medal and the Purple Heart.
Kelly is also memorialized in Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego California.
Kelly was the flight engineer on B-17E #41-9153, nicknamed 'Tokyo Taxi', assigned to the 13th Air Force, 5th Bombardment Group, 23rd Bombardment Squadron. On July 19, 1943 they took off from Carney Field on Guadalcanal along with eight other B-17s on a bombing mission against Kahili Airfield on Bougainville.
Going into the bomb run, Kelly's plane was shot down by a Japanese J1N1 night fighter. The plane was seen to go down in flames, and an air search of the area failed to locate the plane or crew. They were all officially declared dead on January 11, 1946.
Because his body was not recovered, Kelly's name is inscribed on the Tablets of the Missing. He was awarded the Air Medal and the Purple Heart.
Kelly is also memorialized in Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego California.
Going into the bomb run, Kelly's plane was shot down by a Japanese J1N1 night fighter. The plane was seen to go down in flames, and an air search of the area failed to locate the plane or crew. They were all officially declared dead on January 11, 1946.
Because his body was not recovered, Kelly's name is inscribed on the Tablets of the Missing. He was awarded the Air Medal and the Purple Heart.
Kelly is also memorialized in Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego California.
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from Kansas.
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