Kelsey, Donald Edward

Individual Personnel Data
Name Kelsey, Donald Edward   ‡
⇗
Rank Sergeant / Staff Sergeant
Serial Number 32840815   ‡
Unit Assignments
  • Assigned to the 547th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #134 dated 11 July 1944, effective 11 July 1944.
  • Assigned to the 544th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #227, effective 16 November 1944.
Duty Tail Gunner
MOS748 - Army Airplane Mechanic / Gunner, Flight Engineer
Last Duty Date 29 January 1945
Results Completed Combat Tour
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 16 September 1924
  • Promoted to Staff Sergeant on AAF Station 106 Special Orders #163 dated 14 August 1944.
  • Reported missing on MACR 10197 on 17 September 1944. He bailed out after his aircraft was severely damaged by flak, landed in Allied Territory and returned to duty.
  • Placed on seven (7) days Temporary Duty at Spechtley Park, Worcester, AAF Station 562 (a Flak House) on 27 September 1944 to carry out the orders of the Commanding General per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #190 dated 26 September 1944.
Related Documents Missing Air Crew Report # 10197⇓ (7.749 MB)
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album⇗
Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Soester, Wilbur Leroy⇗PilotPOW
2nd Lt. Grabon, Daniel Stanley⇗Co-pilotKIA
2nd Lt. Schold, George Bertie, Jr⇗NavigatorPOW
2nd Lt. Fisher, Earl Wellington, Jr⇗BombardierCT
SGT. Wilhelm, Robert Frederick⇗Radio Operator / GunnerCT
S/SGT. Pavlos, Nickolas Manuel⇗Engineer / Top Turret GunnerCT
CPL. Schmeller, Thomas Raymond⇗Ball Turret GunnerKIA
SGT. Kelsey, Donald EdwardTail GunnerCT
PVT. Norstrom, John Julius⇗Flexible GunnerPOW
Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 35 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
164⇗ 24 July 1944 Target: Tactical - Enemy Strong Points
Type: Military
Location: La Chapelle en Juger & Hébécrevon, France 		Tail Gunner 42‑97204⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High group.
Sortie Report⇗
165⇗ 25 July 1944 Target: Tactical - Enemy Strong Points
Type: Military
Location: Montreuil-sur-Lozon, Le Châtel,
& La Chapelle en Juger, France 		Tail Gunner 42‑37788⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Group, High Squadron Deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
166⇗ 28 July 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil & Chemical Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑97204⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
167⇗ 29 July 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil & Chemical Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑38208⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High section deputy, high group, 41st B wing.
Sortie Report⇗
170⇗ 3 August 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Fleury, Flers, Fiefs, France 		Tail Gunner 42‑97204⇗ Combat Mission Credit
I Group.
Sortie Report⇗
171⇗ 4 August 1944 Target: Rocket Research & Development Complex
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Peenemünde, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑97204⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
173⇗ 5 August 1944 Target: Luftwaffe Controlling Station
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Langenhagen, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑97204⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
174⇗ 7 August 1944 Target: Aircraft Fuel Depot
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Dugny (Paris), France 		Tail Gunner 42‑97204⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low group.
Sortie Report⇗
176⇗ 9 August 1944 Target: Erding Airdrome & Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Erding, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑97204⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High section lead, lead group.
Sortie Report⇗
179⇗ 13 August 1944 Target: Tactical: Road Network
Type: Transportation
Location: Beaumont-le-Roger (area), France 		Tail Gunner 43‑37990⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead, low group.
Sortie Report⇗
180⇗ 14 August 1944 Target: Echterdingen Airdrome
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Stuttgart, Germany 		Tail Gunner 44‑8011⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead, high group.
Sortie Report⇗
182⇗ 18 August 1944 Target: Tactical: Bridge
Type: Transportation
Location: Vise, Belgium 		Tail Gunner 42‑97204⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low group deputy and hot camera ship.
Sortie Report⇗
187⇗ 3 September 1944 Target: I. G. Farben Chemical Works
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany 		Tail Gunner 44‑8011⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
190⇗ 9 September 1944 Target: I. G. Farben Chemical Works
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany 		Tail Gunner 44‑6080⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High group deputy. Hot camera ship.
Sortie Report⇗
191⇗ 10 September 1944 Target: BMW Motor Component Parts Plant
Type: Industry
Location: Sindelfingen, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑97150⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron. Returned with #2 and #4 feathered.
Sortie Report⇗
194⇗ 13 September 1944 Target: Leuna Synthetic Oil Refinery
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑102449⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low group lead.
Sortie Report⇗
195⇗ 17 September 1944 Target: Tank and Gun Concentrations, Tactical
Type: Military
Location: Eindhoven & 's‑Hertogenbosch (den Bosch), The Netherlands 		Tail Gunner 44‑8011⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Failed To Return
F Squadron lead. At 1122 hrs, prior to the IP, a direct flak burst hit the #2 engine, and the right wing caught fire. The aircraft exploded shortly before or on hitting the ground. Crashed near Liege, Belgium. MACR 10197
Sortie Report⇗
215⇗ 25 October 1944 Target: Nordstern Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑97150⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron hot camera ship.
Sortie Report⇗
216⇗ 30 October 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany 		Tail Gunner 43‑38752⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
217⇗ 1 November 1944 Target: Nordstern Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑37788⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
219⇗ 4 November 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Bottrop (Welheim), Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑97150⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron.
Sortie Report⇗
220⇗ 5 November 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑37788⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
221⇗ 6 November 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Bottrop (Welheim), Germany 		Tail Gunner 43‑38752⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
222⇗ 8 November 1944 Target: Leuna Synthetic Oil Plant (visual aim point)
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany 		Tail Gunner 43‑38752⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back; pilot ill.
Sortie Report⇗
228⇗ 23 November 1944 Target: Nordstern Coking Plant at Gelsenkirchener Bergwerks-A.G.
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany 		Tail Gunner 43‑37703⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
234⇗ 2 December 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Oberlahnstein, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑31484⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron hot camera ship.
Sortie Report⇗
240⇗ 18 December 1944 Target: Road Junction
Type: Transportation
Location: Gemünd, Germany 		Tail Gunner 43‑38616⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
244⇗ 27 December 1944 Target: Bridge (Tactical)
Type: Transportation
Location: Altenahr, Germany 		Tail Gunner 43‑38016⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Gee-H Ground Spare Aircraft. Replaced 42‑97824. Low Squadron deputy. Assumed Squadron lead after leader aborted. Led Gee-H bomb run with visual assist on primary target.
Sortie Report⇗
245⇗ 28 December 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Brühl, Germany 		Tail Gunner 43‑38016⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron deputy. Gee-H ship.
Sortie Report⇗
248⇗ 1 January 1945 Target: Oil Storage Depot
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Derben, Germany 		Tail Gunner 43‑38016⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron deputy. Gee-H ship.
Sortie Report⇗
249⇗ 2 January 1945 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Gerolstein, Germany 		Tail Gunner 43‑38016⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
252⇗ 7 January 1945 Target: Enemy Strong Point
Type: Military
Location: Blankenheim, Germany 		Tail Gunner 43‑38616⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
254⇗ 10 January 1945 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Bonn, Germany 		Tail Gunner 44‑8221⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group deputy. PFF & Gee-H ship. Assumed group lead immediately upon departure of the group lead. PFF & Gee-H in this aircraft were inoperative, so Rice ordered low Squadron lead to take over (high Squadron lead was not reachable via radio) and returned to #2 position. Left formation after first attempted bomb run because oxygen system was shot away.
Sortie Report⇗
256⇗ 17 January 1945 Target: Railroad Viaduct
Type: Transportation
Location: Bielefeld, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑97824⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron deputy. Assumed Squadron lead when low Squadron leader was ordered to fly in lead Squadron.
Sortie Report⇗
257⇗ 20 January 1945 Target: Rail and Road Bridges
Type: Transportation
Location: Mannheim, Germany 		Tail Gunner 43‑38016⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron deputy; Gee-H ship. Landed away at RAF Oakington, Cambridgeshire.
Sortie Report⇗
259⇗ 22 January 1945 Target: Synthetic Oil Refinery
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Sterkrade, Germany 		Tail Gunner 44‑8401⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead PFF ground spare; replaced 8221, which was taken by group lead when 8211 was scrubbed. Group deputy. Landed away at Woodbridge; flak damage caused prop to fall off during landing.
Sortie Report⇗

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