Kelly, Leonard Joseph

Individual Personnel Data
Name Kelly, Leonard Joseph   ‡
⇗
Rank Staff Sergeant
Serial Number 39173397   ‡
Unit Assignments
  • Assigned to the 546th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho, Special Orders #70 dated 11 March 1943, effective 11 March 1943.
  • Assigned to the 546th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per 546th Bomb Squadron Morning Report dated 5 February 1944 - assigned not joined (Detached Service at Director of Intelligence, Headquarters United Stated Strategic Air Forces Europe [USSAFE] from Headquarters, 8th Air Force), effective 28 January 1944.
  • Transferred to the Headquarters, 1st Air Force, Mitchell Field, New York, per 546th Bomb Squadron Morning Report dated 7 March 1944, effective 7 March 1944.
Duty Flexible Gunner
MOS748 - Army Airplane Mechanic / Gunner, Flight Engineer
Last Duty Date 23 September 1943
Results Evaded Capture
DecorationsAwarded the Purple Heart for wounds received on 29 July 1943 per General Orders #84, Headquarters 1st Bomb Wing dated 10 August 1943.
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 5 July 1917
  • Ordered to attend Gunnery School at Snettisham, Norfolk, for approximately 10 days beginning on or about 30 May 1943, per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #21 dated 30 May 1943. Students are required to bring .50 cal. Ammunition, gas mask, steel helmet, mess equipment, blankets, clothing for ten days, and draw 'PX rations' in advance.
  • Appointed Staff Sergeant per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #37 dated 27 June 1943.
Related Documents Missing Air Crew Report # 748⇓ (24.645 MB)
Escape & Evasion Report # 336⇓ (0.799 MB)
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album⇗
Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Original 384th Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
Flt. Ofcr. Bishop, Charles W, "CHICK"⇗PilotCT
2nd Lt. Ulrey, Edgar Ellsworth⇗Co-pilotCT
2nd Lt. Grimaldi, Anthony Joseph⇗NavigatorCT
2nd Lt. Yee, Wilbert Y K⇗BombardierPOW
S/SGT. Morton, Cecil Gordon⇗Radio Operator / GunnerKIA
S/SGT. Edman, Bruno Edwin⇗Engineer / Top Turret GunnerPOW
S/SGT. Kalas, Joseph Markus⇗Ball Turret GunnerEV
S/SGT. Parks, Howard David⇗Tail GunnerPOW
S/SGT. Kelly, Leonard JosephFlexible GunnerEV
S/SGT. Yeater, James Thomas⇗Flexible GunnerPOW
Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 10 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
3⇗ 26 June 1943 Target: Villacoublay Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Paris, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑30030⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
8⇗ 14 July 1943 Target: Villacoublay Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Paris, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑3222⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
11⇗ 28 July 1943 Target: Aircraft Engine Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Kassel, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑29700⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back with #2 engine supercharger trouble.
Sortie Report⇗
12⇗ 29 July 1943 Target: Naval Base
Type: Military
Location: Kiel, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑30030⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
14⇗ 12 August 1943 Target: Synthetic Fuel Hydrogenation Plant
Type: Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑30039⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
18⇗ 27 August 1943 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Watten, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑29914⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
19⇗ 31 August 1943 Target: Fighter Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Romilly-sur-Seine, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 41‑24507⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back with #1 engine very rough and #3 engine oil pressure dropped 40 lbs.
Sortie Report⇗
20⇗ 3 September 1943 Target: Air Park and Aerodrome
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Romilly-sur-Seine, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑3459⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
21⇗ 6 September 1943 Type: Industry
Location: Stuttgart, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑3459⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Landed at Grafton Underwood.
Sortie Report⇗
22⇗ 7 September 1943 Target: Bruxelles-Evere Airfield/Repair Depot
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Brussels / Bruxelles, Belgium 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑3459⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
23⇗ 9 September 1943 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Lille-Vendeville, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑3459⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
24⇗ 16 September 1943 Target: Blockade Runner Ship (in Loire River)
Type: Transportation
Location: Nantes, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑3459⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back; unable to locate formation after passing through cloud layer.
Sortie Report⇗
25⇗ 23 September 1943 Target: Submarine Repair Ship
Type: Submarine Facility
Location: Nantes, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑3459⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Failed To Return
Shot down by enemy aircraft shortly after crossing the coast of France, crashed near Pontivy, France; MACR 748. Co-pilot Ritt was pilot of a newly assigned crew, flying his first orientation mission.
Sortie Report⇗

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