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Hall, Kelmer Jim

Individual Personnel Data
Name Hall, Kelmer Jim   
Rank Second Lieutenant / First Lieutenant
Serial Number O-728648   
Unit Assignments Assigned to the 544th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per 544th bomb Squadron Unit History, effective 31 December 1942.
Duty Pilot
MOS1091 - Pilot, B-17
Last Duty Date 25 July 1943
Results Prisoner Of War
POW Camp: Stalag 7A Moosburg Bavaria 48-12 (Work Camps 3324-46 Krumbachstrasse 48011, Work Camp 3368 Munich 48-11)
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 28 September 1921
  • Ditched in Atlantic on flight From Gander, Newfoundland, to England on 10 June 1943. Rescued by a Canadian minesweeper and returned to Presque Isle, Maine. Completed the deployment to England on an ATC C-54, and joined Group later.
  • Promoted to First Lieutenant effective 26 March 1943 per 544th Bomb Squadron Morning Report dated 28 March 1943.
Related Documents Post Loss Document File #10
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album




Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
544th BOMB SQUADRON MODEL CREW
The first combat crew assigned to the squadron.
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Hall, Kelmer JimPilotPOW
Flt. Ofcr. Summers, Bradley BriscoeCo-pilotPOW
2nd Lt. Crary, James DavidNavigatorPOW
2nd Lt. Schindler, Herbert (NMI)BombardierPOW
SGT. Harland, Kenneth Watkins, JrEngineer / Top Turret GunnerKIA
PVT. Spradlin, Clifford WrightBall Turret GunnerCT
SGT. Veber, Max BurtonTail GunnerPOW
S/SGT. O'Donnell, Charles Patrick, JrFlexible GunnerTR
S/SGT. Wimberly, Grady WrightFlexible GunnerTR
SGT. Harden, Donald LesterFlexible GunnerTR

Crew History

The Kelmer Hall Crew was the first one to be assigned to the 544th BS of the 384th BG - becoming its "Model Crew" and "Crew 41" (crew #1 of the 544th) - on 31 December 1942 at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho, with Summers and Spradlin joining in January 1943. They flew to Wendover a few days after the ground echelon entrained for the transfer.

Original crewmembers O'Donnell and Wimberly were replaced by Holgate J Dean and Edward R Keathley prior to transfer overseas.

The crew was assigned B-17F 42-30041 in the U.S.A. This aircraft was beset by mechanical difficulties from the outset, causing many three-engine landings, among other problems. After departing Gander Lake, Newfoundland on June 9, 1943 bound for England, the crew was forced to ditch that aircraft in the Atlantic. All 10 men were rescued the next day and returned to their departure point Gander Lake, Newfoundland. From there they were flown back to Presque Isle, Maine, where they were fitted out with new uniforms and other necessary equipment. Again they took to the air - as passengers aboard a C-54 transport aircraft this time - and rejoined the Group in England on 6 July 1943.

Additional crew changes occured after arriving in England, with Lawrence J Reandeau and George D McCulley replacing Spradlin and Harden. Note that other crew changes occurred on their first two missions due to illness of "regular" crew members.

They were shot down on 25 July 1943 mission to Hamburg, Germany, aboard B-17F 42-29670 "THUNDERMUG": 2 KIA, 8 POW.

Information courtesy of Jared Summers, et al.

Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 2 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
-- 10 June 1943 None
Non-combat sortie
Pilot 42‑30041 On ferry flight to the ETO, departed Gander late on 9 June 1943. Engine failures led to ditching in the ocean off the coast of Labrador.
Sortie Report
8 14 July 1943 Target: Villacoublay Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Paris, France
Pilot 42‑30039 Aborted Mission After Taking Off
High Squadron deputy. Turned back at 0715 hrs over Channel because aircraft could not stay in formation - it felt 'sluggish.'
Sortie Report
9 24 July 1943 Target: Aluminum & Magnesium Plants
Type: Industry
Location: Herøya, Norway
Pilot 42‑30142 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
10 25 July 1943 Target: Blohm & Voss Aircraft Works and Shipyard
Type: Industry
Location: Hamburg, Germany
Pilot 42‑29670 Combat Mission Credit
Failed To Return
Disabled by enemy action over target; details unknown; crashed in Hamburg, Germany area. No MACR
Sortie Report

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