Kelly, Victor Thomas

Individual Personnel Data
Name Kelly, Victor Thomas   ‡
⇗
Rank Second Lieutenant
Serial Number O-734469   ‡
Unit Assignments Assigned to the 545th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho, Special Orders #32 dated 1 February 1943, effective 1 February 1943.
Duty Bombardier
MOS1035 - Bombardier
Last Duty Date 17 August 1943
Results Killed In Action
Final Resting Place or Memorial: New Jersey
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 1 December 1921
  • Graduated from Bombardier School at Victorville AAF, Victorville, California, Class #42-17, 12 December 1942.
Related Documents Missing Air Crew Report # 294⇓ (1.307 MB)
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album⇗
Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Original 384th Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Edwards, Floyd Clinton⇗PilotPOW
2nd Lt. Gordy, Paul Pate⇗Co-pilotPOW
2nd Lt. Koenig, Robert Martin⇗NavigatorPOW
2nd Lt. Kelly, Victor ThomasBombardierKIA
S/SGT. Ellis, Milzia Coleman⇗Radio Operator / GunnerTR
S/SGT. DeElmo, William Fowler⇗Engineer / Top Turret GunnerTR
S/SGT. Svirsky, Leon⇗Ball Turret GunnerPOW
SGT. Guzy, Edward Frank⇗Tail GunnerTR
S/SGT. Meyer, Alfred (NMI)⇗Flexible GunnerPOW
S/SGT. Miller, Walter Amos⇗Flexible GunnerPOW

Crew History

The Edwards Crew joined the 545th BS at Wendover on 1 February 1943. Identified as "Crew #4" on the assignment order, they became the first "Crew #52" in the squadron.
Before moving to England, Ellis was transferred out of the Group and was replaced by S/Sgt Robert P Goldman as Radio Operator: DeElmo was later replaced by S/Sgt Charles P Tate, and Miller took over as Engineer.
This revised crew flew to England and are the ones pictured in the standard crew photo in the photo gallery. They flew several missions together with occasional substitutions until Edwards was wounded on the 25 July 1943 mission. He recovered after several months and returned to combat duty, later becoming a lead pilot. Guzy left the crew after the 25 July 1943 mission, and flew no more missions with the 384th after that.
Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 9 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
1⇗ 22 June 1943 Target: General Motors Truck Factory
Type: Industry
Location: Antwerp, Belgium 		Bombardier 42‑3216⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Tail gunner's feet were frostbitten.
Sortie Report⇗
3⇗ 26 June 1943 Target: Villacoublay Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Paris, France 		Bombardier 42‑3216⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back with #3 engine running rough, low oil pressure and smoking; feathered engine.
Sortie Report⇗
4⇗ 28 June 1943 Target: Fighter Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Beaumont-le-Roger, France 		Bombardier 42‑3216⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
5⇗ 29 June 1943 Target: duNord Aircraft Works, Villacoublay Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Paris, France 		Bombardier 42‑3216⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
6⇗ 4 July 1943 Target: Gnome et Rhone Aircraft Engine Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Le Mans, France 		Bombardier 42‑29985⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
9⇗ 24 July 1943 Target: Aluminum & Magnesium Plants
Type: Industry
Location: Herøya, Norway 		Bombardier 42‑3216⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead, group deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
10⇗ 25 July 1943 Target: Blohm & Voss Aircraft Works and Shipyard
Type: Industry
Location: Hamburg, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑5855⇗ Combat Mission Credit
The pilot was wounded shortly after crossing the enemy coast, so co-pilot flew most of the mission.
Sortie Report⇗
15⇗ 15 August 1943 Target: Poix-en-Picardie and Amiens-Glisy Airfields
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Poix-de-Picardie & Amiens, France 		Bombardier 42‑5444⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
16⇗ 16 August 1943 Target: Le Bourget Airport & Air Depot
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Paris, France 		Bombardier 42‑3459⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
17⇗ 17 August 1943 Target: Ball-Bearing Plant
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Schweinfurt, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑30139⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Failed To Return
Damaged by flak; crashed near Stangenroth (Bad Kissingen area), Germany. MACR 294
Sortie Report⇗

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