Captain Colin P. Kelly, Jr.
U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF), 14th Bombardment Squadron (14th BS)
B-17C Flying Fortress 40-2045 pilot Killed In Action December 10, 1941

Background
Colin Purdie Kelly, Jr was born to parents Colin Purdie Kelly and Mary Eliza Mays Kelly in Madison, Florida. He attended U.S. Military Academy (USMA) at West Point and was commissioned in the U.S. Army as a 2nd Lieutenant. In 1937, he married Marion Estelle Wick and the couple had one child, Colin P. "Corky" Kelly, III. He was trained as a bomber pilot and earned his wings.

Wartime History
In early September 1941 departs Hickam Field as part of a B-17 formation across the Pacific bound for the Philippines with refueling stops at Midway Airfield, 7 Mile Drome near Port Moresby in New Guinea and Batchelor Field near Darwin then to the Philippines. At the time, this was the longest mass flight of land based aircraft in the world. At the start of the Pacific War, assigned to the 7th Bombardment Group (7th BG), 14th Bombardment Squadron (14th BS) attached to the 19th Bombardment Group (19th BG). at Clark Field on Luzon.

Mission History
On December 10, 1941 took off from San Marcelino Airfield piloting B-17C Flying Fortress 40-2045 as one of six B-17s bound for Clark Field to stage for a mission. Only three landed at 7:30am this bomber plus B-17D 40-3091 pilot Lt. Schaetzel and B-17D 40-3086 pilot Montgomery. The other three did not land fearing a Japanese air raid.

On the ground, this B-17 was only partially armed with three 600 pound bombs then took off again at 9:30am in haste fearing another Japanese air raid and was one of four B-17s on a mission to bomb Japanese ships off Aparri and Vigan on northern Luzon. During the night, this convoy had been spotted and earlier that morning was bombed during the first American bombing mission of the Pacific War.

Over Aparri, B-17D 40-3091 piloted by Lt. Schaetzel spotted enemy transports and released his bombs from 25,000' before being jumped by Zeros and dove down to 7,000'. Arriving over Aparri next, this B-17 arrived over the ships and pilot Kelly saw no targets and proceeded south towards Vigan where Kelly spotted Heavy Cruiser Ashigara (falsely claimed to be Battleship Haruna). Bombardier Cpl Meyer Levin salvoed all three bombs from 22,000' and claimed one hit and observed a seaplane taking off from warship. In fact, no damage was sustained by Ashigara or any vessel and no battleship was part of the invasion force.

Before reaching Clark Field, this B-17 was intercepted by A6M2 Zeros from Tainan Kōkūtai including Saburo Sakai at roughly 12,000' near Mount Arayat. During the first firing pass, the Zeros hit the nose section with gunfire that damaged the pilot's instrument panel and killed engineer SSgt Delehanty instantly when the top of his head was blown off. Pfc Altman suffered a scalp wound from a metal splinter inside the plane.

Afterwards, the same Zeros made repeated firing passes and started a fire in the bomb bay that engulfed the rear of the bomber and disabled two engines.

Heavily damaged, Kelly ordered his crew to bail out while he and co-pilot Robbins held the bomber level. Several of the crew were strafed by the Zeros as they descended but all landed unhurt with the exception of Bean who was hit by a bullet in the ankle from the strafing.

Pilot Kelly bailed out but his parachute failed to open for unknown reasons and was killed on impact. An explosion blew co-pilot Robbins out of the observation dome, but he was able to open his parachute and landed safely. As the crew descended in their parachutes, they were strafed by the Zeros.

As the stricken bomber descended, it exploded again and impacted the ground roughly six miles east of Clark Field near Mount Arayat.

Recovery of Remains
After the crash, Kelly's body was found nearby the bomber, his parachute failed to open for unknown reasons. When his father wrote the U.S. Army for specifics about how his son died in December 1942 or early 1942, officials claimed that Kelly died in the crash, this was not accurate. Postwar, his remains were transported to the United States for permenant burial.

Memorials
Kelly was officially declared dead December 10, 1941. For this mission, Kelly was posthumously nominated for a Medal of Honor, but instead earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC).

Kelly was permanently buried at Madison Oak Ridge Cemetery in Madison, Florida. His grave includes the epitaph: "To Honor Colin Kelly First American Hero of World War II 1915 1941 Greater Love Hath No Man Than This, That A Man Lay Down His Life For His Friends." Across from the courthouse in Madison, Florida is "The Four Freedoms Monument" dedicated to the memory of World War II hero, Captain Colin P. Kelley, Jr. dedicated on June 14, 1944 and sponsored by the Madison County Memorial Post No. 88 of the American Legion.

At Clark Air Base, there is a memorial plaque and bust of Kelly. A painting "Captain Colin Kelly" was displayed inside the Kelly Theater, named in his honor until the 1992 eruption of Mount Pinatubo, this painting was transported to the USAF Museum.

In his hometown is a white marble monument with three angles and brass plaque dedicated to Colin Kelly is located at Madison, Florida.

Legacy
After his loss, Kellly was regarded as America's first war hero and his final mission was heavily reported in the press. His final mission was exaggerated, including the claim that his bombs sunk Battleship Haruna. In fact, he bombed Heavy Cruiser Ashigara that was not damaged. Also, it was claimed after ordering crew to bail out, he dove the stricken bomber into an enemy warship, this is also false. None the less, Kelly became a household name across America.

Relatives
Marion Estelle Wick Pedlow (wife remarried 1943, died June 14, 1973 at age 56)
Colin P. "Corky" Kelly, III (son of Collin P. Kelly)
Attended and graduated from West Point, became an Episcopal priest and served as Assistant Chaplain at the Point. After retiring from the Military, he became pastor of an Episcopal church in New Mexico during which time he was honored by invitation from the 1996 104th U.S. Congress to give the opening prayer.

Eugene Eisenberg adds:
"In 1942, I met Kelly's wife and son Corky. I became very close to the Kelly family and also Corky. I also spent time with Bob Altman, Joe Bean, Willard Money and James Halkyard who is still alive today in Washington State. I have also have the original drawing by Dizon who made the original drawing and took a photograph of the wreckage in December 1941. I also have several pictures of the original crew taken on Midway Airfield September 5, 1941.

References
The Howitzer 1937 (West Point Military Academy Yearbook) page 218 (Colin Purdie Kelly, Jr.)
"A combination of Irish blood and southern sun shine has given Kelly the best qualities of both. Equally famous are his drawl and friendly smile. A temper, perhaps, but one that rises to defend the principles that he cherishes. He has not devoted all his effort to study and consequently has not achieved high academic rank, but he has participated in sports and other activities and has found additional time to enjoy thoroughly West Point. He's positive in his opinions; vigorous in his actions. All around ability and a knack for making friends bespeak a bright future for him, and those of us who really know him will be glad to say, "I knew him when..."
19th Bomb Group Diary, December 10, 1941
"Capt. Kelly and Lt. Schaetzel took off.."
Brooklyn Daily Eagle "Widow Prays Hero Flier Knew He Sank 'That Darn Battleship'" December 13, 1941 pages 1, 3 (photo)
Fortress Against The Sun (2001) pages 65-68, 71, 142, 242, 314, 372, 382, 397, 401, 450, 457
December 8, 1941 MacArthur's Pearl Harbor (2003) by William Bartsch pages 137 (photo Altman), 237-238 (to Del Monte and recon Formosa), 408 (painting), 408 (10th mission), 476 (footnotes 18, 19), 435 (appendix G, 14th BS officers), 543 (index Kelly), 554 (index)
Leyte Calling (1945) pages 14-15
"I helped load the bombs into his [Kelly's] Fortress and scribbled my name on three of them. I don't think anybody else signed the bombs because everyone else was busier than I was. Anyway, I don't know yet why i signed the bombs. I just wanted something to do, I guess."
Air Force Magazine "Valor: Colin Kelly" by John L. Frisbee June 1994, Vol. 77, No. 6
The Legend of Colin Kelly (1994) by Dennis E. McClendon
"Legend of Colin Kelly" painting by Robert Taylor
"Captain Colin Kelly" painting was displayed at the Kelly Theater at Clark Air Force Base, after the 1992 eruption of Mount Pinatubo, this painting was transported to USAF Museum
Ken’s Men Against The Empire Volume I (2016) pages 109-110 (Levin/Kelly), 313 (Levin), 395 (index Kelly), 396 (index Levin)
FindAGrave - Collin Purdie Kelly, Jr. (photo, Madison, Florida monument photo)
Washington Post "Major Player: Gen. Colin L. Powell (Ret.)" July 28, 2000
"Did you know? Powell's parents, Jamaican immigrants and subjects of the British empire, pronounced their son's name KAH-lin. But Powell's childhood friends in the South Bronx, impressed by the heroic exploits of World War II flyer Colin P. Kelly Jr. (known as KOH-lin), altered the pronunciation and its been KOH-lin Powell ever since."
Thanks to Tony Feredo, William Bartsch and Eugene Eisenberg for additional information

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