Walter Earl Kelly

Military

A Norristown, PA tavern keeper's son, Walter Kelly graduated from Villanova University with a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering. He enlisted in the Air Corps in June 1941 and started training as a pilot. After receiving his wings, he flew on many training flights before learning to fly B-17s at McDill Air Force Base near Tampa, FL. Assigned to the 97th Bomber Group, he was sent to Europe in the Spring of 1942. He was pilot of "Heidi Ho" Serial 41-9017 on the 8th Air Force's first Heavy Bomber mission to Rouen, France on August 17, 1942. After a number of other operations, he was transferred to North Africa with the 97th in November 1942. Promoted to Captain in 1943 by General James Doolittle, he flew for a short time as the General's personal pilot. Walter totalled 52 missions against Germany and 38 against the Japanese after his transfer to the Pacific. He ended his military career as a Colonel in the USAF.

Connections

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Units served with

Ground personnel of the 97th Bomb Group reservice a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-9023) nicknamed "Yankee Doodle", following the raid on Rouen. Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 18 Aug 1942.' [stamp], 'Air=SER (Boeing).' [written annotation] and '216112.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'U.S FLYING FORTRESSES RAID ROUEN IN DAYLIGHT. Associated Press Photo Shows: No sooner had one of the huge Fortresses landed after the raid than ground crew im
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Aircraft

A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-9017) of the 92nd Bomb Group in flight. Passed for publication 5 Sep 1942. Printed caption on reverse: 'Q.13312: A Flying Fortress photographed in flight at a U.S. Training Centre.' On reverse: Westminster Press Provincial Newspapers Ltd and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps].
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Heidi Ho
  • Unit: 385th Bomb Group 482nd Bomb Group 92nd Bomb Group 94th Bomb Group 97th Bomb Group 327th Bomb Squadron 342nd Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Norristown, Pennsylvania, United States 3 April 1919 the son of Thomas Elwood Kelly and Mary (Maurer) Kelly

Enlisted

Fort Indiantown Gap, Annville, Indiana, United States 30 June 1941 as an Aviation Cadet in the Air Corps

Died

Melbourne, Florida, United States 20 July 2014
Norristown, Pennsylvania, United States

Buried

Revisions

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

Deleted connection with Image FRE 2250 as that September 1943 photo shows a Private Walter E. Kelly from Chicago, Illinois... and definitely NOT then Captain Walter E. Kelly from Norristown, PA...

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

NARA WWII Enlistment Records
Gerald Astor's "The Mighty Eighth"
US 1930 Census
Article at http://colonyclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/walter-kelly.pdf

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

97th Bomb Group Association, Inc., Roster - June 1, 2000; great-nephew / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia