While returning from Flak Island, Captain Kelley, who was leading an attack on enemy shipping and ports, spotted a large convoy. He climbed and immediately called for a homing. Reporting to 'Ops', he dove on the convoy and received a direct hit by flak from a destroyer. Although the other pilots urged him to bale out, he tried to make it to the Dutch coast. He couldn't make the coast, so he turned to fall near the convoy.

Kelley tried to roll his aircraft on its back, but only made it half way. He plunged into the sea half-way out of his cockpit, apparently unable to get clear. The plane sank immediately and nothing came up. The aircraft was in flames when it hit the water.

Kelley probably could have saved his life if he had baled out immediately when hit.