George L Kelsey

Military

TSgt. Gunner George Kelsey in the B-24D, 41-23806, named, Bat Out Of Hell, was injured (WIA) when his aircraft crash landed near Haverford West when it ran out of fuel returning from a mission to St. Nazaire, France. WIA. 3 Jan 43.



DS/Benghazi 26 Jun 43. Returned to base 26 Aug 43. DS/Tunis 16 Sep 43. Returned to base. 12 Oct 43.



Sgt. Kelsey was involved in a forced landing aircraft crash with damage in the B-24D, 42-63971, Helen Hywater. Plane landed at Orebro, Sweden, and was interned. INT-SWE. Sgt. Kelsey and his crew rejoined his squadron. 1 Sep 44.



George Kelsey was credited with four enemy aircraft shot down : ME-109 - 1 destroyed. 13 Aug 43. ME-109 - 1 destroyed. 16 Aug 43. ME-109s - 2 destroyed. 1 Oct 43.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 44th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
B-24 Liberators of the 44th Bomb Group line up for takeoff at Shipdham in 1943. The 'Flying Eight-Ball' emblem of the 68th Bomb Squadron is visible on the nose of the leading aircraft. Image stamped with field press censor, 1943. Press Agency photograph- original printed caption has been removed.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 68th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 14062770 / O-729938
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Co-pilot / Pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: - Bat Out Of Hell
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 68th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: - Helen Hywater
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 68th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

  • Site type: Aircraft crash site
  • Known as: Haverfordwest

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Crash Landed - Interned INT-SWE

Örebro, Sweden 18 November 1943 - 1 September 1944 Aboard the B-24D, 42-63971, Helen Hywater. Aircraft was damaged by flak and pilot decided to land at Orebro, Sweden. Crew interned but returned to England. 10 RTS. 1 Sep 44.

Other

Returned To Service (RTS) From Internment

1 September 1944 Sgt. Kelsey was involved in a forced landing aircraft crash with damage in the B-24D, 42-63971, Helen Hywater. Plane landed at Orebro, Sweden, and was interned. INT-SWE. Sgt. Kelsey and his crew rejoined his bomb squadron. 1 Sep 44.

Born

Bokchito, Oklahoma, USA Original data drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia. Webb Todd indicates he was born in Bennington Oklahoma.

Revisions

Date
ContributorKickapoo
Changes
Sources

Details added. - Kickapoo

Date
ContributorKickapoo
Changes
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Added details. - Kickapoo

Date
ContributorKickapoo
Changes
Sources

Punctuation removed from aircraft name. - Kickapoo

Date
Changes
Sources

Inclusion of additional birthplace information.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
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Sources

Lee Cunningham 5-Feb-2015. Converted dates for aircraft victories to military-style signification.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 5-Feb-2015. Made connections to Place, 2 AIrcraft and 2 Missions within existing website data; Edited Biography and converted dates to military-style signification, changes per "Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces" Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 1377 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database / Webb Todd, MACR 1377