![P/O William P Kelly 133 [Eagle] Sqn RAF in his Spitfire.](https://www.americanairmuseum.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/media/media-18866.jpeg?itok=vqcIhxFd)
8th Air Force
Eighth Air Force Bomber Command became the Eighth Air Force on February 1944, it oversaw bombardment of strategic targets in Europe until 1945.
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William P Kelly
Military
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'Flight Sergeant Bill Kelly (left) and Flying Officer Osborne sleep between 'sweeps' in the Dispersal Hut at Rochford airfield. Underneath the bed on which they sleep is the station mascot, a dog called Roger. The original caption states that "Like so many of the fighter squadron mascots, Roger belonged to a pilot since reported missing, and has been adopted by the others". American volunteers, Flight Sergeant Bill Kelly (left) and Flying Officer Osborne of No. 121 (Eagle) Squadron, RAF, at rest in the Dispersal Hut at Rochford airfield in Essex during 1942'. IWM Photo D 9518
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![P/O William P Kelly 133 [Eagle] Sqn RAF in his Spitfire.](https://www.americanairmuseum.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/media/media-18866.jpeg?itok=GtkaOfE4)
P/O William P Kelly 133 [Eagle] Sqn RAF in his Spitfire.
Joined RCAF, service pilot training, shipped overseas to ETO, operational training at OTU, assigned to 121 [Eagle] Sqn RAF, Fw190 destroyed on Rodeo to Abbeville, France 31-7-42
transferred to 335FS, 4FG, 8AF USAAF. Dispatched in Spitfire EN918 to strafe a convoy off Walcheren Island. He was hit by flak from one of the ships at 1200 feet. Attempted to make land, but A/C was seen to go into the North Sea. Killed in Action (KIA). 5-2-43. Body not recovered.
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Service
Units served with
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335th Fighter Squadron
Squadron
The 335th Fighter Squadron was the offspring of No. 121 (Eagle) Squadron RAF. Formed on 21 May 1941, No. 121 was the second of the three Eagle Squadrons composed of American volunteers flying out of England. They were known as the "Chiefs" and were... -
No. 121 'Eagle' Squadron
Squadron
'On 14 May 1941, No. 121 was reformed at Kirton-in-Lindsey as the second 'Eagle' Squadron to be manned by American volunteers. Equipped with Hurricanes, it began defensive patrols in October but in November it converted to Spitfires. It moved to North...
Aircraft
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EN918
Spitfire
Supermarine Spitfire EN918 Mk Vb, Built at Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory. ...
Missions
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VIII Fighter Command PATROL & STRAFING
5 February 1943
4th Fighter Group has two operations of this date: 2 Spitfires are despatched on routine patrols along the English coast; 6 other Spitfires are despatched to strafe a German ship convoy. 2 corvettes and one merchant ship are damaged. 1 Spitfire is shot...
Associated Place
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Biggin Hill
Military site : airfield
An RAF Station with US lodger units. USAAF Spitfires and P-38s were attached to RAF No 11 Group stations in mid-1942 for training; also used for special operations by British and US forces. -
Debden
Military site : airfield
RAF Debden, construction of which began in 1935, is perhaps most famous as a Battle of Britain fighter airfield, partly responsible for the defence of London in 1940. In 1942 it was also home to three RAF 'Eagle Squadrons’ of volunteer American pilots...
Events
| Event | Location | Date |
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| Born | Saratoga, New York | 23 August 1918 |
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Born - 23 August 1918 Saratoga Springs, New York, USA. |
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| Lived in | Saratoga, NY, USA | 1940 |
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Saratoga, New York, USA. |
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| Joined RCAF | Canada | 1940 |
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Joined Royal Canadian Air Force. Fl/Sgt. |
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| Service pilot training | Ottawa, ON, Canada | 1940 |
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Service pilot training. |
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| Shipped overseas | Merseyside, UK | 1940 |
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Shipped overseas to ETO. |
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| Operational training | Great Britain, United Kingdom | 1941 |
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Operational training at OTU. Conversion to Hurricane and Spitfires. |
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| Assigned | Kirton in Lindsey, Gainsborough, North Lincolnshire DN21, UK | 1941 – 14 October 1942 |
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Assigned to 121 [Eagle] Sqn RAF. |
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| E/A Kill | Abbeville, France | 31 July 1942 |
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Fw190 destroyed on Rodeo to Abbeville, France. 31-7-42. |
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| Transferred | Debden, Saffron Walden, Essex CB11, UK | 14 October 1942 – 5 February 1943 |
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Transferred to 335FS, 4FG, 8AF USAAF 14 October 1942 |
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| Died | 4364 Walcheren, Netherlands | 5 February 1943 |
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Killed when aircraft was shot down by flak while strafing an enemy ship convoy near Walcheren Island, Holland. Killed in Action (KIA). His remains have never been recovered. |
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| Buried | 1945 | |
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Memorialised on the Tablets of the Missing, Netherlands American Cemetery. |
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Revisions
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 25 February 2016 18:23:24 | Al_Skiff | Changes to unit associations and place associations |
| Sources | ||
EAGLES of the RAF - The World War II Eagle Squadrons by Phillip D Caine. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 25 October 2015 18:15:10 | Al_Skiff | Changes to biography and events |
| Sources | ||
EAGLES of the RAF - The World War II Eagle Squadrons by Phillip D Caine. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 25 October 2015 18:06:53 | Al_Skiff | Changes to nickname, biography, awards, events, unit associations, place associations and aircraft associations |
| Sources | ||
EAGLES of the RAF - The World War II Eagle Squadrons by Phillip D Caine. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 29 January 2015 19:41:15 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to service number, awards, events, place associations, aircraft associations and mission associations |
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Lee Cunningham 29-Jan-2015. Added decoration , confirmed SN and Commemorated event per American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) record; KIA event and loss details in biography per "Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces" Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE and confirmed by Peter Randall, webmaster and historian of the liittlefriends.co.uk wesbsite. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:28:35 | AAM | AAM ingest |
| Sources | ||
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Roll of Honor, Losses of the 8th and 9th AFs Vol I by Bishop and Hey, p .74, with picture, ABMC web site / Ted Damick, VIII Fighter Command pilots list |
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