Brother of PFC Bose Kelley, who lies next to him in the veterans section of Greenwood Cemetery. One of three Shreveport brothers killed in World War II. The third brother, Edgar Rew Kelley, died stateside in 1943 of spinal meningitis during training. William G. Kelley died one day after his 24th birthday.
One site on USAAF losses noted his date of death as 11 November, 1944.
The aircraft involved was A-20K tail number 44-565. Per the USAAF Personnel Records site, besides 2LT Kelley (O-722723), the crew included pilot 2LT Richard Clare Miles, (O-766020) and corporals Terrance F. Morrissy (31356271) and Samuel A. Pepe (42001714).
Emails from a FAG contributor offer the following:
"Pilot and crew were on a practice bombing mission at Arbonne Bombing Range. Witnesses heard the sound of racing engines causing them to look up. They saw the airplane coming through the overcast in a violent unconventional spin (possibly inverted).
"Soon after, the plane struck the ground inverted and was demolished, killing the entire crew. "
From unit records:
"There was one training accident during the month. While on a practice bombing mission on the 10th November, an A-20, piloted by 2d Lt Richard C. Miles of the 668th Bomb Sq (L), crashed about three miles south of Fontainebleu, France. The plane was seen to break through a low overcast in an unconventional spin--possibly an inverted spin. It struck the ground and was almost completely demolished. No one was seen getting out of the plane although the body of Corporal Samuel A. Pepe was found 500 yards from the crash, evidently thrown clear of the plane during the spin. There was no evidence of engine failure. Lt Miles, his bombardier-navigator, 2d Lt William G. Kelly, and the two gunners, Corporal Pepe and Corporal Terrance F. Morrissey, were all killed. The four men were interred at the American Military Cemetary at Solers, France. These were our only losses during the month of November. "
One site on USAAF losses noted his date of death as 11 November, 1944.
The aircraft involved was A-20K tail number 44-565. Per the USAAF Personnel Records site, besides 2LT Kelley (O-722723), the crew included pilot 2LT Richard Clare Miles, (O-766020) and corporals Terrance F. Morrissy (31356271) and Samuel A. Pepe (42001714).
Emails from a FAG contributor offer the following:
"Pilot and crew were on a practice bombing mission at Arbonne Bombing Range. Witnesses heard the sound of racing engines causing them to look up. They saw the airplane coming through the overcast in a violent unconventional spin (possibly inverted).
"Soon after, the plane struck the ground inverted and was demolished, killing the entire crew. "
From unit records:
"There was one training accident during the month. While on a practice bombing mission on the 10th November, an A-20, piloted by 2d Lt Richard C. Miles of the 668th Bomb Sq (L), crashed about three miles south of Fontainebleu, France. The plane was seen to break through a low overcast in an unconventional spin--possibly an inverted spin. It struck the ground and was almost completely demolished. No one was seen getting out of the plane although the body of Corporal Samuel A. Pepe was found 500 yards from the crash, evidently thrown clear of the plane during the spin. There was no evidence of engine failure. Lt Miles, his bombardier-navigator, 2d Lt William G. Kelly, and the two gunners, Corporal Pepe and Corporal Terrance F. Morrissey, were all killed. The four men were interred at the American Military Cemetary at Solers, France. These were our only losses during the month of November. "
Brother of PFC Bose Kelley, who lies next to him in the veterans section of Greenwood Cemetery. One of three Shreveport brothers killed in World War II. The third brother, Edgar Rew Kelley, died stateside in 1943 of spinal meningitis during training. William G. Kelley died one day after his 24th birthday.
One site on USAAF losses noted his date of death as 11 November, 1944.
The aircraft involved was A-20K tail number 44-565. Per the USAAF Personnel Records site, besides 2LT Kelley (O-722723), the crew included pilot 2LT Richard Clare Miles, (O-766020) and corporals Terrance F. Morrissy (31356271) and Samuel A. Pepe (42001714).
Emails from a FAG contributor offer the following:
"Pilot and crew were on a practice bombing mission at Arbonne Bombing Range. Witnesses heard the sound of racing engines causing them to look up. They saw the airplane coming through the overcast in a violent unconventional spin (possibly inverted).
"Soon after, the plane struck the ground inverted and was demolished, killing the entire crew. "
From unit records:
"There was one training accident during the month. While on a practice bombing mission on the 10th November, an A-20, piloted by 2d Lt Richard C. Miles of the 668th Bomb Sq (L), crashed about three miles south of Fontainebleu, France. The plane was seen to break through a low overcast in an unconventional spin--possibly an inverted spin. It struck the ground and was almost completely demolished. No one was seen getting out of the plane although the body of Corporal Samuel A. Pepe was found 500 yards from the crash, evidently thrown clear of the plane during the spin. There was no evidence of engine failure. Lt Miles, his bombardier-navigator, 2d Lt William G. Kelly, and the two gunners, Corporal Pepe and Corporal Terrance F. Morrissey, were all killed. The four men were interred at the American Military Cemetary at Solers, France. These were our only losses during the month of November. "
One site on USAAF losses noted his date of death as 11 November, 1944.
The aircraft involved was A-20K tail number 44-565. Per the USAAF Personnel Records site, besides 2LT Kelley (O-722723), the crew included pilot 2LT Richard Clare Miles, (O-766020) and corporals Terrance F. Morrissy (31356271) and Samuel A. Pepe (42001714).
Emails from a FAG contributor offer the following:
"Pilot and crew were on a practice bombing mission at Arbonne Bombing Range. Witnesses heard the sound of racing engines causing them to look up. They saw the airplane coming through the overcast in a violent unconventional spin (possibly inverted).
"Soon after, the plane struck the ground inverted and was demolished, killing the entire crew. "
From unit records:
"There was one training accident during the month. While on a practice bombing mission on the 10th November, an A-20, piloted by 2d Lt Richard C. Miles of the 668th Bomb Sq (L), crashed about three miles south of Fontainebleu, France. The plane was seen to break through a low overcast in an unconventional spin--possibly an inverted spin. It struck the ground and was almost completely demolished. No one was seen getting out of the plane although the body of Corporal Samuel A. Pepe was found 500 yards from the crash, evidently thrown clear of the plane during the spin. There was no evidence of engine failure. Lt Miles, his bombardier-navigator, 2d Lt William G. Kelly, and the two gunners, Corporal Pepe and Corporal Terrance F. Morrissey, were all killed. The four men were interred at the American Military Cemetary at Solers, France. These were our only losses during the month of November. "
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