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Colin Kelly
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Colin Kelly
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Colin Purdie Kelly Jr. (/ˈkoʊlɪn/ KOH-lin; July 11, 1915 – December 10, 1941) was a World War II B-17 Flying Fortress pilot who flew bombing runs against the Japanese navy in the first days after the Pearl Harbor attack. He is remembered as one of the first American heroes of the war after ordering his crew to bail out while he remained at the bomber's controls trying to keep the plane in the air before it exploded, killing him. His was the first American B-17 to be shot down in combat.

Key Information

Life

[edit]

Kelly was born in Madison, Florida in 1915 and graduated from high school there in 1932. He went on to West Point in 1933, graduated in the Class of 1937, and was assigned to a B-17 bomber group. He was the first Army officer to fly the Boeing Flying Fortress in the Far East.[1]

Battle and death

[edit]

On December 10, 1941 (December 9 in the United States), Kelly, with 14th Bombardment Squadron, 19th Bombardment Group, United States Army Air Forces was in command of B-17C Flying Fortress heavy bomber, #40-2045, which departed from Clark Field, on the island of Luzon, Commonwealth of the Philippines, alone and without escort, to search for an enemy aircraft carrier which had been reported near the coastal city of Aparri, at the northern end of the island. Kelly's Flying Fortress had not been fully fueled or armed because of an impending Japanese air raid. It carried only three 600-pound (270 kg) demolition bombs in its bomb bay. While en route to their assigned target area, Kelly and his crew sighted a Japanese amphibious assault task force north of Aparri, including what they believed was a Fusō-class battleship. The crew was unable to locate the reported aircraft carrier and Kelly decided to return to attack the ships that they had seen earlier.[2]

Kelly made two passes at 20,000 feet (6,100 m) while the bombardier, MSgt Meyer Levin, set up for a precise drop. On the third run, Msgt Levin released the three bombs in trail and bracketed the IJN light cruiser Natori. It and an escorting destroyer, IJN Harukaze, were damaged during the attack:

...The battleship, actually the light cruiser IJN Natori, was seen about 4 miles offshore and moving slowly parallel with the coastline... A quartering approach to the longitudinal axis of the ship was being flown. The three bombs were released in train as rapidly as the bombardier could get them away. The first bomb struck about 50 yards short, the next alongside, and the third squarely amidship... A great cloud of smoke arose from the point of impact. The forward length of the ship was about 10 degrees off center to portside. The battleship began weaving from side to side and headed toward shore. Large trails of oil followed in its wake...

— Narrative Report of Flight of Captain Colin P. Kelly, Air Corps, O-20811 (deceased) on Dec 10, 1941, by Eugene L. Eubank, Colonel, Air Corps, Commanding, Headquarters, 5th Bomber Command, Malang, Java, Feb 19, 1942.[2]

On its return flight, the bomber was then engaged by the Tainan Air Group A6Ms which had been patrolling over Vigan.[3] They attacked it, followed it, and attacked again. Kelly ordered his crew to bail out and though the fire had spread to the flight deck, Kelly remained at the bomber's controls while he tried to keep the plane straight and level. Staff Sergeant James E. Halkyard, Private First Class Willard L. Money, and Private Robert E. Altman were able to escape from the rear of the B-17. The navigator, Second Lieutenant Joe M. Bean, and the bombardier, Sergeant Levin, went out through the nose escape hatch. As co-pilot Lieutenant Donald Robins tried to open the cockpit's upper escape hatch, the Flying Fortress exploded. Robins was thrown clear and was able to open his parachute. Boeing B-17C 40-2045 crashed approximately three miles (4.8 km) east of Clark Field. The bodies of Kelly and Technical Sergeant William J. Delehanty were found at the crash site.[2]

The wreckage was found along a rural road two miles (3.2 km) west of Mount Aryat (Mount Aryat is about five miles (8.0 km) east of Clark Field). The tail assembly was missing. Parts ... were scattered over an area of 500 yards (460 m). The right wing with two engines still in place remained almost intact although it was burning when the search party arrived. The fuselage and left side of the plane were badly wrecked and burned. T/Sgt Delehanty’s body was lying about 50 yards (46 m) north of the wreckage. Kelly's body ... was found very near the wreckage with his parachute unopened....

— Narrative Report of Flight of Captain Colin P. Kelly, Air Corps, O-20811 (deceased) on Dec 10, 1941, by Eugene L. Eubank, Colonel, Air Corps, Commanding, Headquarters, 5th Bomber Command, Malang, Java, Feb 19, 1942[2]

The attacking planes did not see this, and initially were credited only with a probable "kill", shared jointly by Toyoda, Yamagami, Kikuchi, Nozawa, and Izumi. Saburō Sakai, who has often been credited with destroying this aircraft, was indeed a flight (諸隊 (shotai)) leader engaged in this fight with the bomber, but he and his two wingmen do not appear to have been given official credit for its dispatch.[4]

Early reports misidentified ship attacked as the Japanese heavy cruiser Ashigara, which was present, or as the battleship Haruna, which was not. While initial reports incorrectly stated that the ship was sunk, it was hit but did not sink, although Kelly's crew did report major damage was inflicted.[5]

Honors

[edit]

Kelly was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross For "extraordinary heroism" and "selfless bravery". Kelly had earlier in peace time also been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.[6]

Original Hangars and Flightline - Thirteenth Air Force (Clark Freeport Zone)

The United States Junior Chamber of Commerce posthumously gave its 1941 distinguished service award to Kelly on January 22, 1942, in Chicago. The award is given annually to the man under 35 years of age who has rendered the “most significant” service to the nation.[7]

Clark Global City

Aviation artist Robert Taylor painted a picture entitled The Legend of Colin Kelly.[citation needed]

On December 17, 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt wrote a letter, "To the President of the United States of America in 1956" asking for an appointment for Kelly's infant son. Colin P. Kelly III went to West Point, but did it on his own taking the examinations and declining the Presidential nomination. He graduated from West Point in 1963.[8]

Colin P. Kelly Jr. Street in San Francisco, near Oracle Park, was named in his honor in 1942. The street had previously been named Japan Street. Colin Kelly Dr. in Dayton, Ohio, is one of many streets near Wright Patterson Air Force Base named to honor Air Force heroes. Colin Kelly Drive in Forest Acres, South Carolina, is also named in his honor, as is Colin Kelly Street in Cranford, New Jersey.[9] Colin Kelly Rd in South Portland, Maine was one of multiple streets in the city named to honor WW II heroes.

The patriotic song There's a Star-Spangled Banner Waving Somewhere by Paul Roberts and Shelby Darnell (recorded by Elton Britt) places Kelly alongside other legendary Americans in the line "I'll see Lincoln, Custer, Washington, and Perry, / Nathan Hale, and Colin Kelly too".{Published by Bob Miller, Inc., 1619 Broadway, New York, New York. Copyright 1952. Source:sheet music.

He is cited in the 1946 song "Listen Mr. Bilbo" by Bob and Adrienne Claiborne, sung by Pete Seeger,[10] as along with Sgt. Levin "foreigners like those kept America free".

The "Four Freedoms Monument" and Colin Kelly Highway, both in Madison, Florida, are dedicated in his honor.[citation needed]

Colin Kelly Middle School in Eugene, Oregon, was named in his honor in 1945 by the school's first students, who preferred an "ordinary Joe" as a namesake, rather than prestigious military or political figures.[11] The school colors are kelly green and white, and the nickname originally was "Bombers." In 2009, the nickname was changed to "Pilots."[12] Since the naming in 1945, the school has been renamed to just " Kelly Middle Schools".

Colin P. Kelly Elementary School (Compton, California)

Colin P. Kelly Elementary School in Compton, California, is named in his honor.[13] The school's mascot is a plane and motto is "soaring to academic excellence".[13]

The Colin Kelly Heights public housing development, in the City of Tonawanda, NY, was named after him. This development was completed in 1943.[14]

Colin Powell adopted the pronunciation /ˈkoʊlɪn/ after friends who were impressed by Kelly began pronouncing Powell's name the same way.[15]

Notes

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Colin Kelly

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from Grokipedia
Colin Purdie Kelly Jr. (July 11, 1915 – December 10, 1941) was an American captain in the Army Air Forces who earned posthumous acclaim as one of the earliest heroes of the in for leading a high-risk bombing raid against Japanese naval forces in the just days after the . Born in , Kelly graduated from the at West Point in 1937 and married Marion Wick that same year before commissioning into the Army Air Corps as a pilot. He trained as a instructor and served with the 19th Bombardment Group's 14th Squadron, eventually deploying to Clark Field in the in September 1941 amid rising tensions in the Pacific. On December 10, 1941—two days after —Kelly piloted a B-17C from Del Monte Field on to bomb an advancing Japanese invasion fleet off , scoring a near miss on a heavy cruiser (initially reported as the battleship Haruna but later identified as the Ashigara) with three 600-pound bombs from 20,000 feet, while also contributing to the sinking of the auxiliary minesweeper W-19. During the return flight, Kelly's aircraft was intercepted and severely damaged by Japanese fighters near Clark Field; he remained at the controls to stabilize the plane, enabling most of his crew to to safety before it crashed near Clark Field, where his body was later recovered with an unopened . For his bravery, Kelly was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and the Distinguished Flying Cross, decorations that highlighted his self-sacrifice and piloting skill. Kelly's actions provided a vital morale boost to the American public during the early, bleak days of the war, earning him the title of the nation's first World War II hero and inspiring widespread tributes, including a Liberty ship named SS Colin P. Kelly Jr. launched in 1942, monuments in Madison, Florida, and Manila, a bust at West Point unveiled in 1987, and schools named in his honor such as Kelly Middle School in Eugene, Oregon. His legacy extended personally through his son, Colin P. Kelly III, who graduated from West Point in 1963 and pursued a military career.

Early Life

Upbringing

Colin Purdie Kelly Jr. was born on July 11, 1915, in , the hometown of his mother's family. He was the eldest of two children born to Colin Purdie Kelly Sr., a prominent local businessman, painter, and interior decorator who owned a 5,000-acre farm and cattle ranch in the , and Mary Eliza Kelly (née Mays). The Kellys hailed from a wealthy Scots-Irish Protestant family with deep roots in the region and a longstanding tradition of military service, including ancestors who served as a congressman, a religious leader, and a Confederate officer. Kelly's childhood in the rural community of Madison, near the Georgia border, embodied a typical American upbringing in the early South, shaped by strong familial and local values of duty, patriotism, and self-reliance. An excellent student despite occasional tardiness, he attended Madison High School, where he graduated in 1932 amid the , excelling academically and participating actively in the Boy Scouts of America. From a young age, Kelly displayed a keen fascination with , inspired by the sight of barnstormers performing aerial stunts at local fairs; he took his first flight as a boy with one such performer, an experience that ignited his lifelong passion for flying and foreshadowed his future career. These early influences, combined with his family's military heritage, instilled in him a profound sense of responsibility and service to country. In his early adulthood, Kelly established his own family, marrying Marion Estelle Wick, a stenographer from , on August 1, 1937, in the Cadet Chapel at West Point shortly after his own graduation from the . The couple welcomed their only child, Colin Purdie Kelly III—nicknamed "Corky"—on May 6, 1940, in , where Kelly was stationed during . This personal milestone occurred just months before the ' entry into , as Kelly's appointment to West Point earlier in the decade had fulfilled the family's expectations of commitment.

Education

Colin P. Kelly Jr. attended Madison High School in , where he distinguished himself as an excellent student. His strong academic performance at the school, from which he graduated in 1932, paved the way for his admission to a prestigious military institution. Following high school, Kelly attended in , before receiving his appointment to the at , entering in 1933 as a member of the Class of 1937. At the academy, he pursued a rigorous curriculum centered on principles and , essential for preparing cadets for leadership roles in the armed forces. Although he did not attain a high academic ranking—described in his yearbook as having "not devoted all his effort to study"—Kelly actively participated in sports and other extracurricular activities, showcasing his all-around capabilities and enthusiasm for academy life. Upon graduation in June 1937, he was commissioned as a in the U.S. Air Corps.

Military Career

Training and Commissioning

Upon graduating from the at West Point in June 1937, Colin Kelly was commissioned as a in the U.S. Army, with assignment to the Air Corps for aviation training. Kelly underwent primary flight training at Randolph Field, , followed by advanced training at Kelly Field, , spanning from 1937 to early 1939. During this period, he earned his pilot wings on January 13, 1939, and qualified on several aircraft, including pursuit and attack types essential for Army Air Corps operations. In 1940, Kelly received a promotion to , reflecting his growing expertise in . He soon transitioned into an instructor role, becoming one of the first Army officers qualified to operate the , where he conducted check flights and trained pilots on the heavy bomber's systems during its early adoption by the Air Corps.

Pre-War Service

Following his graduation from and commissioning in the U.S. Army Air Corps, Colin Kelly was assigned in early 1939 to the 14th Bombardment Squadron of the 19th (Heavy) at March Field, California, where he transitioned to flying the on training missions. In this role, Kelly quickly gained proficiency with the heavy bomber, serving as under squadron commander Major Emmett "Rosie" O'Donnell Jr. and accumulating hours on cross-country flights and formation exercises that emphasized navigation and bombing accuracy over extended ranges. Kelly's expertise led to his promotion to on June 4, 1940, and subsequently to temporary in April 1941 upon transfer to the 11th at Hickam Field, Hawaii. As a respected B-17 instructor and , he played a key role in qualifying other pilots and maintaining squadron proficiency, directly contributing to the unit's operational readiness amid rising tensions in the Pacific. His initial training qualifications from Randolph Field, where he earned his wings in January 1939, were instrumental in securing this instructor position. Throughout his pre-war assignments, Kelly participated in stateside training exercises and coastal patrols with the 19th Bombardment Group, which focused on developing long-range bombing tactics essential for strategic operations. These activities, including simulated intercepts and endurance flights from March Field, enhanced his command of B-17 formations and payload delivery, preparing the squadron for potential wartime demands without venturing into zones.

World War II Service

Deployment

In late 1941, as part of the buildup of U.S. forces in the Pacific, the 19th Bombardment Group was transferred from the to the Philippine Islands, with its squadrons arriving at Clark Field on between September and November aboard B-17C Flying Fortresses. Colin P. Kelly Jr., serving in the 14th Bombardment Squadron, participated in this deployment, which positioned the group's heavy bombers to reinforce American defenses in the region. As , Kelly played a key role in preparing the unit for potential conflict with , overseeing familiarization flights across the to acclimate crews to the operational environment. He became the first U.S. Army officer to pilot a B-17 in the region, leveraging his prior expertise as a B-17 instructor from stateside service to ensure the squadron's readiness. The 19th Bombardment Group's integration into the newly activated Far East Air Force bolstered defenses against escalating Japanese aggression, particularly after Japan's occupation of southern in July 1941, which heightened fears of expansion into . This strategic positioning at Clark Field aimed to deter threats to Allied interests in the and surrounding areas, amid growing diplomatic strains.

Bombing Missions

The on December 7, 1941, reached the 19th Bombardment Group at Clark Field, , around 3:00 a.m. local time the following day, prompting an immediate shift to combat alert status across all units within 30 minutes. Under Far East Air Force commander General , the group rapidly prepared for offensive operations, including requests for authorization to launch B-17 strikes on Japanese airfields in Formosa and flights to assess enemy positions. With 17 B-17s stationed at Clark Field as part of the group's 35 heavy bombers in the theater, crews loaded ordnance and received briefings for a potential late-afternoon mission, marking the onset of combat operations in the campaign. The group's initial combat sorties on consisted primarily of reconnaissance missions flown by B-17s from the forward detachment at Del Monte Field on , where the 14th and 93rd Bombardment Squadrons were based with 16 aircraft. These flights scouted northern for signs of Japanese advances, including potential naval forces approaching the island, providing vital early intelligence amid reports of enemy bombings on targets like and . These early missions operated without fighter cover and under strict to evade detection. These early missions highlighted the squadron's acute challenges, as the Japanese rapidly achieved air superiority with over 190 aircraft in their opening strikes, outnumbering and outmaneuvering U.S. forces. The devastating Japanese raid on Clark Field at 12:35 p.m. destroyed or damaged 12 of the 17 B-17s there, leaving only four operational heavy bombers across the group for subsequent sorties and forcing reliance on the intact Del Monte detachment. Operating from rudimentary fields with inadequate maintenance and supplies, the surviving aircraft faced constant interception risks, underscoring the high-stakes nature of the Philippines defense in the war's opening days.

Death and Heroism

Final Mission

On December 10, 1941, amid the mounting pressures of the Japanese invasion of the following earlier airfield raids on American positions, Captain Colin P. Kelly Jr. led his crew on a critical bombing mission from Clark Field, , departing at dawn in B-17C Flying Fortress serial number 40-2045. The aircraft was only partially loaded with three 600-pound demolition bombs, as the crew had to hastily prepare for takeoff to evade an imminent Japanese air raid. Kelly navigated the B-17 northward toward the Formosa Strait off the northern coast of , searching for reported Japanese forces near . Unable to locate an initially spotted by reconnaissance, the crew circled back to target a sighted amphibious , identifying a large as their primary objective. From approximately 20,000 feet, Kelly's bombardier released the bombs in a string that scored near-misses on the Japanese light cruiser IJN Natori and the escorting destroyer IJN Harukaze with no reported damage to the warships, one of which struck and sank the auxiliary W-19; initial reports erroneously identified the primary target as the Haruna. During the return leg south toward Clark Field, the B-17 was intercepted by six fighters from the Imperial Japanese Navy's Tainan Air Group, led by ace pilot . The Zeros conducted multiple high-speed passes, concentrating fire on the bomber's engines and , resulting in severe damage including fires in the wing and , the loss of two engines, and critical structural compromise that forced an emergency descent.

Sacrifice and Crew Outcome

As the heavily damaged B-17 caught fire during its return flight, Captain Colin Kelly ordered his crew to bail out over terrain near , , while he remained at the controls to hold the aircraft steady and facilitate their escape. The bomber subsequently crashed at approximately 10:00 a.m. on December 10, 1941, exploding upon impact and killing Kelly instantly; he was 26 years old. Five crew members parachuted safely to the ground, including co-pilot Donald Robins and Hayden E. Miller, though two others were wounded in the or and later died from their injuries; all survivors were rescued by Filipino forces and evacuated from the area.

Legacy

Awards

Colin Kelly was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his extraordinary heroism during the bombing mission on December 10, 1941, near , , in the Philippine Islands. The citation commended Kelly for leading his B-17 crew in scoring direct hits on a Japanese despite intense anti-aircraft fire and enemy fighter attacks, demonstrating selfless bravery by remaining at the controls to ensure his crew's escape as the aircraft burned and crashed, ultimately sacrificing his life. This award, the U.S. Army's second-highest decoration for valor, was presented to his widow, Marion Wick Kelly, by Barney M. Giles. In addition, Kelly received the Distinguished Flying Cross for his overall valor in early Pacific operations, specifically recognizing his exceptional leadership, airmanship, and navigation skills during a challenging trans-Pacific flight of nine B-17 bombers from to Clark Field, , between September 5 and 12, 1941, covering approximately 6,500 miles across uncharted waters. The citation highlighted his role in successfully completing this unprecedented mission, which bolstered U.S. air strength in the region just months before the war's outbreak.

Memorials and Impact

Kelly's sacrifice in the immediate aftermath of Pearl Harbor provided a significant morale boost to the American public amid widespread shock and despair. Press reports rapidly amplified his story, claiming he had successfully dive-bombed and sunk the before crashing his B-17 into the vessel in a heroic act, which inspired national admiration and positioned him as "the first hero of ." Subsequent historical analysis has clarified these accounts, revealing that Kelly targeted but did not sink a battleship; instead, his bombs struck the Japanese cruiser Ashigara, causing damage without sinking it, and the dramatic crash narrative was a misidentification stemming from early wartime confusion. Despite these corrections in modern , the legend of Kelly's bravery endures as a symbol of early American resolve in the Pacific theater. Several memorials honor Kelly's legacy across the and abroad. A , the SS Colin P. Kelly Jr., was launched on December 13, 1942, and served during and after . In , , a street near —formerly known as Japan Street—was renamed Colin P. Kelly Jr. Street in 1942 to commemorate his heroism. In his hometown of , the Colin Kelly Highway and a monument featuring four angels at Park stand as tributes, alongside a and fitness named in his honor. Schools bearing his name include Kelly Middle School in , where students adopted "The Pilots" as their mascot and Kelly green as a school color, and Colin P. Kelly Elementary School in . A plaque dedicated to Kelly is displayed in Cullum Memorial Hall at the at West Point, recognizing him as the first graduate killed in ; a bust of Kelly was unveiled there in 1987. Kelly was initially buried at Clark Field in the ; his remains were later repatriated and interred with full military honors at in . In the , a monument with Kelly's bust, originally at , was relocated to the and Memorial. Kelly's family legacy reflects his enduring influence. His son, Colin P. Kelly III, followed in his footsteps by graduating from West Point in 1963, later serving as an Army chaplain, and publicly reflecting on his father's story in a 1981 New York Times titled "Pearl Harbor's Infamy, My Father's Fame," where he contemplated the balance between historical myth and personal memory.

References

  1. https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/article/colin-kelly-bomber-pilot/
  2. https://www.historynet.com/b-17-pilot-colin-kelly-remembering-a-fallen-american-wwii-hero/
  3. https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/b-17-pilot-colin-kelly
  4. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/14540025/colin_purdie-kelly
  5. https://www.sfasu.edu/heritagecenter/9938.asp
  6. https://pacificwrecks.com/people/veterans/kelly/index.html
  7. https://militaryhallofhonor.com/honoree-record.php?id=2697
  8. https://www.falconfoundation.org/Documents/FalconFoundation/Brochures/Kelly.pdf
  9. https://www.thisdayinaviation.com/10-december-1941/
  10. https://kellyheritage.org/wwii-era-kelly-field
  11. https://www.greenepublishing.com/west-points-point-of-view/
  12. https://www.airandspaceforces.com/article/valor-colin-kelly/
  13. https://www.thisdayinaviation.com/tag/colin-purdie-kelly-jr/
  14. https://www.armyaircorpsmuseum.org/19th_Bombardment_Group.cfm
  15. https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/article/u-s-heavy-bombers-in-wwii-caught-on-the-ground/
  16. http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/AAF/I/AAF-I-6.html
  17. https://www.littlerock.af.mil/News/History/19th-Bombardment-Group-BG/
  18. https://www.armyaircorpsmuseum.org/december-1941-army-air-corps.cfm
  19. https://www.airandspaceforces.com/article/disaster-in-the-philippines/
  20. https://pacificwrecks.com/unit/ijn/tainan/index.html
  21. https://pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/b-17/40-2045.html
  22. https://valor.militarytimes.com/recipient/recipient-22906/
  23. https://www.tallahasseemagazine.com/madisons-legendary-war-hero/
  24. https://www.westpointaog.org/giving/your-impact/class-giving/history-of-class-gifts/
  25. https://www.uswarmemorials.org/html/people_details.php?PeopleID=37538
  26. https://ladailypost.com/toths-father-colin-kelly-retires-after-27-years/
  27. https://www.nytimes.com/1981/12/05/opinion/pearl-harbor-s-infamy-my-father-s-fame.html
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