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Col. Robert H. Kelly
(Photo courtesy of the Kelly family)
100th Bomb Group C.O. (19 Apr 44 - 28 Apr 44)
KIA on Sottevast mission 28 Apr 44
Previous Commander |
Next Commander
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COL ROBERT H. KELLY |
COM |
KIA |
28 APR 44 |
SOTTEVAST (NOBALL) |
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CAPT WILLIAM G. LAKIN |
P |
KIA |
28 APR 44 |
SOTTEVAST (NOBALL) |
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LT HERBERT A. ALF |
CP |
POW |
28 APR 44 |
SOTTEVAST (NOBALL)
Formation officer – flew in tail |
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CAPT JOSEPH H. "BUBBLES" PAYNE JR. |
NAV |
KIA |
28 APR 44 |
SOTTEVAST (NOBALL) |
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LT MAURICE H. CAIN |
BOM |
POW |
28 APR 44 |
SOTTEVAST (NOBALL) |
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T/SGT LEO R. CANNON |
ROG |
POW |
28 APR 44 |
SOTTEVAST (NOBALL) |
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T/SGT JAMES C. BROWN |
TTE |
KIA |
28 APR 44 |
SOTTEVAST (NOBALL) |
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S/SGT ALBERT M. FREITAS |
BTG |
POW |
28 APR 44 |
SOTTEVAST (NOBALL) |
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S/SGT JOHN N. SPIKER |
WG |
KIA |
28 APR 44 |
SOTTEVAST (NOBALL) |
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S/SGT JOSEPH A. RICHARD |
WG |
POW |
28 APR 44 |
SOTTEVAST (NOBALL) |
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S/.SGT DELBERT E. BARNHART |
TG |
KIA |
28 APR 44 |
SOTTEVAST (NOBALL)
Manned 50 cal. in radio room |
THE ABOVE WERE FLYING WITH LAKIN AND THE NEW GROUP C.O., COL. ROBERT
KELLY.
COL KELLY COMMANDED THE 100TH FOR ONE WEEK AND TWO DAYS. HE WAS
LOST ON HIS FIRST MISSION TO SOTTEVAST. AT TAKE-OFF TIME THE NEW COMMANDER
ELECTED TO BUMP THE 100TH'S BEST FLIGHT LEADER (CAPT JACK SWARTOUT) AND LEAD
HIMSELF. THE RESULTS WERE A DISASTER, TWO SHIPS WERE LOST WHEN THE COL ELECTED
TO MAKE A SECOND RUN OVER THE TARGET AT THE SAME ALTITUDE AND ON THE SAME
HEADING. AMOUNG THE KIA'S WAS THE 100TH BELOVED LEAD NAVIGATOR JOSEPH "BUBBLES"
PAYNE; SAID BY JIM BROWN AND HARRY CROSBY TO HAVE BEEN THE BEST.
This was what can best be called a "pick-up" crew of veteran airmen, with the
exception of Col. Kelly fresh from the States and had became the 100th's
Commanding Officer only nine days prior to the mission. Joe "Bubbles" Payne was
a member of the original air echelon of the Group as were T/Sgt James C. Brown
and S/Sgt Albert M. Freitas. With the exception of Magee Fuller, they were the
last of the "Original 100th" to become casualties. T/Sgt Leo R. Cannon joined
the Group in August 1943, his original crew (F.H. Meadows) was shot down at
Bremen 08 Oct 1943. Capt William G. Lakin had been with the Group prior to
October 1943.
HEADQUARTERS
AAF STATION #139
APO 559
26 April 1944
SUBJECT: Commendation.
TO : Commanding Officer, 351st Bombardment Squadron, APO ,#559.
1. The official records of the Headquarters 3rd Bombardment Division indicate
that during the month Of January, February, and March 1944 the 100th Bombardment
Group led a11 other groups in the Division in the following respects:
(a) Percent of aircraft on hand on station per day which were operational. The
100th Group was 7% higher-than the division on average.
(b) Percent of aircraft on hand on station per day which were non-operational
because of battle damage. The 100TH Group was 6% lower than the Division
average.
(c) Percent of aircraft on hand on station per day which were non-operational
because of maintenance and repair. The 100th Group was; 3% lower than the
Division average
2. The above outstanding accomplishments are the direct result of efficient
performance of maintenance activities under your supervision.
3. I desire to commend you and all the personnel under your direction who shared
in the responsibility for this excellent record. It is further desired that you
personally bring this commendation to the attention of the engineering officer
and enlisted personnel under your jurisdiction.
R. H. KELLY
Colonel, Air Corps
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