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| B-24 navigator Lloyd Kelly served in the 460th Bombardment Group. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/31204985/lloyd-w-kelly http://www.15thaf.org/55th_BW/460th_BG/Photos/Gallery.htm |
Lloyd W. Kelly never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.
He was born on January 27, 1918 in Texas. His parents Urban and Addie were also both born in Texas. His father worked as a farmer. Lloyd had a younger brother (who also served in the military) and two younger sisters. By 1940 Lloyd was completing his final year of college at Texas A&M and had moved out, but lived nearby. He worked as a clerk. After graduating he worked as a soil conservation engineer. He was married to Marjorie Sewell.
He enlisted in the army on April 17, 1942. He became a first lieutenant and navigator in the 763rd Bombardment Squadron, 460th Bombardment Group, 15th Air Force. The 460th Bombardment Group was equipped with B-24 Liberators. It flew coastal patrols from Georgia and Virginia from October 1943 to January 1944 at which time it was sent to Italy. It bombed targets from Germany to the Balkans.
On July 19, 1944 the target was the Allach Engine Factory in Munich, Germany. It was Lt. Kelly's 45th and final mission. Few airmen flew this many missions, since they were allowed to transfer out with fewer missions. Lt Kelly earned the Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters during his service. Lt. Kelly's plane did not returned from the mission and he was declared Killed in Action.
His grave is at Littlefield Cemetery in Littlefield, Texas. I don't know if he is buried there or if it is a cenotaph grave. I don't know what happened to his widow.
Last year on this date I profiled Naval Academy graduate Kenneth Kollmyer who served on the USS Houston when it was sunk early in the war. You can read about Kenneth here.
On behalf of the fallen, if you would like to see more people become aware of this project to honor the WW2 fallen, be sure to share with others on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Thanks for your interest!
I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.
Join the public Facebook group WW2 Fallen 100
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