Second Lieutenant, 536th Bomb Squadron, 397th Bomb Group, World War II.
Bombardier aboard B-17F Flying Fortress #42-5152.
The bomber departed Wendover Field, in western Utah, for a navigational training flight on the morning of January 2, 1943. The flight was supposed to be northerly towards Pocatello, Idaho, but stormy weather set in and the air crew were ordered to fly in a western direction. They were to fly a course to Elko, Nevada, then north-easterly to Burley, Idaho, then return south to Wendover. Sometime after 08:53 hours, the last position radio report, the B-17 collided with the eastern face of the Ruby Mountains, in heavy snowfall, about 35 miles southeast of Elko. The wreck became buried under snow and was not found, despite over 8,000 miles of searching by Civil Air Patrol (CAP). Finally, the crash site was spotted by CAP on June 26, 1943, when enough of the aircraft became visible from the melting snows. All ten Army airmen aboard had perished.
The wreck was found at the head of Pole Canyon, at the edge of the Jim Wright Ranch.
The arduous task of removing the bodies from the steep, rugged mountains was completed by June 30th, with teams of Army, Sheriff's, ranchers and other volunteers.
The airmen killed in service were:
2LT Cyril J Casey, O-793064, NY, Pilot
2LT Ray C Hochheimer, O-734087, IL, Co-Pilot
2LT Clifford J Elliott, O-733418, PA, Navigator
2LT Arthur F Kelly, O-733319, IL, Bombardier
SGT Michael J Di Salvo, 13044554, PA, Flight Engineer
SGT Alexander C Johnson III, 19078695, CA, Asst. Engineer
SGT James A Kornspan, 12086012, NY, Gunner
SGT Byron E Olson, Asst. Radio Operator
SGT Seymour E Sonkin, 12089048, NY, Radio Operator
SGT Lowell T Stoner, 37297948, SD, Gunner
~
Abstract from Chicago Tribune obit Jul 7, 1943-
KELLY-Lt Arthur F Kelly, Wendover air base, Utah. Son of late Luke J and Ellena Neilson Kelly. Brother of Pvt Kenneth Kelly and Mrs Virginia Le Meur. Mass St Bride's church. Interment Holy Sepulchre.
~
Arthur enlisted in the Army at Chicago, IL, February 26, 1942.
Bombardier aboard B-17F Flying Fortress #42-5152.
The bomber departed Wendover Field, in western Utah, for a navigational training flight on the morning of January 2, 1943. The flight was supposed to be northerly towards Pocatello, Idaho, but stormy weather set in and the air crew were ordered to fly in a western direction. They were to fly a course to Elko, Nevada, then north-easterly to Burley, Idaho, then return south to Wendover. Sometime after 08:53 hours, the last position radio report, the B-17 collided with the eastern face of the Ruby Mountains, in heavy snowfall, about 35 miles southeast of Elko. The wreck became buried under snow and was not found, despite over 8,000 miles of searching by Civil Air Patrol (CAP). Finally, the crash site was spotted by CAP on June 26, 1943, when enough of the aircraft became visible from the melting snows. All ten Army airmen aboard had perished.
The wreck was found at the head of Pole Canyon, at the edge of the Jim Wright Ranch.
The arduous task of removing the bodies from the steep, rugged mountains was completed by June 30th, with teams of Army, Sheriff's, ranchers and other volunteers.
The airmen killed in service were:
2LT Cyril J Casey, O-793064, NY, Pilot
2LT Ray C Hochheimer, O-734087, IL, Co-Pilot
2LT Clifford J Elliott, O-733418, PA, Navigator
2LT Arthur F Kelly, O-733319, IL, Bombardier
SGT Michael J Di Salvo, 13044554, PA, Flight Engineer
SGT Alexander C Johnson III, 19078695, CA, Asst. Engineer
SGT James A Kornspan, 12086012, NY, Gunner
SGT Byron E Olson, Asst. Radio Operator
SGT Seymour E Sonkin, 12089048, NY, Radio Operator
SGT Lowell T Stoner, 37297948, SD, Gunner
~
Abstract from Chicago Tribune obit Jul 7, 1943-
KELLY-Lt Arthur F Kelly, Wendover air base, Utah. Son of late Luke J and Ellena Neilson Kelly. Brother of Pvt Kenneth Kelly and Mrs Virginia Le Meur. Mass St Bride's church. Interment Holy Sepulchre.
~
Arthur enlisted in the Army at Chicago, IL, February 26, 1942.
Second Lieutenant, 536th Bomb Squadron, 397th Bomb Group, World War II.
Bombardier aboard B-17F Flying Fortress #42-5152.
The bomber departed Wendover Field, in western Utah, for a navigational training flight on the morning of January 2, 1943. The flight was supposed to be northerly towards Pocatello, Idaho, but stormy weather set in and the air crew were ordered to fly in a western direction. They were to fly a course to Elko, Nevada, then north-easterly to Burley, Idaho, then return south to Wendover. Sometime after 08:53 hours, the last position radio report, the B-17 collided with the eastern face of the Ruby Mountains, in heavy snowfall, about 35 miles southeast of Elko. The wreck became buried under snow and was not found, despite over 8,000 miles of searching by Civil Air Patrol (CAP). Finally, the crash site was spotted by CAP on June 26, 1943, when enough of the aircraft became visible from the melting snows. All ten Army airmen aboard had perished.
The wreck was found at the head of Pole Canyon, at the edge of the Jim Wright Ranch.
The arduous task of removing the bodies from the steep, rugged mountains was completed by June 30th, with teams of Army, Sheriff's, ranchers and other volunteers.
The airmen killed in service were:
2LT Cyril J Casey, O-793064, NY, Pilot
2LT Ray C Hochheimer, O-734087, IL, Co-Pilot
2LT Clifford J Elliott, O-733418, PA, Navigator
2LT Arthur F Kelly, O-733319, IL, Bombardier
SGT Michael J Di Salvo, 13044554, PA, Flight Engineer
SGT Alexander C Johnson III, 19078695, CA, Asst. Engineer
SGT James A Kornspan, 12086012, NY, Gunner
SGT Byron E Olson, Asst. Radio Operator
SGT Seymour E Sonkin, 12089048, NY, Radio Operator
SGT Lowell T Stoner, 37297948, SD, Gunner
~
Abstract from Chicago Tribune obit Jul 7, 1943-
KELLY-Lt Arthur F Kelly, Wendover air base, Utah. Son of late Luke J and Ellena Neilson Kelly. Brother of Pvt Kenneth Kelly and Mrs Virginia Le Meur. Mass St Bride's church. Interment Holy Sepulchre.
~
Arthur enlisted in the Army at Chicago, IL, February 26, 1942.
Bombardier aboard B-17F Flying Fortress #42-5152.
The bomber departed Wendover Field, in western Utah, for a navigational training flight on the morning of January 2, 1943. The flight was supposed to be northerly towards Pocatello, Idaho, but stormy weather set in and the air crew were ordered to fly in a western direction. They were to fly a course to Elko, Nevada, then north-easterly to Burley, Idaho, then return south to Wendover. Sometime after 08:53 hours, the last position radio report, the B-17 collided with the eastern face of the Ruby Mountains, in heavy snowfall, about 35 miles southeast of Elko. The wreck became buried under snow and was not found, despite over 8,000 miles of searching by Civil Air Patrol (CAP). Finally, the crash site was spotted by CAP on June 26, 1943, when enough of the aircraft became visible from the melting snows. All ten Army airmen aboard had perished.
The wreck was found at the head of Pole Canyon, at the edge of the Jim Wright Ranch.
The arduous task of removing the bodies from the steep, rugged mountains was completed by June 30th, with teams of Army, Sheriff's, ranchers and other volunteers.
The airmen killed in service were:
2LT Cyril J Casey, O-793064, NY, Pilot
2LT Ray C Hochheimer, O-734087, IL, Co-Pilot
2LT Clifford J Elliott, O-733418, PA, Navigator
2LT Arthur F Kelly, O-733319, IL, Bombardier
SGT Michael J Di Salvo, 13044554, PA, Flight Engineer
SGT Alexander C Johnson III, 19078695, CA, Asst. Engineer
SGT James A Kornspan, 12086012, NY, Gunner
SGT Byron E Olson, Asst. Radio Operator
SGT Seymour E Sonkin, 12089048, NY, Radio Operator
SGT Lowell T Stoner, 37297948, SD, Gunner
~
Abstract from Chicago Tribune obit Jul 7, 1943-
KELLY-Lt Arthur F Kelly, Wendover air base, Utah. Son of late Luke J and Ellena Neilson Kelly. Brother of Pvt Kenneth Kelly and Mrs Virginia Le Meur. Mass St Bride's church. Interment Holy Sepulchre.
~
Arthur enlisted in the Army at Chicago, IL, February 26, 1942.
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