tigerfan Posted March 9, 2021 Share #1 Posted March 9, 2021 I have this WWII AAF medal group with a nice hand engraved numbered silver star, numbered DFC, numbered AM and numbered PH. It has an interesting 8 Nov 1942 badge and I assume this group is early war. After lots of searching I can't seem to find anything on this guy. Can anyone help? Thanks ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted March 9, 2021 Share #2 Posted March 9, 2021 Looks like your man is 5th AAF I will see what else I can find. Really nice group! Kurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WWIIinterviews Posted March 9, 2021 Share #3 Posted March 9, 2021 Found his DFC card... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigerfan Posted March 9, 2021 Author Share #4 Posted March 9, 2021 Thank you guys for the help. Sometimes it takes me a career move to find something !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WWIIinterviews Posted March 9, 2021 Share #5 Posted March 9, 2021 ....and his AM. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WWIIinterviews Posted March 9, 2021 Share #6 Posted March 9, 2021 Happy to help. It really is a terrific group. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigerfan Posted March 9, 2021 Author Share #7 Posted March 9, 2021 I see the card files show his address as Mich but according to NARA he enlisted in Rochester NY. Not far from me. Would be interesting to read the citation for his silver star. I wonder if the 8 Nov 1942 badge has something to do with Operation Torch? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted March 9, 2021 Share #8 Posted March 9, 2021 16 minutes ago, tigerfan said: I wonder if the 8 Nov 1942 badge has something to do with Operation Torch? With the flags on it, I'm certain it was for Torch. It's interesting...he earned his awards in the 5th AF but his medals and ribbons don't show any PTO service. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
decwriter Posted March 9, 2021 Share #9 Posted March 9, 2021 It appears he earned the SS for a daylight raid on Rabaul on April 12 along with his fellow crewman. Apparently they were on three engines versus four with no other American planes in sight! His DFC appears to be awarded for 200 hours of bomber operational flight missions against the Japanese. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigerfan Posted March 9, 2021 Author Share #10 Posted March 9, 2021 Thanks for the info. Any indication of what type of aircraft? B-17? Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
decwriter Posted March 9, 2021 Share #11 Posted March 9, 2021 B-17 for sure! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted March 9, 2021 Share #12 Posted March 9, 2021 That early , it was probably a B-17. I am at work so I havent been able to research this deeper yet. Most likely 19th or 43rd BG. Kurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted March 9, 2021 Share #13 Posted March 9, 2021 I didnt find him in my 43rd BG reference, so he is most likely 19th Bomb Group. Kurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
decwriter Posted March 9, 2021 Share #14 Posted March 9, 2021 The date of April 12, 1943 corresponds with a Japanese operation called “I-Go” against Allied Forces in that area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted March 9, 2021 Share #15 Posted March 9, 2021 Here is the citation for his DFC. He was 43rd BG Kurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted March 9, 2021 Share #16 Posted March 9, 2021 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
decwriter Posted March 10, 2021 Share #17 Posted March 10, 2021 Very nice Kurt! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigerfan Posted March 10, 2021 Author Share #18 Posted March 10, 2021 Thanks ! I certainly didn't expect this much info. I assume the Operation Torch souvenir probably was from some one else? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WWIIinterviews Posted March 10, 2021 Share #19 Posted March 10, 2021 Nice work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigerfan Posted March 10, 2021 Author Share #20 Posted March 10, 2021 Just now, WWIIinterviews said: Here is his PH. Kurt it is showing he earned his PH with the 17th BG? Possibly a different Richard Kelly. The Kelly on the PH card has a different middle initial. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WWIIinterviews Posted March 10, 2021 Share #21 Posted March 10, 2021 13 minutes ago, tigerfan said: Possibly a different Richard Kelly. The Kelly on the PH card has a different middle initial. Tiger it is. I tried to delete the post after I realized it. lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted March 10, 2021 Share #22 Posted March 10, 2021 Here is the air medal citation Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allan H. Posted March 10, 2021 Share #23 Posted March 10, 2021 So, Kelly's mother lived in Saginaw, MI, so that was his home of record. It appears that he was living in New York when he enlisted, but having no family in New York, listed his mother's home address. Great grouping! Allan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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