850th/857th BS

Donald Kelley Crew

The crew arrived at Harrington on orders from 8th AF Composite Command dated 7 July 1944. A replacement crew, they were trained for a month as all other crews were in the OTU then began flying combat missions in mid-August 1944.  They are pictured above at a stateside base, Chatham Field, Georgia.  Names provided by Ron Maassen, son of Ralph Maassen.

Back row standing, L-R:
Frank, Alfred L.    -    Copilot
Sheetz, Robert G.   -    Bombardier
Willis, Noel O.     -    Navigator
Kelley, Donald W.   -    Pilot

Middle row kneeling, L-R:
Maassen, Ralph L.        -    Top Turret Gunner
Jenness, Arthur J.       -    Tail Gunner
Walker, Henry A., Jr.    -    Flight Engineer
Evans, Jack W.           -    Nose Gunner

Front row sitting, L-R:
Barlow, George M., Sr.   -    Ball Turret Gunner
Day, Worden F.           -    Radio Operator

Evans and Barlow were released when the crew was downsized to eight at Harrington. Maassen became the Dispatcher for the crew.  Later in the war, Maassen ended up with the Keeney crew and was shot down over Norway, but fortunately survived.

Completing five of their first seven missions to targets all in France, the crew did well for beginners.  They flew another eight missions in September, and then had to await further missions for most of 1944 on into early 1945. 

The aircraft they flew most often during this period was B24H 42-95036, known as "Heaven's Devils".  On the night of 18/19 March 1945, it would crash into a mountain in Wales, killing four members of the Sheppard crew (856th BS).  

Pilot	MR#	OK	Fail	Joes	Ctnrs	Pkgs	Nkls	Date	DZ	Aircraft
Kelley	1589	1		0	12	0	7	12	Ventriloquist 55A	B24H 41-29600 M
Kelley	1606	1		0	12	10	7	14	Shipwright 17A	B24J 42-50600 G
Kelley	1631	1		0	12	4	7	15	Shipwright 27	B24H 42-95036 A
Kelley	1691	1		0	12	6	8	17	John 69C	B24H 42-95036 A
Kelley	1719		1	0	0	0	7	18	Licensee 2B	B24H 42-95036 A
Kelley	1744		1	0	0	0	0	26	Donkeyman 81	B24H 42-95036 A
Kelley	1771	1	0	0	12	0	7	28	Bob 263	B24H 42-95036 A

Trying to finish his tour, Ralph Maassen flew with the Keeney crew in April of 1945, and on the night of 20/21 April 1945, the crew was shot down by a German ME-110. Only one crewman was killed (Marangas). For a few brief days Ralph experienced the escapee's life, and found himself in Sweden, courtesy of the Norwegian Resistance, by the 24th day of the month, returning by early May to the US.

Aircraft Details Credit: Tom Brittan 

 

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