Kelly, Francis Clifford
Personal Information
Rank | Sgt |
Forename(s) | Francis Clifford |
Surname | Kelly |
Gender | M |
Age | 23 |
Date of Death | 11-02-1943 |
Next of Kin | Son of Francis Joseph and Winifred Irene Kelly (née Large), of Blackmore Gate Hotel, Parracombe, Barnstaple, Devon. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Avro Lancaster I |
Serial Number | LM303 |
Markings | ZN-M |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Sage War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | 4. B. 9. |
Epitaph | IN PROUD MEMORY OF OUR ONLY SON. FONDLY REMEMBERED ALWAYS |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 192 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 569345 |
Service | Royal Air Force |
Group | 5 |
Squadron | 106 |
Squadron Motto | Pro libertate (For freedom) |
Trade | Flight Engineer |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | Holy Trinity Church, Martin, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Stone Tablet & Roll of Honour in Wooden Case |
Memorial Text | To the memory of the Airmen of 106 Sqn who gave their lives in the 1939-45 War |
Location | Former Airfield Site, Martin Moor, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Brick moument with inscribed Slate Tablets & Plaques |
Memorial Text | Dedicated to the airmen and airwomen who served on 106 Sqn in WW2. 995 gave their lives |
Miscellaneous Information
Born 1923, Newton Abbott. His parents were the manager & manageress of the hotel in which they lived. Francis senior died on 9 October 1947 in a local nursing home, Winifred died on 9 August 1985 living in Bryanstone Road, Talbot Park, Bournemouth. Francis was an ex-Halton apprentice having been in the 33rd entry, 1936-38. He had flown 17 Ops with WO2 Maurice Andrew Phair. His last operation was his only op with this crew. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/833/4 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/833/3 |
Fellow Servicemen
Please note that this list gives all the losses aboard the quoted aircraft and occasionally these may have occurred on an earlier date when the aircraft was not itself lost. Please check the dates of death carefully.
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 11-02-1943 |
End Date | 12-02-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Syerston |
Day/Night Raid | Night (50% moon) |
Operation | Wilhelmshaven. 177 aircraft, 3 Lancasters lost (1.7%). Complete cloud cover in the target area left PFF with no choice but to use sky-marking using H2S. It was, however, very accurate leading to concentrated bombing. Crews reported a huge explosion, visible through the thick cloud that lasted over 10 minutes. Later reports indicated this was in fact the Mariensiel naval ammunition depot. The explosion devastated more than 120 acres of ground with widespread damage to the docks. This was, therefore, the first H2S success with complete cloud cover. |
Reason for Loss | Shot down by a night-fighter and crashed off Borkum |