William P. “Wild Bill” Kelly was born on August 23, 1918, in Saratoga Springs, Saratoga County, New York. He served in the 335th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group, as a Captain during World War II. He was piloting the Spitfire Mk VB BM581 AV-K Kelly’s Kite at the time of his death.

William was Killed in Action on February 25, 1943, when his aircraft was struck by flak while strafing an enemy convoy off Walcheren Island, Netherlands. He attempted to make land, but his aircraft was seen to go into the North Sea. His body was not recovered.

Cpt Kelly is memorialized at the Tablets of the Missing, Netherlands American Cemetery, Margraten, Netherlands.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.abmc.gov, 4thfightergroupassociation.org