Philip John Donnelly was born on September 6, 1923, in Tyrone, County Galway, Ireland. He served in the 418th Bomber Squadron, 100th Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Sergeant and Tail Gunner of B-17G #42-37913 nicknamed "Monotonous Dream" during World War II.

On March 18, 1944, the B-17 Flying Fortress "Monotonous Dream" was involved in a mid-air collision while on a bombing mission to Augsburg, Germany. The aircraft had departed from Station 139 in Thorpe Abbotts, Norfolk, UK. Around 11:30 AM, it collided with another B-17 #42-39830 piloted by Lt. Martin, over the Plaine du Moulin near the commune of Campeaux—approximately 1.5 kilometers southeast of the village and 30 kilometers northwest of Beauvais, in the Oise department. Only part of the crew was able to evacuate before the aircraft crashed.

Sgt Donnelly was Killed in Action and is now buried in the Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Cheltenham Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, USA.

Source of information: http://francecrashes39-45.net/