World War II Chronicle: 11 December 1941

Unto the Breach ^ | 12 December 2019 | Chris Carter

[fugazi]

Although the Wehrmacht's Soviet invasion is now doomed and he is under no obligation to declare war if Japan is the aggressor, Adolf Hitler foolishly declares war on the United States, setting Nazi Germany up for a two-front war. The United States House of Representatives and Senate quickly pass a resolution declaring war on Germany and Italy. Future Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Feller becomes one of the first -- if not, the first -- professional baseball player to enlist.

Headlines found in today's edition:

• U.S. to War on Axis Powers
• Both Houses Vote to Fight
• Jap Battleship is Sunk by U.S.
• Jap Parachutists Capture Airport
• Bob Feller Joins Naval Reserve
• Economic Factors to Play Vital Part in Pacific War

Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson "confirmed" that B-17 bombers sunk the battleship Haruna off Luzon Island, however no battleships were assigned to that particular fleet and Haruna was nowhere near the area. Chalk this up to the fog of war. Three B-17 Flying Fortress bombers of the 14th Bomb Squadron, 19th Bomb Group spotted the Japanese invasion fleet landing troops on the north of Luzon Island, and Capt. Colin P. Kelly, Jr.'s B-17 dropped their bombs on the largest ship (which they thought was Haruna but in fact was the heavy cruiser Ashigara). The crew believed that two of the three 600-lb. bombs hit the ship, and since they had no fighter cover and smoke obscured the target after their attack run, the B-17s headed back to base.

On the return leg, Japanese fighters targeted Kelly's bomber, killing the engineer and setting the rear of the fuselage on fire. Kelly held the crippled bomber steady while his crew bailed out, then facing Japanese pilots strafing the parachuting airmen. Kelly died [...]

[fugazi]

I imagine that in the confusion and nightmare of being a sitting duck (the Forts had no escorts), targeted by Zeros and anti-aircraft fire, I would have been returning to base as quickly as humanly possible and wouldn't have been overly concerned whether my bombs hit anything or not once they left the bomb bay.

[hanamizu]

FWI the reportage of the sinking of IJN Haruna was a bit premature, she very nearly survived the war being sunk in July of 1945. But I can understand the Navy and War Departments wanting to give the public some encouraging news. Wake, of course, fell in the next few days after an heroic first defense that repelled the Japanese.

Since I live outside of Cape Girardeau, I find the local news stories pretty fascinating.

[Fiji Hill]

Colin P. Kelly, Jr.'s B-17 dropped their bombs on the largest ship (which they thought was Haruna but in fact was the heavy cruiser Ashigara).

Haruna and Ashigara, both named for extinct volcanoes in Japan, survived almost until the end of the war. Ashigara was torpedoed by a British sub in June, 1945, and Haruna was sunk at anchor by US bombers in late July of that year.

[yarddog]

Colin Kelly was born in the same town as my Father, Madison, FL. The stories ran all the way from sank a battleship, to did no damage at all.

[Fiji Hill]

Even though he didn't actually sink a battleship, Colin Kelly remains a hero for remaining at the stick of his burning bomber and enabling the crew to escape. This hit tune from WWII places him in the pantheon of American heroes along with George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, George A. Custer, Oliver H. Perry and Nathan Hale.

There's a Star-Spangled Banner Waving Somewhere--Elton Britt (1942)

[Does so]

After parachuting, was the rest of the crew rescued?

[Does so]

To answer my own question, here's some of the article's link:

"The nose of the aircraft was now an inferno. Colin Kelly remained at the controls as copilot 2d Lt. Donald Robins moved to the upper escape hatch. At that moment, the bomber exploded, hurling a badly burned Robins clear of the aircraft. "The B-17 crashed about five miles from Clark Field. Colin Kelly’s body was found at the site. The early report of his heroism, which inspired a nation in shock, is in no way diminished by the actual events of that December day in 1941. Alone and far from friendly territory, he attacked and damaged a heavily armed ship, then sacrificed his own life to save his crew."

[fugazi]

One airman was hit in the foot by strafing fighters as he parachuted. Everyone else (except for the pilot - and the engineer was killed instantly by enemy aircraft fire) survived and returned to service quickly as they landed close to Clark Field.

Meyer Levin flew some 60 more combat missions, sinking an enemy transport ship during the Battle of the Coral Sea, but was killed in 1943 I believe.

[henkster]

Feller served on an anti-aircraft gun crew on the USS Alabama. The ship is a museum in Mobile Bay, and Feller’s berth, just one of many in a large crew compartment. is marked with a plaque.

[hanamizu]

I remember hearing about Colin Kelly when I was very young in the early 50s. He was still remembered back then.