Sgt Francis G. Kelly, left waist gunner of the B-17 42-37770 "Flak Rat", took off from Station 128 Deenethorpe, Nothamptonshire, UK at 0830 on a bombing mission over Bordeaux along with 500 other aircraft. They were among 25 to get shot down. German fighters and flak targeted the “Flak Rat” and brought it down at 1216 after a partial evacuation. Kelly was shot while parachuting down by German fighters.