Lake Forest-Lake Bluff History Museum

Gordon L. Kelley's grandparents, Alex and Martha Kelley, surrounded by their seven children at their 50th wedding anniversary in 1935. Gordon L.'s father, Gordon J. Kelley, is standing in the top row at right.

Gordon L. Kelley (center) with aviation cadets, Kelly Field, Texas.

Lake Forester.

Gordon Kelley and his brother Stafford both served during World War II. Seen here are their parents during a Red Cross Fund Drive.

Pilots painted Japanese flags on their planes for each enemy plane shot down. Eventually decals were printed to save time. Gordon Kelley was the very first pilot to use them.

Gordon Kelley was born and raised in Lake Forest. His grandparents, aunts, uncles and many cousins all lived within just a few blocks on Washington Road, Wildwood Road and Washington Circle.

After a local dentist and childhood friend, Dr. E.A. Archer, corrected Kelley’s dental problems, Gordon Kelley was accepted into army flight school. In August of 1941 he completed pilot training in Texas and earned his wings.

Just four months later, Kelley was stationed at Hickam Field, Pearl Harbor when the Japanese attacked. More than 2,400 were killed and another 1,100 were wounded. Eighteen US ships were sunk or run aground and more than 300 US planes were destroyed or damaged.

Gordon Kelley survived the attack and went on to fly a B-17 Flying Fortress he named “Uncle Biff.” As Japanese bombs were falling on Guadalcanal, Kelley ducked into a foxhole where he came face to face with his dentist friend Dr. Archer (who, of course, was responsible for his current position). “Fancy seeing you here!”

During a bombing run two of Kelley’s engines were shot. Radio Tokyo gleefully reported that Kelley’s plane had exploded. But Kelley made it back to base and reported, “News of my death was greatly exaggerated.”

Kelley would go on to log more than 6,000 flight hours, flying 73 combat missions. He was awarded the Silver Star for Gallantry, the Air Medal, and Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Clusters.He was asked later what made a great pilot. He voiced the opinion that while training is essential, it takes actual battle experience to produced finished pilots. “It’s like practicing kissing by yourself in front of a mirror,’ he explained. ‘Practice is o.k., but when you do the real thing, WOW!”

In 1966, Gordon L. Kelley and his son Gordon F. became the first father-son combination in the history of Lake Forest College, when Gordon L. returned for a few months to finish his degree that the war had interrupted.

Gordon L. Kelley: Pilot and Pearl Harbor Survivor