Colin Kelly | |
|---|---|
 Kelly, painted in 1942 | |
| Birth name | Colin Purdie Kelly Jr. |
| Born | July 11, 1915 Madison, Florida, U.S. |
| Died | December 10, 1941 (aged 26) Clark Field, Pampanga, Philippines |
| Buried | Oak Ridge Cemetery, Madison, Florida |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/ | United States Army Air Corps |
| Years of service | 1937–1941 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit | 14th Bombardment Squadron, 19th Bombardment Group |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | Distinguished Service Cross Distinguished Flying Cross |
| Alma mater | West Point Class of 1937 |
Colin Purdie Kelly Jr. (/ˈkoʊlɪn/ KOH-lin; July 11, 1915 – December 10, 1941) was a World War II B-17 Flying Fortress pilot who flew bombing runs against the Japanese navy in the first days after the Pearl Harbor attack. He is remembered as one of the first American heroes of the war after ordering his crew to bail out while he remained at the bomber's controls trying to keep the plane in the air before it exploded, killing him. His was the first American B-17 to be shot down in combat.