Keely, Warren Lee, LT

On 30 October 1944, while USS Belleau Wood (CVL-24) was patrolling with her task group east of Leyte, she shot down a Japanese kamikaze plane which fell on her flight deck aft, causing fires which set off ammunition. Before the fire could be brought under control, 92 men had either died or were missing. LT Keely was among the missing who were later declared dead.

 
Service number (enlisted): 4074854
Service number (officer): 105970

Navy Cross
The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Lieutenant Warren Lee Keely, United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Fighter Plane and Leader of a Group of Planes in Fighting Squadron TWENTY-ONE (VF-21), attached to the U.S.S. BELLEAU WOOD (CVL-24), during action against enemy Japanese forces near Formosa, on 13 October 1944. Vectored ninety miles to intercept a large enemy force of aircraft, Lieutenant Keely, immediately upon sighting the hostile formation, courageously led his four-plane division into a vigorous air battle. Although outnumbered eight-to-one, he pressed home his fierce attack with unrelenting determination and, maneuvering for maximum combat efficiency, succeeded in sending three Japanese bombers crashing toward the sea in flames, contributing materially to the total destruction of five enemy bombers and five fighters and to the damaging of a sixth fighter by his group. Lieutenant Keely's superb airmanship and valiant fighting spirit in the face of grave peril were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Action Date: October 13, 1944
Service: Navy
Rank: Lieutenant
Company: Fighting Squadron 21 (VF-21)
Division: U.S.S. Belleau Wood (CVL-24)


The information contained in this profile was compiled from various internet sources.