Ronald Gustave Kellett, (13 September 1909 – 12 November 1998) was an English stockbroker who became a

flying ace A flying ace, fighter ace or air ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The exact number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an ace is varied, but is usually co ...

during the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposi ...

while serving in the

Royal Air Force The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) an ...

Early life

Kellett was born in

Eldon, County Durham Eldon is a village in County Durham, England. It is situated a few miles south-west of Bishop Auckland, a short distance from Shildon. It gives its name to the peerage of the Earls of Eldon. The village became a civil parish In England, ...

, on 13 September 1909 and educated at

Rossall School Rossall School is a public school (English independent Independent or Independents may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Artist groups * Independents (artist group), a group of modernist painters based in the New Hope, Pennsylvania ...

. After school he worked as a postboy at the Liverpool Stock Exchange before moving to London when he was aged 18 to join the stockbroking firm of Laurence Keen and Gardner.

Royal Air Force

Kellett joined No. 600 Squadron Auxiliary Air Force in 1933. He was later to serve with No. 616 Squadron RAF. During the Battle of Britain he flew with

No. 249 Squadron RAF No. 249 (Gold Coast) Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force squadron, active in the sea-patrol, fighter and bomber roles during its existence. It was one of the top scoring fighter squadrons of the RAF in World War II. History First formation No. ...

and commanded No. 303 Squadron RAF, the first operational Polish fighter squadron. He was awarded the Virtuti Militari 5th Class by the Polish Government. The following words about the Polish fighters were written in the 303 Squadron Chronicle by Kellett when he was leaving the unit: In December 1940 he formed 96 Squadron based at RAF Cranage, Cheshire to defend the port of Liverpool. Promotion followed and in March 1941 he went on to command the fighter wing at

RAF North Weald North Weald Airfield is an operational general aviation aerodrome, in the civil parish of North Weald Bassett in Epping Forest, Essex, England. It was an important fighter station during the Battle of Britain, when it was known as the RAF Stat ...

. He was rested from operations at the end of 1942. With a tally of kills for the war at 5 confirmed 2 probable and 1 damaged, Kellett held the status of a

. He became a Member of Council for Training at the Air Ministry and in 1943 taught at the

Turkish Air Force The Turkish Air Force ( tr, ) is the aerial warfare service branch of the Turkish Armed Forces. The Turkish Air Force can trace its origins back to June 1911 when it was founded by the Ottoman Empire, however, the air force as it is known to ...

staff college at Ankara. He returned to the United Kingdom at the end of the war to be demobilised.

Later life

Kellett returned to his work in the London stock exchange with Laurence, Keen and Gardner where he remained until he retired, aged 64. He rejoined the Royal Auxiliary Air Force and commanded

No. 615 Squadron RAF No. 615 (County of Surrey) Squadron was a unit of the British Auxiliary Air Force and later the Royal Auxiliary Air Force between 1937 and 1957. History Formation and early years No. 615 squadron was formed at RAF Kenley as part of the Auxilia ...

RAF Biggin Hill London Biggin Hill Airport is an operational general aviation airport at Biggin Hill in the London Borough of Bromley, located south-southeast of Central London. The airport was formerly a Royal Air Force station RAF Biggin Hill, and a small ...

. He relinquished his commission on 1 October 1953. From 1949 he farmed in Kent and enjoyed the country pursuits of hunting, shooting as well as sailing. From 1973 Kellet, along with his brother Alfred, planted a small vineyard to produce wine until it was destroyed in the storms of 1987.

Family life

Kellett had married Daphne in 1939 and they had two sons and three daughters. Kellet died in Kent 12 November 1998 aged 89, his wife Daphne died in 1994.

Honours and awards

*1 October 1940 - Squadron Leader Ronald Gustave Kellett (90082) Auxiliary Air Force was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in recognition of gallantry display in flying operations against the enemy *25 October 1940 - Squadron Leader Ronald Gustave Kellett, DFC (90082) Auxiliary Air Force was appointed a

Companion of the Distinguished Service Order The Distinguished Service Order (DSO) is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, as well as formerly of other parts of the Commonwealth, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, ty ...

in recognition of gallantry displayed in flying operations against the enemy. *December 1940 - Virtuti Militari 5th Class by the Polish Government

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kellett, Ronald Gustave 1909 births 1998 deaths People from Bishop Auckland Royal Air Force wing commanders Companions of the Distinguished Service Order Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom) Recipients of the Silver Cross of the Virtuti Militari British World War II flying aces Royal Air Force pilots of World War II The Few People educated at Rossall School Britannia Trophy winners English stockbrokers 20th-century English businesspeople