Foil: 60 Panel: 3 Column: 3 Line: 19

Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:
William Pate

COL. (RET.) JOSEPH A. KELLY
June 13, 1915 - October 27, 2007

Military Officer Colonel Joseph A. Kelly was born on June 13, 1915, in Westville, Illinois. In 1933, he graduated from Westville High School, where he was active in both athletic and scholastic extracurricular activities. He participated and lettered in football, basketball, and track; wrote for the school newspaper; and performed in the orchestra, the debate team, and the junior play.

Col. Kelly continued his education at Eastern Illinois University, majoring in chemistry and graduating in 1938 with a Bachelor of Science degree. After receiving his degree, Col. Kelly joined the U.S. Army Air Corps and began flight training at Randolph Field and Kelly Field in San Antonio, Texas. Col. Kelly demonstrated superior skills as a pilot by graduating second in his class of 100 students, receiving his flight pilot's wings, and earning a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Army Air Corps.

During World War 11, Col. Kelly participated in many major military operations, beginning in 1941 when he was transferred to the American Embassy in London under the Lend-Lease program instituted by President Franklin Roosevelt. He was responsible for training pilots of the British Royal Air Force on aerial tactics and techniques designed to defeat the German Luftwaffe during the Battle of Britain. While in London, he and his brother officers were honored by a reception at Windsor Castle where they had tea with King George VI, Queen Elizabeth, and the princesses. In 1942, Col. Kelly was transferred to the Mediterranean and Italian theater of operations where he flew a total of 92 combat missions, 72 of them as squadron commander.
Col. Kelly never stopped learning and constantly studied his enemy in order to improve his performance and lead his airmen in victory over the Germans. He obtained a copy of Karl von Clausewitz's classic military strategy book, The Principles of War, and devoted hours of study to this classic text. He then applied his knowledge of the German principles of war in the re-evaluation of combat missions, eliminating those tactics and techniques that did not work and improving those that did. This analysis and reflection improved not only his ability in aerial combat but also the combat tactics and maneuvers of the squadron that he led.

Col. Kelly's distinguished service during World War II resulted in his receiving the Distinguished Flying Cross, the highest award other than the Congressional Medal of Honor that a pilot can receive. He was also the recipient of seven air medals and seven campaign battle stars. His exploits in World War II are found in two books on the aerial campaign during the War: Straight Down! by Peter C. Smith and The Way It Was: An Oral History By Our Brave and Young Citizen Soldiers by Victor L. Robilio, Jr.

After World War II, Col. Kelly served with distinction in the Korean War and worked with the CIA during the Vietnam War. He was one of very few military officers of any branch of service to have served in all three wars.

During his distinguished career until he retired in 1968, Col. Kelly flew nearly every model of fighter plane, including the Spitfire, P-38, P-40, A-36, and P-51 Mustang. In 2003, Col. Kelly was recognized by Eastern Illinois University as a recipient of their Distinguished Alumni Award. Colonel Joseph A. Kelly died on October 27, 2007, in Tennessee, leaving behind an incredible legacy.