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Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:
Mr. Gary Ellis

?»?Joseph R. Ellis enlisted in the Army Air Corps Aviation Cadet training program in January 1945.
He did not receive pilot training as World War II was coming to an end and was discharged as a Corporal in November 1945.

In 1949, he entered the Air Force Aviation Cadets training program,graduating with the first class of jet pilots in August 1950 as a 1st Lieutenant. He was assigned to the 4th Fighter Interceptor Group, 334th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, Langley AFB, Virginia. He was deployed to Korea in 1951, completing 120 combat missions in the F-86 Sabre. On October 12, 1951, he participated in a 132 plane dogfight over the historic Heartbreak Ridge. During this battle, he was credited shooting down one MIG-15, damaging three MIG-15's, earning the Distinguished Flying Cross and three Air Medals. He was a wingman for Captain James Jabara, the first Jet Ace, confirming three of five, MIG-15's shot down.

He returned from Korea in December 1951, reporting to the 4711th Defense Wing, 74th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, Presque Isle AFB, Maine. He was promoted to Captain and entered the Air Force Reserve in 1953, serving with the 728th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Long Beach, California and the 349th Fighter Bomber Wing, Hamilton AFB, California.

In 1958, he was honorably discharged as a Captain. He logged over 2,000 hours flying the F-86, F-80,
B-26, C-119.