Foil: 8 Panel: F86 Sabre Pilots Association Column: 3 Line: 11

Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:

Ronald James Kelly was born on September 17, 1929. His parents were Grace Kelly and Hugh Kelly. Ronnie is one of my mother's older brothers. He was the third son in a family of six children.

I am told he was respectful, polite, and obedient, while at the same time he was fun loving and ready to be a part of some boyish pranks when the occasion arose.

He was enrolled as a first grader at St. Anastasia School in Waukegan. He remained there through eighth grade and then entered Waukegan Township High School in 1943. While in high school, Ronnie joined the swimming team and competed in both diving and breast stroke. While on the team, they won the State YMCA championship!

Upon graduating in 1947, he was accepted at the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana and began his studies the following fall. He participated in gymnastics and specialized on the trampoline. His months of practice and working out on the trampoline won him The Trampoline State Championship of Illinois in his freshman year!

It became necessary for him to leave school after completing the first year to help his father run the family business: Kelly Hardware on Glen Flora in Waukegan. During the summer of 1950 he attended classes in New York at the City College of New York. In 1951 he reapplied for admission to the University of Illinois, this time at the Chicago campus, as well as Northwestern University in

Evanston. He was accepted first at Northwestern, so that's where he began his second year of university studies.

The political scene was getting very unstable at this time and America's young men were being drafted for active service. He joined the National Guard, 44th Army Infantry. Later, he transferred from the Army National Guard to the Air National Guard and was trained as an engine mechanic. In January of 1951, the Air National Guard unit was activated, and he was sent to Langley Field, Virginia as a stock chaser. Shortly, the entire unit was sent to France, except for Ronnie, who was sent to Shaw Air Force Base, awaiting pilot training for combat ready organization.

In January of 1952, he arrived at Bainbridge, Georgia for basic pilot training as an air cadet. At this point, he was discharged from the National Guard and assumed Air Cadet status. He completed basic flying training and basic officers' training, and in July he was transferred to Laredo, Texas for advanced officer's training and advanced pilot training. He graduated in 1953, receiving his wings, and having the honor of being in the first all jet graduating class (that is, the planes were completely jet engine!). He transferred to Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, for fighter tactics and Gunnery School. He was one of the first students to break the sound barrier in the spring of 1953 in an F-86 Sabre Jet.

After graduation, he went to the Air Defense Command, McGuire Air force Base in New Jersey. Thirty days later, he was assigned to a fighter squadron in Long Island, and given twenty-four hours to report to Korea. He was only twenty-four years old at the time!

He spent six months in Korea, six months in Formosa, and six months in Northern Japan. He completed two hundred missions over enemy territory, was a test pilot, flight leader, and assistant flight commander.

While only a 2nd Lieutenant, he was selected to fill a Major's position in Formosa with the Military Air Advisors' Group. His mission was to teach the Chinese how to use a plane as a gun platform. At the end of the six months, he was decorated by the Chinese, made an honorary member of the Chinese Air Force, presented with Chinese wings, and given all the rights and privileges of a Chinese Officer. He returned to Japan in 1955, then back to the United States. At this time, he chose to leave the Air Force. He was separated, but not discharged until nine years later.

With the excitement of military combat and life in foreign countries behind him, he chose to return to Northwestern University and graduated in 1959 with a B.S. in Political Science.

While studying at Northwestern, he met a beautiful, charming, and talented lady from the Philippines: Nancy Fonacier. She was completing her Master's Degree in Radio and TV. Nancy's father was Dean of the Liberal Arts School and Acting President of the University of the Philippines. Her mother was an alumna of Northwestern and had been awarded two "Outstanding Alumni Awards" from Northwestern. Uncle Ron and Aunt Nancy were married and are the parents of one son, Thomas, and three daughters, Maria, Bridget, and Cynthia.

Uncle Ron recently ran a twenty-six mile marathon, timing five hours, fifty minutes. It was the Twin City Marathon and he entered with his twenty-two year old daughter.

He is presently living in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He is presently employed by a research firm, "National Write Your Congressman," and is president of a new business of network marketing.

Ronald Kelly is a member of the F-86 Sabre Pilots Association – he was in the 334th Squadron, 4th Fighter Wing.

Written by Jeff Heyer, high school student and nephew of Ronald Kelly