Joe W. Kelly
Encyclopedia
General Joe William Kelly (January 19, 1910 – July 8, 1979) was a U.S. Air Force general and Commander, Military Air Transport Service
(MATS). He was the first four-star commander of MATS, and was commander at the time the command was transitioning to jet aircraft. In 1961 he personally piloted the first jet aircraft assigned to MATS on its maiden voyage from the Boeing factory at Renton, Washington
to MATS Eastern Transport Air Force at McGuire Air Force Base
, New Jersey. During Kelly's time as commander, MATS was involved in Operation Deep Freeze
, the Cuban Missile Crisis
, and the Congo airlift
. During his tenure, he compiled nearly 1,700 hours in the air from inspecting units, bringing his service total to nearly 9,700 flying hours.
General Kelly was born in Waverly, Indiana
, in 1910. He was graduated from high school in Martinsville, Indiana
in 1927 and attended DePauw University
in Greencastle, Indiana
, for one year. In 1928 he entered the United States Military Academy
at West Point, New York, and graduated in June 1932 as a second lieutenant in the Infantry.
After completing flying school in 1933, General Kelly was assigned to the 94th Pursuit Squadron at Selfridge Field
, Michigan, the same unit to which Captain Eddie Rickenbacker was assigned in World War I. From February to May 1934, General Kelly was an air mail pilot for the Army Air Corps, flying from Newark, New Jersey
and Columbus, Ohio
. Later he instructed student pilots at Randolph Field, Texas.
Transferred to Santiago, Chile
, in 1940, he was a member of the U.S. Military Mission there for three years. He returned to MacDill Field, Florida for six months and in June 1943 was transferred to the European theater. In January 1944, now a full colonel, he became commander of the 386th Bomb Group (Medium), 9th Air Force, a B-26 medium bomber
unit. While under Kelly's command, the group attained the highest record of any B-26 unit in the European theater in number of successful sorties flown, tonnage of bombs dispatched, and enemy aircraft destroyed while at the same time maintaining the highest bombing accuracy score.
Upon General Kelly's departure from the group, he received this commendation from his division commander:
General Kelly remained in Europe in command and staff positions until December 1944 when he returned to West Point as director of aviation.
He enrolled in the Air War College
at Maxwell Air Force Base
, Alabama in the summer of 1946. After graduation, he was an instructor and then chief of Plans and Operations Division.
In January 1948, he began a 5½ year association with the Strategic Air Command
, commanding various SAC bomber units including the Far East Air Forces Bomber Command at Yokota Air Base
, Japan.
In 1953, he was assigned to the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, Washington, D.C., as director of Legislative Liaison. In this position he was responsible for development of public laws affecting the Air Force and for furthering Air Force relations with Congress. For his exceptional service in this position, General Kelly was awarded an oak leaf cluster to the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
by Secretary of the Air Force James Douglas
.
On July 21, 1958, General Kelly assumed command of the Air Proving Ground Center at Eglin Air Force Base
, Florida, his final assignment before taking command of MATS. He retired on July 18, 1964. Kelly died on July 8, 1979 and was buried in Barrancas National Cemetery
in Pensacola, Florida
.
For his interest in and support of the Air Reserve Forces, General Kelly was chosen for the "Minuteman Hall of Fame" award for 1962 by the Reserve Officers Association
.
, the Distinguished Flying Cross
, the Air Medal
with nine oak leaf clusters, the Belgian and French Croix de Guerre
, the British Distinguished Service Order
, the Chilean Legion of Merit, the Army Commendation Ribbon and others.
Military Air Transport Service
The Military Air Transport Service is an inactive Department of Defense Unified Command. Activated on 1 June 1948, MATS was a consolidation of the United States Navy Naval Air Transport Service and the United States Air Force Air Transport Command into a single, joint, unified command...
(MATS). He was the first four-star commander of MATS, and was commander at the time the command was transitioning to jet aircraft. In 1961 he personally piloted the first jet aircraft assigned to MATS on its maiden voyage from the Boeing factory at Renton, Washington
Renton, Washington
Renton is an Eastside edge city in King County, Washington, United States. Situated 11 miles southeast of Seattle, Washington, Renton straddles the southeast shore of Lake Washington. Founded in the 1860s, Renton became a supply town for the Newcastle coal fields...
to MATS Eastern Transport Air Force at McGuire Air Force Base
McGuire Air Force Base
JB MDL McGuire is a United States Air Force base located approximately south-southeast of Trenton, New Jersey. McGuire is under the jurisdiction of the USAF Air Mobility Command...
, New Jersey. During Kelly's time as commander, MATS was involved in Operation Deep Freeze
Operation Deep Freeze
Operation Deep Freeze is the codename for a series of United States missions to Antarctica, beginning with "Operation Deep Freeze I" in 1955–56, followed by "Operation Deep Freeze II", "Operation Deep Freeze III", and so on...
, the Cuban Missile Crisis
Cuban Missile Crisis
The Cuban Missile Crisis was a confrontation among the Soviet Union, Cuba and the United States in October 1962, during the Cold War...
, and the Congo airlift
Congo Crisis
The Congo Crisis was a period of turmoil in the First Republic of the Congo that began with national independence from Belgium and ended with the seizing of power by Joseph Mobutu...
. During his tenure, he compiled nearly 1,700 hours in the air from inspecting units, bringing his service total to nearly 9,700 flying hours.
General Kelly was born in Waverly, Indiana
Waverly, Indiana
Waverly is an unincorporated town in Harrison Township, Morgan County, Indiana....
, in 1910. He was graduated from high school in Martinsville, Indiana
Martinsville, Indiana
Martinsville is a city in and the county seat of Morgan County, Indiana, United States; the population was 11,828 at the 2010 census.-History:...
in 1927 and attended DePauw University
DePauw University
DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, USA, is a private, national liberal arts college with an enrollment of approximately 2,400 students. The school has a Methodist heritage and was originally known as Indiana Asbury University. DePauw is a member of both the Great Lakes Colleges Association...
in Greencastle, Indiana
Greencastle, Indiana
Greencastle is a city in Greencastle Township, Putnam County, Indiana, United States, and the county seat of Putnam County. It was founded in 1821 by Scots-Irish American Ephraim Dukes on a land grant. He named the settlement for his hometown of Greencastle, Pennsylvania...
, for one year. In 1928 he entered the United States Military Academy
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
at West Point, New York, and graduated in June 1932 as a second lieutenant in the Infantry.
After completing flying school in 1933, General Kelly was assigned to the 94th Pursuit Squadron at Selfridge Field
Selfridge Field
Selfridge Air National Guard Base or Selfridge ANGB is an Air National Guard installation located in Harrison Township, Michigan, near Mount Clemens.-Units and organizations:...
, Michigan, the same unit to which Captain Eddie Rickenbacker was assigned in World War I. From February to May 1934, General Kelly was an air mail pilot for the Army Air Corps, flying from Newark, New Jersey
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
and Columbus, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
. Later he instructed student pilots at Randolph Field, Texas.
Transferred to Santiago, Chile
Santiago, Chile
Santiago , also known as Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest city of Chile, and the center of its largest conurbation . It is located in the country's central valley, at an elevation of above mean sea level...
, in 1940, he was a member of the U.S. Military Mission there for three years. He returned to MacDill Field, Florida for six months and in June 1943 was transferred to the European theater. In January 1944, now a full colonel, he became commander of the 386th Bomb Group (Medium), 9th Air Force, a B-26 medium bomber
B-26 Marauder
The Martin B-26 Marauder was a World War II twin-engine medium bomber built by the Glenn L. Martin Company. First used in the Pacific Theater in early 1942, it was also used in the Mediterranean Theater and in Western Europe....
unit. While under Kelly's command, the group attained the highest record of any B-26 unit in the European theater in number of successful sorties flown, tonnage of bombs dispatched, and enemy aircraft destroyed while at the same time maintaining the highest bombing accuracy score.
Upon General Kelly's departure from the group, he received this commendation from his division commander:
"I commend you particularly for your aggressive leadership while commanding the 386th Bombardment Group (M). This aggressive leadership, together with your efficient administration of the group, was directly responsible for its receiving a unit citation awarded for compiling the outstanding record made by any medium bombardment group during its first year of operations in this theater."
General Kelly remained in Europe in command and staff positions until December 1944 when he returned to West Point as director of aviation.
He enrolled in the Air War College
Air War College
The Air War College is a part of the United States Air Force's Air University, headquartered at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama. Air University's higher headquarters is Air Education and Training Command headquartered at Randolph Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. The Air War...
at Maxwell Air Force Base
Maxwell Air Force Base
Maxwell Air Force Base , officially known as Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base, is a United States Air Force installation under the Air Education and Training Command . The installation is located in Montgomery, Alabama, US. It was named in honor of Second Lieutenant William C...
, Alabama in the summer of 1946. After graduation, he was an instructor and then chief of Plans and Operations Division.
In January 1948, he began a 5½ year association with the Strategic Air Command
Strategic Air Command
The Strategic Air Command was both a Major Command of the United States Air Force and a "specified command" of the United States Department of Defense. SAC was the operational establishment in charge of America's land-based strategic bomber aircraft and land-based intercontinental ballistic...
, commanding various SAC bomber units including the Far East Air Forces Bomber Command at Yokota Air Base
Yokota Air Base
, is a United States Air Force base in the city of Fussa, one of 26 cities in the Tama Area, or Western Tokyo.The base houses 14,000 personnel. The base occupies a total area of and has a runway...
, Japan.
In 1953, he was assigned to the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, Washington, D.C., as director of Legislative Liaison. In this position he was responsible for development of public laws affecting the Air Force and for furthering Air Force relations with Congress. For his exceptional service in this position, General Kelly was awarded an oak leaf cluster to the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
The Air Force Distinguished Service Medal was created by an act of the United States Congress on July 6, 1960. The medal was intended as a new decoration of the United States Air Force to replace the policy of awarding the Army Distinguished Service Medal to Air Force personnel.The Air Force...
by Secretary of the Air Force James Douglas
James H. Douglas, Jr.
James Henderson Douglas, Jr. was a lawyer and senior-level official in the United States Government. He was Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, serving under both President Herbert Hoover and President Franklin Roosevelt...
.
On July 21, 1958, General Kelly assumed command of the Air Proving Ground Center at Eglin Air Force Base
Eglin Air Force Base
Eglin Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located approximately 3 miles southwest of Valparaiso, Florida in Okaloosa County....
, Florida, his final assignment before taking command of MATS. He retired on July 18, 1964. Kelly died on July 8, 1979 and was buried in Barrancas National Cemetery
Barrancas National Cemetery
Barrancas National Cemetery is a United States National Cemetery located at Naval Air Station Pensacola, in the city of Pensacola, Florida. It encompasses , and as of the end of 2005, had 32,643 interments.- History :...
in Pensacola, Florida
Pensacola, Florida
Pensacola is the westernmost city in the Florida Panhandle and the county seat of Escambia County, Florida, United States of America. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 56,255 and as of 2009, the estimated population was 53,752...
.
For his interest in and support of the Air Reserve Forces, General Kelly was chosen for the "Minuteman Hall of Fame" award for 1962 by the Reserve Officers Association
Reserve Officers Association
The Reserve Officers Association is a professional association of officers, former officers, and spouses of all the uniformed services of the United States, primarily the Reserve and National Guard. Chartered by Congress and in existence since 1922, ROA advises and educates the Congress, the...
.
Awards and decorations
His other decorations include, the Legion of MeritLegion of Merit
The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
, the Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a medal awarded to any officer or enlisted member of the United States armed forces who distinguishes himself or herself in support of operations by "heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight, subsequent to November 11, 1918." The...
, the Air Medal
Air Medal
The Air Medal is a military decoration of the United States. The award was created in 1942, and is awarded for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight.-Criteria:...
with nine oak leaf clusters, the Belgian and French Croix de Guerre
Croix de guerre
The Croix de guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts...
, the British Distinguished Service Order
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
, the Chilean Legion of Merit, the Army Commendation Ribbon and others.