James Johnson Kelly

Maj. James Johnson Kelly (March 29, 1928 - December 29, 2018) from High Point, North Carolina, is a member of the famed group of World War II-era African-Americans known as the Tuskegee Airmen.[1] He began his career in 1946 with the 99th Fighter Squadron and 332nd Fighter Group. He served in the Korean War at the Battle of Chosin Reservoir, and he retired in 1971 as a Major in the Air Force and a Squadron Commander.[2]

Major

James Johnson Kelly
Major James Kelly Tuskegee Airman
Born(1928-03-29)March 29, 1928
High Point, North Carolina
DiedDecember 29, 2018(2018-12-29) (aged 90)
San Antonio, Texas[1]
Buried
Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery[2]
Allegiance United States
Service/branch
  • United States Army Air Force
  • Air Force of the United States
Years of service1946-1971
RankMajor
Unit332nd Fighter Group
Commands heldSquadron Commander
Battles/warsBattle of Chosin Reservoir
Awards
Spouse(s)Sally

Military service
Kelly qualified in The Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star.[N 1]

in 1946 Kelly entered the Army Air Forces and he was assigned to the 99th Fighter Squadron and 332nd Fighter Group. Kelly started as a Technical Sergeant and eventually earned a commission at Lackland AFB in 1955, in San Antonio as a First Lieutenant. By the time he retired after 28 years in the Air Force Kelly was a Major. He qualified as an instructor for the AT-6 and T-33. He also became a Squadron Commander.[2]

In the Korean War, Kelly earned medals for evacuating wounded Marines at the Battle of Chosin Reservoir.[2]

He was buried with honors at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery January 10, 2019.[2]

Awards

Personal life

Kelly was born in High Point North Caroline and at an early age his family moved to Lynchburg, Virginia. In 1969, he married a single mother (Sally) and became a stepfather for her daughter and son.[4][1] He held many positions in his chosen hometown, San Antonio, Texas: VC San Antonio Planning Commission, Southern ChristianLeadership Conference, Community Workers Council of San Antonio, and he was a trustee on the Our Lady of the Lake University Trustee Board.[4]

See also

Further reading
  • The Tuskegee Airmen: An Illustrated History, 1939-1949[5]

References
  1. Clarke, Devin (December 31, 2018). "Family honors memory of WWII Tuskegee airman who made SA home". KSAT News. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
  2. Christensen, Sig (January 10, 2019). "James Kelly, among San Antonio's last Tuskegee Airmen, saluted at Fort Sam burial". Hearst Communications, Inc. San Antonio Express News. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
  3. "Fuerza Aérea desactiva cuatro aviones de entrenamiento y ataque T-33 – Diario Pagina Siete" (in Spanish). Retrieved July 31, 2017.
  4. "James J. Kelly". lewisfuneralhome.com. Lewis Funeral Home. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
  5. Caver, Joseph; Ennels, Jerome A.; Haulman, Daniel Lee (2011). The Tuskegee Airmen: An Illustrated History, 1939-1949. Montgomery: New South Books. p. 394. ISBN 978-1588382443. Retrieved February 6, 2020.

Notes
  1. The Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star (or T-Bird) is a subsonic American jet trainer. It was produced by Lockheed and made its first flight in 1948. The T-33 was developed from the Lockheed P-80/F-80 starting as TP-80C/TF-80C in development, then designated T-33A. It was used by the U.S. Navy initially as TO-2, then TV-2, and after 1962, T-33B. The last operator of the T-33, the Bolivian Air Force, retired the type in July 2017, after 44 years of service.[3][2]
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.