Robert Kelly
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Air Force
Robert Kelly enlisted in the Army Air Corps on September 20, 1940.
In 1942, he flew combat missions aboard B-17 Flying Fortress bombers as a flight engineer and waist gunner. He was reassigned in 1943 as a cook. He had an emergency appendectomy by candlelight and contracted hepatitis. He later went to Sicily and then to Italy.
He was demobilized on May 26, 1944. He attended Cornell Universary for 1 year. He reentered the Air Force Reserve on April 27, 1948 as a staff sergeant. He was a crew member on Vice President Albin Barkley''s plane. He was given a direct commission to 1st lieutenant on October 23, 1951.
He received the:
Bronze Star Medal,
Air Force Longevity Service Medal with 4 bronze stars,
ROK Presidential Unit Citation (Korea),
European-African-Middle East Campaign Service Medal with 7 bronze battle stars, American Campaign Service Medal,
American Defense Service Medal,
World War II Victory Medal.
He served during the Korean Conflict and was awarded the:
National Defense Service Medal,
Korean Service Medal,
United Nations Service Medal,
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal,
Armed Forces Reserve Service Medal.
He retired from the U.S. Air Force Reserve in 1967 at the rank of major.
