Ronald Gustave Kellett

Ronald Kellett, DSO, DFC, AE (13 September 1909 – 12 November 1998) was a British flying ace of the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the Second World War. He led No. 303 Squadron during the Battle of Britain and is credited with the destruction of at least five aircraft.

From County Durham, Kellett worked in London for the stock broking firm of Laurence Keen and Gardner when he joined the Auxiliary Air Force in 1933. He served with No. 600 (City of London) Squadron for the next six years, rising to the rank of flight lieutenant before being transferred to No. 616 Squadron. He was called up for full-time service in the RAF a week prior to the outbreak of the Second World War. He served with No. 616 Squadron and then No. 249 Squadron for several months before, in July 1940, being appointed to command of No. 303 Squadron. This was a Polish unit of the RAF. After a period of training, the squadron became officially operational at the end of August and over the next six weeks achieved significant successes against the Luftwaffe. Kellett's personal successes as a fighter pilot and his leadership of No. 303 Squadron were recognised with awards of the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Distinguished Service Order and the Polish Silver Cross of the Virtuti Militari. Kellett was posted to command of No. 96 Squadron towards the end of the year. After a period as wing leader at RAF North Weald in 1941, he spent most of the remainder of the war in staff and teaching positions. Returning to civilian life in 1945, Kellett resumed his career as a stockbroker although for a two-year period commanded a squadron in the Royal Auxiliary Air Force. He also took up farming. He retired to Kent in 1973, setting up a vineyard with one of his brothers. He died in 1998, aged 89.