Colonel Walter Kelly

Colonel Walter E. Kelly Melbourne, Fl. Colonel Walter E. Kelly, U.S.A.F. retired, went to the Lord peacefully in his own home on Sunday, July 20, 2014. He was born in Norristown, Pa. on April 3, 1919 to Thomas and Mary Kelly. He will be remembered most for his integrity and great love of country, family, friends, and life and of course tennis. He leaves behind his daughter Karen E. MacDonald and her spouse Gerry of Jupiter, Fl. His beloved grandchildren Robert Slawsky and Danille Slawsky and four great grandchildren Benjamin, Alexander, Jonathan, and Victoria Slawsky. A memorial service will be held Saturday, July, 26, 2014 At I.R.C.C. Colony Hall Chapel At 11:00 a.m. Donations can be made to Vitas 4450 W. Eau Gallie Blvd. Melbourne, Florida 32934 Colonel Walter E. Kelly an original pilot in the 97th Bomb Group 342nd Squadron is a native of Norristown, Pa and a 1940 graduate of Villanova College. A private in the 28th division 103rd Combat Engineers he transferred to the Air Corps and received his wings in early 1942. He served in the 97th from April 1942 to May 1943. He was on the first mission August 17th 1942 against Roven, France and flew 52 combat missions before serving briefly as General Doolittles pilot. Rotating to the CONVS he married Eileen Gormman, now his wife of 52 years, then joined a B-29 Bomb Group ending up on Saipau and flying 38 combat missions against Japan with the 498th Bomb Group, 20th Air Force under General LeSnay. He returned to the U.S. after VJ day and became Chief of Flight Test for Instrument Landing Systems at Wright field. He attended the Air Force Institute of Technology followed by duty as a Professor of Air Science at Lawell Tech, Massachusetts. Later he attended Air Command and Staff College then was assigned as Deputy Director mutual security at HQ U.S. Air Force Europe. Later at Hanscom field, Mas. he became System Director of 496th Space Track responsible for keeping track of all object in space. He ended his military career as Director of the Electronics Division HQ U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon. After retiring from active duty, he worked for 20 years as Director Government operations for Codex and Motorola. He now assists the handicapped and plays games- tennis and squash. His motto ""Be fearless but not foolish.""