Kellett, Ronald Gustave, was born on 13-09-1909 in Eldon, Bishop Auckland, 
County Durham, the fifth son of Matthew Henry Kellett (1870-1940) and Louise Jeanne Antoinette, born Montchal, Kellett (1883-1973). Ronald’s father was a colliery owner and mining engineer. Ronald was educated at Rossall School, Fleetwood in Lancashire.
In 1931 Kellett was the National Conservative candidate for Parliament for Chester-le-Street. He joined 600 Squadron Auxiliary Air Force 
at Hendon in 1933. Kellett was made a member of the Stock Exchange in 1938, employed by Laurence Keen and Gardner. Ronald Kellett joined No. 600 Squadron Auxiliary Air Force in 1933, under command of Squadron Leader Stanley Beresfort “Stan” Collett.
Kellett was OC ‘A’ Flight of 600 Squadron in 1938 and on 20-03-1939 he transferred to 616 Squadron Auxiliary Air Force 
as a Flight Commander. Called up on 25-08-1939, Kellett was posted on 16-05-1940 to 249 Squadron, 
then reforming at Church Fenton as a Flight Commander.
In late 1939 he had married Daphne Jane Sheaf (1913-1994) in Surrey. She was a trained photographer and surgeon’s daughter from Guildford. At the time of their marriage, the Sheaf family’s neighbour was the well-known Punch and Winnie the Pooh artist and illustrator Ernest Howard Shephard. 
KHe relinquished this post on 1st June but appears to have remained with 249 as a supernumerary. Kellett was posted to Northolt on 19th June to form and command 303 Squadron 
and arrived there on the 23rd
The squadron was formed on 2nd August with 13 Polish officers and 135 other ranks, posted in from the Polish Wing at 3 School of Technical Training Blackpool. The squadron became operational on 19-08-1940.
The pilots, he was told, would be Czech but they turned out to be Poles who had escaped to England via France. Kellett, whose mother was Swiss/French, was fluent in French, as were many of the Poles, and this greatly assisted communications.
Since no arrangements had been made to pay the Poles, Kellett stood as guarantor for the Paymaster General to pay their salaries. When, after some weeks, Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill 
visited the squadron, Kellett on the picture left, mentioned that he was still guaranteeing the pay cheques for his men’s pay, just as if he were serving in the Crimean War. The problem was swiftly resolved.
Sir Douglas Bader 
described the Poles as ‘rugged, tough and dedicated fighters’ and he went on to describe Kellett as ‘small of stature with a round cherubic face and flaxen hair, his looks belied him. He had the heart of a lion and was as rugged and relentless as any of those he led’.
Kellet claimed a Me109 
destroyed on 31st August, a Me109 destroyed and probably another on 5th September, a Do17 destroyed on the 6th, a Me110 destroyed and probably a Do17 on the 15th, a Me109 destroyed on the 26th and another damaged on 05-10-1940.
He was awarded the DFC Distinguished Flying Cross (RAF) (gazetted 01-10-1940), 
the DSO (gazetted 25th October 1940) Distinguished Service Order 
and the 
(gazetted 24-12-1940).
303 Squadron, credited with 113 kills and many probables, was rated the highest scoring fighter squadron of the Battle of Britain.
Kellett was posted to Cranage in December 1940 to form 96 Squadron, 
its role to defend Liverpool at night. Appointed Wing Leader at North Weald in March 1941, he went off operations later in the year to go to the Air Ministry, later becoming Air Member for Training. In 1943 Kellett went to the Army Staff College. By July 1943 he was on loan to the Turkish Government.
After an attachment to the Turkish Air Force at Ankara, Kellett was released from the RAF later in 1945, as a Wing Commander. His last day of service was in November 1945.
After the war Kellett returned to the City and the stockbrokers Laurence, Keen and Gardner, becoming a partner in 1948.
From 1946 to 1949 he also commanded No 615 (County of Surrey) Squadron, 
Royal Auxiliary Air Force.
Death and burial ground of Kellett, Ronald Gustave.
second from left.
Kellett and his wife maintained a milking herd of Shorthorn and Friesian cattle, along with pigs and egg-laying chickens at their Kent farm. They also kept horses and ponies for the family to ride on. A landing strip for light aircraft was laid out. He much enjoyed sailing and hunting and would fly to Lincolnshire to hunt at Cranwell. He was knowledgeble about wine and advised his colleagues in the firm on wine purchases.
Kellett, Ronald Gustave passed away on 01-011-1998 and lies in the churchyard of St. George’s Church, Benenden in Kent. His wife predeceased him by four years. They lie at rest together in St. George’s parish churchyard.
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