| Rank | AC2, Private, Warrant Officer, Flying Officer |
| Service # | R129616, A470183 - Pte. |
| Unit # | R.C.A.F. |
| Resident | 14 Poplar St., Chatham |
The son of Mrs. Josephine Kelly of 14 Poplar St., Chatham, ON., the brother to three sisters and three brothers. CDN 9/08/44. Prior to enlisting Wilfred was employed at the International Harvester Co., in Chatham, ON. He went overseas in July 1943. AC2 Kelly was reported as being home on furlough in May of 1942 from RCAF – Guelph, ON. where he was attending wireless school. CDN 19/05/42.
Appears on the “Muster Roll” of the 2nd Bn., Kent Regiment (MG), N.P.A.N. (date unknown). Wilfred would transfer to the RCAF enlisting 1/11/1941.
Trained in Canada then went overseas in 1942. Wilfred was promoted from Warrant Officer to Flying Officer to Pilot Officer. The CDN 25/02/43 that Sgt. Wilfred J., who was spending a furlough in town with his mother Mrs. Josephine Kelly of 14 Poplar St. Chatham, had returned to the east coast.
He went overseas in 1943 as a gunnery instructor in England. He returned to Chatham in February of 1944 to visit his sister Mrs. Vincent Ryan of 14 Poplar St., Chatham and his mother who was living in Windsor, ON., he had completed thirty one operational flights over enemy occupied territory as an air gunner, completing a ‘tour of duty’.
The CDN 13/04/44 (P) reported that Sgt. Kelly was now a Warrant Officer. WO. Kelly enlisted in 1 November, 1941 and went overseas in July 1943.
The CDN 9/08/44 reported that Wilfred had bee promoted to Pilot Officer. At the age of 23 years of age he had been overseas for a year.
The CDN 7/02/45 reported that P/O Wilfred J. Kelly had completed 31 operations over occupied enemy territory and as an ‘air gunner’. He had been promoted from Warrant Officer to Flying Officer and had been serving a gunnery instructor. He had been serving in England for over a year and a half.
When interviews he seemed “somewhat resistant to talk about his experiences.” He was visiting his mother who now lived in Windsor.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
| Sources | CDN 7/02/45(P), CFF-FD44, CKFA, IODE(P), BSWV, 2KRMR, CDN (13/04/44 (P)) (CDN(6)) |
| Birthplace | Tilbury, Ontario |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| When Enlisted | September 31st, 1941 |
| Next of Kin | Mother- Mrs. Josephine Kelly |
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