The Airmen's Stories - F/Lt. R A Kellow

Raymond Alan Kellow was born on 23rd February 1912 at Wembley, Middlesex. He was educated at Alaro Prep School, Eastbourne and Stowe School. He joined the RAF on a short service commission and began his initial training on 1st March 1937.

After completing his elementary flying training at 9 E&RFTS Ansty he went to No. 1 RAF Depot Uxbridge on 3rd May for a short course and moved on to 3 FTS Grantham on the 16th.

At the end of the course Kellow was posted to 5 Armament Training Camp at Penrhos on 15th September and he joined 213 Squadron at Church Fenton on 16th November 1937.

Still with the squadron in 1940, Kellow went with ‘A’ Flight to France on 17th May. The flight flew down from Wittering to Biggin Hill and in the afternoon it escorted a Bombay transport of 271 Squadron across the Channel to Abbeville.

Later in the afternoon the squadron landed at Merville to refuel, taking off again to patrol Brussels before returning to Biggin Hill. No enemy aircraft were seen.

Kellow was attached to 229 Squadron at Digby from 21st May and he did not rejoin 213 at Wittering until early June.

On 11th September Kellow destroyed a Me110, on the 28th destroyed a Me110 over Selsey, on the 30th destroyed another over Portland, on 1st November he probably destroyed a Me109 over Southampton and on the 22nd destroyed a Do17 over Bembridge, Isle of Wight.

Kellow was posted away to 2 CFS Cranwell on 8th December 1940 for an instructors course. There followed a series of staff postings until 26th May 1941 when Kellow went to No. 1 SFTS Netheravon. He remained there until 10th September 1941.

Kellow left the RAF following a Court Martial in early 1943.

He died on 2nd February 2010.