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Flight Lieutenant 'Uncle' Kellaway is the Adjutant for Hornet Squadron during World War 2, having initially served as a pilot with the unit during World War 1.

Early Life[]

There is very little known about Kellaway's early life, apart from the fact that he was cared for by a nanny, who advised him to disguise mistakes in a drawing by turning them into a cloud, or a tree. [3]

World War One[]

Kellaway was originally a member of the Somerset Light Infantry, before transferring to the Royal Flying Corps.[4] One of the pilots assigned to Hornet Squadron at the same time as Paxton in 1916, he was the first to be separated from the others, before the flight reached Dover[5] finally arriving at Pepriac the day after Paxton. Placed on reserve with Paxton, due to a lack of servicable aircraft,[6] Kellaway eventually began flying duties in mid June, flying a BE2c with Paxton as gunner, resulting in the aircraft emerging from cloud over German trenches. Following a subsequent with a German fighter,[7] Kellaway made a heavy landing, knocking his head against the instrument panel in the process. Taken to hospital,[8], he eventually returned to Hornet Squadron after the death of Major Milne, and the appointment of Major Cleave-Cutler, only to be grounded by Captain Dando, the replacement MO, over possible concussion.[4] Eventually allowed to resume flying, Kellaway banged his head in another forced landing.[9] By January 1917, Kellaway appears to have been posted to another unit.[N 2]

World War Two[]

Kellaway rejoined Hornet Squadron some time prior to the start of WW2, serving as Adjutant with the rank of Flight Lieutenant.[10] He remained with the unit until at least 1942, when ’Fanny’ Barton was placed in command of a flying school in Rhodesia.[11]

Piece of Cake[]

The Novel[]

Kellaway first appears in the flashback to The Ram's return from sick leave in the third week of August, when Ramsay orders Kellaway to recall all the pilots from leave - a process that takes three days. [12]

While the pilots were taking part in a cross country run, Kellaway discussed the First World War with the sergeant of police, [13] before organising a rugby match with the Fairey Battle squadron that shared the airfield, and supervising the digging of slit trenches near dispersal, while The Ram led the pilots on a battle climb.[N 3]

Following Ramsay's death, Kellaway cancelled the rugby match, before informing the Air Ministry of Hornet Squadron's need for a new CO. [15]

The Miniseries[]

Kellaway is first seen noting the finishing times of the pilots taking part in a cross country run.[16]

While Hornet Squadron were in France, Kellaway demonstrated to Skull his ability to identify each pilot by their take off style. [17]

A Good Clean Fight[]

By 1942, Kellaway and Hornet Squadron were in North Africa.

Trivia[]

Kellaway doesn’t like whisky[18]

Notes[]

  1. Age is given as 42 at start of Piece of Cake, set during the start of September 1939.[1]
  2. Speculation, based on the fact that he is not mentioned in the novel Hornet's Sting
  3. It was due to his taxiing into one of these trenches that The Ram fell and broke his neck.[14]

Sources[]

  1. Piece of Cake Page 31
  2. Tally Ho Fox on Youtube
  3. Piece of Cake Sept 1939
  4. 4.0 4.1 War Story Chapter 10
  5. War Story Chapter 1
  6. War Story Chapter 3
  7. War Story Chapter 6
  8. War Story Chapter 7
  9. War Story Chapter 21
  10. Piece of Cake
  11. A Good Clean Fight
  12. Piece of Cake Page 24
  13. Piece of Cake Pages 32-33
  14. Piece of Cake Page 54
  15. Piece of Cake Pages 54-55
  16. Episode 1
  17. Episode 3
  18. A Good Clean Fight Ch 3
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