Ioannis Kellas

Ioannis ('John') Kellas (Greek: Ιωάννης Κέλλας), 1908-1966) was a Greek aviator who served with the Hellenic Air Force and Royal Air Force during the Second World War.
==Career==
He was born in Trikala,Ζαμπίκος, Βασ. "Σμηναγός Ιωάννης Κέλλας: Ένας ακόμα άσος της Αεροπορίας μας που έδρασε στον Ελληνοϊταλικό πόλεμο" (in Greek). 4 Τροχοί. Retrieved 1 August 2015. in northwestern Thessely, and was a graduate of the Greek Military Academy in Athens. When Italy invaded Greece, Kella was commanding the 21st Mira, equipped with 12 PZL P.24's and based at Kalabaka.Shores, Christopher & Cull, Brian (2008), Air War for Yugoslavia Greece and Crete 1940-41, p. 27.
In the ensuing conflict, Kellas was engaged in a number of dogfights with Italian aircraft, and on 20 November shot down a CANT Z.1007 bomber over lake Prespa.Air War for Yugoslavia Greece and Crete 1940-41, p. 39. In December, the 21st Mira converted to Gloster Gladiators biplanes acquired from the Royal Air Force. During a patrol sweep over the Albanian border in February 1941, Kellas' squadron encountered a formation of more than 30 Italian aircraft. A chaotic dogfight ensued, in which Kellas shot down two bombers.Thomas, Andrew (2002), Gloster Gladiator Aces, p. 65.
The entry of Germany in April further shifted the balance against the remnants of the Greek Air Force. On 15 April, Kellas sustained serious wounds after being hit by a Messerschmitt Bf 109 and hard landing in a wheat field.Carr, John (2013), The Defence and Fall of Greece 1940-1941, p. 213-4. He nevertheless escaped to North Africa, where he eventually became the commanding officer of No. 335 (Greek) Squadron.Thomas, Andrew (2002), Gloster Gladiator Aces, p. 69. On 28 October 1942, the second anniversary of Italy's invasion, Kellas led 12 Hurricanes on a strafing sortie against the Italian XX Corps headquarters.Fighters over the desert: the air battles in the Western Desert, June 1940 to December 1942, p. 197. Flak proved heavy, bringing down one Hurricane and damaging two others, but the operation proved to be a significant boost to expatriate Greeks during the Second Battle of El Alamein.Οι Μοίρες της Ερήμου (PDF) (in Greek). Athens: Πανελλήνιος Σύνδεσμος Βετεράνων Αεροπορίας. 2004. p. 53.
After the war, Kellas became a civil aviation pilot with Olympic Airways. He died in 1966.
==References==
Category:1908 births
Category:1966 deaths
Category:Greek military personnel
Category:Royal Air Force
Category:Buried in Greece