The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
United States Silver Star. Bronze coloured five pointed star with a silver five pointed star in the centre surrounded by a wreath.
Awarded to United States Army Air Force (USAAF) Captain J A Kelting for gallant action over Darwin on April the 4th, 1942. He participated in the attack of several Japanese Navy G4M 'Betty' bombers over Darwin, one of which he shot down.
Kelting hailed from the State of Ohio before joining the USAAF. After his successful time in Australia with the 9th Squadron of the famous 49th Fighter Group, flying the P-40E Warhawk (known as the Kittyhawk in British Commonwealth service) he returned to the USA before being sent overseas once again, this time to the China-Burma-India (CBI) theatre of operations.
It was serving in this theatre that he was killed on 23 March 1944 whilst flying a P-51A Mustang fighter aircraft, serial number 43-6020. He has no known grave and is officially listed as 'Missing In Action' (MIA).
A cloth shield that features vertical red and white stripes on the lower section of the shield. Across the top is a blue bar with a white sun and star. A China-Burma-India (CBI) shoulder patch worn
A gilt pair of wings with a silver two bladed propeller in the centre. Clutch pin back. A United States Army Air Force collar badge worn by Captain J A Kelting, an American fighter pilot in the Unit
USA. c. 1941. Portrait of Lieutenant (Lt) J A Kelting, Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, Purple Heart and Presidential Unit Citation. An officer of the United States Army Air Forces
Silver badge denoting the wearer had qualified as an aircraft pilot. Badge was authorised for wear from June 1919. Design is a central shield with seven vertical striped, and wings extending from ea
A silver metal pair of Captain's bars. Pin back. A silver metal captain collar rank badge worn by the then Captain J A Kelting. Captain J A Kelting, was an American fighter pilot in the United Stat
A gilt pair of wings with a silver two bladed propeller in the centre. Clutch pin back. A United States Army Air Force collar badge worn by Captain J A Kelting, an American fighter pilot in the Unit
A silver metal pair of Captain's bars. Pin back. A silver metal captain collar rank badge worn by the then Captain J A Kelting. Captain J A Kelting, was an American fighter pilot in the United Stat
Silver badge denoting the wearer had qualified as an aircraft pilot. Badge was authorised for wear from June 1919. Design is a central shield with seven vertical striped, and wings extending from ea
A cloth shield that features vertical red and white stripes on the lower section of the shield. Across the top is a blue bar with a white sun and star. A China-Burma-India (CBI) shoulder patch worn
United States Silver Star. A gilded five pointed star with the obverse centre, a wreath surrounding a silver star radiating towards the wreath. The reverse is plain but has at the top the inscription
USA. c. 1941. Portrait of Lieutenant (Lt) J A Kelting, Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, Purple Heart and Presidential Unit Citation. An officer of the United States Army Air Forces