Former Air Force Officer Flew Combat Tours In Korea, Vietnam

Deacon Billy J. Ellis, a retired USAF Major General who flew combat missions in Korea and Vietnam, as well as a tour with the Thunderbirds, passed away March 12th at the age of 84 in Charleston, SC.

According to his Air Force bio, he was a command pilot with more than 7,300 flying hours, including 280 combat missions in Korea and Vietnam, flying F-4s, F-84s and F-105s. He also flew additional combat missions in B-52s and combat support missions in KC-135s. General Ellis flew with the Thunderbirds, the U.S. Air Force aerial demonstration team. He has held positions of responsibility throughout the Air Force and is the only officer ever to hold the positions of operations officer for Tactical Air Command, Strategic Air Command and Headquarters U.S. Air Force. According to an obituary appearing in the South Carolina newspaper The State, his favorite airplane to fly was the SR-71 Blackbird.

He was selected to fly with the Thunderbirds in May 1955 and was an original member of the world's first supersonic aerobatic team when the team received the F-100 aircraft in 1956.

He was a highly decorated officer, having eared two Distinguished Service Medals, the Distinguished Flying Cross with two oak leaf clusters, a Bronze Star, an Air Medal with 10 oak leaf clusters, an Air Force Commendation Medal, a Presidential Unit Citation, and many others.

Ellis retired in 1981 as the Vice commander of the 9th Air Force, Tactical Air Command from Shaw Air Force Base. Following his military career, he went on to become ordained as a deacon in the Catholic Church Diocese of Charleston, SC, in 1988.

(Image provided by the USAF)

FMI: www.af.mil