Second Known Kentucky National Guard Member Trained as a Military Aviator
( - 1974)
Captain Keeling G. Pulliam Jr. enlisted in the Kentucky National Guard on 22 October 1915. He was a student in electrical engineering at the University of Kentucky and an amateur wireless enthusiast. He had two years service in the cadet battalion evidently with the University of Kentucky ROTC.
He was commissioned a 1st Lieutenant, in the Signal Corps and assigned to Company B, Signal Corps, Kentucky National Guard, on March 13, 1916. He reported for Mexican Border duty with his Company on June 18, 1916 but did not muster out with the unit on March 24, 1917 but reported for flying training at North Island, California as a 1st Lieutenant, Signal Corps, Kentucky National Guard. He was drafted into federal service on August 5, 1917. He attended Signal Corps Aviation School at San Diego California until September 30, 1917. He departed North Island for England on December 18, 1917.
His next assignment was with the 135th Aero Squadron in England until January 4, 1918. He was attached to British Royal Flying Corps from December until March 4, 1918. During this time he completed a six-week advanced pilot training school at Gosport School, England and a two-week course in aerial gunnery at Ayre School in Scotland. From March 12, 1918 he was assigned to the 21st Aero Squadron until October 18, 1918 at Issodun, France where he reportedly commanded the Squadron as a Captain and commanded Field no. 3 under Major Carl Spatz. He was then assigned to the Headquarters of 1st Army until November 11, 1918. He then was assigned to Headquarters Air Service District of Paris until November 27, 1918.
He returned from overseas on December 23, 1918. Keeling was honorably discharged on January 7, 1919. There is no mention in his records of having flown any combat missions.
It is worth noting that an article in the “Delta” the Sigma Nu fraternity magazine in May 1918, either with or without his cooperation, apparently greatly embellished his wartime service and exploits. A family friend wrote the article so it is unclear whether he was the originator of the embellishments or the family friend.
Keeling G. Pulliam’s brother, Harold A. Pulliam, United States Navy, was assigned to the Hampton Roads Naval Air Station. He was on a flight directly over the main street of Norfolk, Virginia when he perished in a crash in front of the hotel Chamberlain on April 4, 1919.
Keeling G Pulliam is mentioned in the Military History of Kentucky by the Federal Writers Project as having died in an accident while an aviation student in California. This is apparently in error. He died in Los Angeles, California in 1974.
There are newspaper references to B Company of the Signal Corps in Lexington prior to World War I. They are also listed in the Military History of Kentucky in 1938 in General Orders No. 6 of June 1, 1917 by the Adjutant General with officers Holstein, Otto, Captain, September 1, 1915; Lexington; Pulliam, Keeling G., First Lieutenant, March 13, 1916; Lexington and Welsh, Thomas A., First Lieutenant, May 10, 1917; Lexington. Given the scarcity of aircraft and federal equipment in the Guard prior to World War I, it is doubtful that they had any aviation assets.