North High Hall of Fame Inductee - 1997
Duane Walter Ellett
Class of June, 1941
Duane Walter Ellett

Duane Ellett was a famous Iowa television personality. He was on radio and television from 1957 to 1987. Mr. Ellett entertained thousands of Iowa children for three decades with a lovable puppet beagle named "Floppy." In addition to his work in television, Mr. Ellett belonged to and participated in many community organizations, and he donated many hours to public appearances for charitable organizations. Duane Ellett died in 1987, but the memory of him and his puppet "Floppy" will live on in the minds of many Iowans.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Floppy_Show
Link dated 08/20/09: http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20090820/NEWS13/308200005

Duane Walter Ellett
Duane graduated from North High in the June, 1941 class. His next of kin was shown as Mr. W.J. Ellett, 1711 Harding Road, Des Moines, IA.

Duane enlisted in the US Army September 6, 1943. Service number was 17113223.
Duane Walter Ellett
Year   Rank   Status
June, 1941 x Graduated x North High School
date x x Attended Drake University
July 3, 1943 x Family x Married Lois Nystrom (She died in 1986.)
September 6, 1943 x US Army x Basic training in Sheppard Field, TX
date x US Army x Muroc Army Air Base, Muroc, California (now Edwards Air Force Base)
1943   US Air Force x Training at Fort Ord (infantry)
February 18, 1946 x US Army Air Corps x Discharged
1957- May, 1987 x Employment x WHO Radio and TV
June 22, 1987 x Deceased x Buried: Highland Memory Gardens Cemetery; Des Moines, IA
Sheppard Field, TX
Sheppard Air Force Base is named in honor of Senator John Morris Sheppard of Texas (1875–1941), chairman of the Senate Military Affairs Committee from 1933 until his death on 9 April 1941. Senator Sheppard helped lead the fight for military preparedness before the attack on Pearl Harbor.

The base began as Sheppard Field on 300 acres (1.2 km²) just south of Kell Field, named for the businessman Frank Kell. A Texas cattleman, oilman, and philanthropist, Joseph Sterling Bridwell, sold the land to the U.S. Army for one dollar.

It was officially opened as an United States Army Air Corps training center on 17 October 1941, following the arrival of the first military members on 14 June. As the Army Air Corps became the Army Air Forces, facilities were completed sufficiently to allow the first class of 22 aviation mechanics to enter training that October; the class graduated 23 February 1942.

During World War II, then-Sheppard Field conducted basic training, and it also trained glider mechanics, technical and flying training instructors and B-29 Superfortress flight engineers. In addition to the basic flying training, the base also provided advanced pilot training.

Sheppard Field reached its peak strength of 46,340 people while serving as a separation center for troops being discharged following World War II from September through November 1945. Sheppard Field was deactivated 31 August 1946 and declared surplus to the War Department's needs. It was transferred to the jurisdiction of the United States Army Corps of Engineers 30 April 1947. Over the next two years the Texas National Guard used the base

Muroc Army Air Base, Muroc, California (now Edwards Air Force Base)
Previously known as Muroc Air Force Base, Edwards AFB is named in honor of Captain Glen Edwards (1918–1948). During World War II, he flew 50 missions in A-20 Havoc light attack bombers in the North African campaign on extremely hazardous, low-level missions against German tanks, convoys, troop concentrations, bridges, airfields, and a variety of other tactical targets. Edwards became a test pilot in 1943 and spent much of his time at Muroc Army Air Field, on California's high desert, testing a wide variety of experimental prototype aircraft. He died in the crash of a Northrop YB-49 flying wing near Muroc AFB on 5 June 1948

Sheppard Field, TX Muroc Army Air Base, CA Fort Ord, CA
Duane Ellett and Floppy entertained WHO-TV
viewers for thirty years from 1957-1987.
Highland Memory Gardens Cemetery; Des Moines, IA
Duane Walter Ellett
Rank
US Army Air Corps; Infantry
US Army



US Army seal



US Army Air Corps



Sheppard Air Force Base Patch



Army Infantry insignia


Duane Walter Ellett

Muroc Army Air Base







Air Force Materiel Command, Edwards Air Force Base
WWII Victory; American Theater; Bronze Star; good Conduct; European African Middle Eastern Theater w/bronze battle star; Asiatic Pacific Theater

Correct medals coming:
Examples of medals: WWII Victory; American Theater; Bronze Star; Good Conduct;
European African Middle Eastern Theater w/battle star (Rhineland); Asiatic Pacific Theater
References
The comprehensive list of names from North High's 1893-2018 graduation classes are from Claradell Shedd's North Des Moines High School website. The names of all North High School graduates can be found online at http://www.ndmhs.com/. Duane Walter Ellett's 1941 class page can be viewed at
http://www.ndmhs.com/pages/yearclass1941(2001.60).html.
Deceased: 06/22/87; Des Moines, IA
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