The Airmen's Stories - P/O F R C Elger

Frank Richard Charles Elger, of Clacton, Essex was born on 10th October 1919 and joined the RAF on a short service commission and began his elementary flying training on 13th March 1939.

He went to No. 1 RAF Depot Uxbridge on 13th May for a short induction course after which he was posted to 5 FTS Sealand. He was on No. 40 Course, which ran from 30th May to 5th November 1939.

With his training completed Elger was posted on 6th November 1939 to 248 Squadron, reforming at Hendon for service with Fighter Command.

In February 1940 248 moved to Coastal Command but from mid-May onwards it was seconded back to Fighter Command at various periods during the Battle of Britain to take on long-range fighter duties.

Elger went on attachment to 235 Squadron at Bircham Newton. The date of his rejoining 248 is not known.

On 28th November 1940 Elger was posted to 55 OTU Aston Down, presumably as an instructor.

Above: Elger arriving at a wedding, his fiancee on his right and future mother-in-law on his left.

He married Joyce Smith on 22nd March 1941 at All Saints, Oxton, Birkenhead.

Elger was released from the RAF in 1946 and later settled in Canada. He had his own company of marine underwriters in Toronto and became a Canadian citizen.

He died on 29th October 2007.

Additional research and all images courtesy of Rick Elger