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The Airmen's Stories - P/O G E Ellis

Gordon Eric Ellis was born on 29th April 1915 in Richmond, the son of Arthur Henry Ellis (1872-1917) and Henrietta Millicent Childs Ellis (nee Lawrence 1875-??).

His father was serving as a Rifleman with the 21st Battalion of the London Regiment (First Surrey Rifles) when he was killed on 25th October 1917. He is commemorated on the Arras Memorial.

GE Ellis joined the RAF on a short service commission and began his elementary flying training on 6th March 1939.

In April he went to No. 1 RAF Depot Uxbridge for a short induction course.

 

 

On 29th April 1939 Ellis moved to 14 FTS Kinloss and joined No. 1 Course there, which had begun on 13th April. His late arrival may have been the result of health problems which he had been experiencing.

The course ended on 6th November 1939 and Ellis joined 264 Squadron at Sutton Bridge direct from 14 FTS on 9th November. He was sent to RAF Halton for interview by the Central Medical Board on 27th March 1940.

He married Sylvia Violet Harriss in April 1940.

Ellis was first posted to 229 Squadron then sent on attachment to 6 OTU Sutton Bridge on 19th May to convert to Hurricanes. However he was then posted to 64 Squadron at Kenley on 20th July 1940, operating Spitfires, so he may have also flown these at 6 OTU too.

Ellis flew one operational sortie with 64 Squadron, on 22nd July. There is no further mention of him in the 64 Squadron ORB though it is possible that he was injured in a crash-landing in early August. He relinquished his commission on 1st February 1941 because of ill-health and was released from the RAF.

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On 14th February 1942 DH.89A Dragon Rapide R5927 of 2 Electrical & Wireless School, Yatesbury struck a balloon cable and crashed and was destroyed by fire at Wiggins Field, Horton, near Colnbrook, Buckinghamshire.

The six RAF men aboard were all killed.

Corporal (W/Op) KB Horwood
AC2 (W/Op/AG) KI Oliver
F/O (Pilot) AH Sanders
AC2 JC Williams
LAC JD Wood
AC2 P Wray

The accident report stated: A civilian on the ground, Gordon Eric Ellis, was killed by flying debris.

Probate was granted to Sylvia Violet Ellis for a death on this date which confirms that this was former P/O Ellis.


 

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