The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. R V Ellis

Ronald Vernon Ellis was born on 22nd February 1917 and educated at Chatham Junior Technical School. He joined the RAF as an Aircraft Apprentice in January 1933 and passed out in December 1935 as a Fitter.

He married Nellie Bartlam on 15th April 1939 at Shilton Church, Coventry.

He later applied for pilot training and was selected. Ellis arrived at 6 OTU Sutton Bridge on 27th May 1940 for conversion to Hurricanes. On 6th June he went to Hendon for onward posting to France and joined 73 Squadron there on the 7th. Ellis was involved in arranging to provide the aircraft which carried General de Gaulle to England after the collapse of France.

Above: Ellis, far right, in the desert.

On 11th and 15th September 1940 Ellis shared in destroying enemy aircraft and shared in the destruction of a Me109 on the 27th.

In November 1940 73 Squadron was posted to the Middle East and sailed in the carrier HMS Furious. They flew off at Takoradi and then in stages flew overland to Heliopolis. In December the 73 Squadron pilots were attached to 274 Squadron in the Western Desert. In early January 1941 the squadron began to operate as a unit on its own account from Sidi Heneish.

Ellis destroyed three Ju87s over Tobruk on 14th April 1941. He was commissioned in October 1941 and posted to 127 Squadron at Hurghada, on ferrying duties.

He was awarded the DFM (gazetted 2nd January 1942) and later in the year rejoined 73 Squadron.

In November 1942 Ellis was commanding a detachment at Bu Amoud and from February 1943 he commanded the squadron before returning to the UK in July.

Ellis was later senior test pilot at Vickers Armstrong and was awarded the AFC (gazetted 1st January 1946) for his services there.

He was released from the RAF in 1946 but later rejoined. He was a Qualified Instructor and retired from the RAF on 11th October 1966 as a Flight Lieutenant, retaining the rank of Squadron Leader.

Ellis died in June 1988 in Gipping and Hartismere Suffolk.