ELLIS, Donald Campbell
| Service Number: | O21261 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 11 August 1947 |
| Last Rank: | Pilot Officer |
| Last Unit: | No. 77 Squadron (RAAF) |
| Born: | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 13 April 1927 |
| Home Town: | Quirindi, Liverpool Plains, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Farrer Memorial Agricultural High School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Wool Classer |
| Died: | Flying Battle, Korea, 22 December 1950, aged 23 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Busan Metropolitan City, South Korea, Wall No: 1 Pilot Officer Ellis' body was never recovered and is therefore regarded as missing, presumed killed in action |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Cootamundra Korean War Memorial, Griffith Korean War Missing In Action Honour Roll, Gympie Memorial Lane Murals, Ipswich Korean War Memorial, Korea United Nations Memorial Cemetery Wall of Remembrance, Lithgow War Memorial, Norfolk Island Korean War Memorial, Wagga Wagga Korean Memorial |
Korean War Service
| 11 Aug 1947: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force | |
|---|---|---|
| 27 Jun 1950: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Pilot Officer, O21261, No. 77 Squadron (RAAF), RAAF Operations - Korea | |
| 27 Jun 1950: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Sergeant, O21261 |
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Provided to VWMA for publication by “Historical Unrecovered War Casualties – Air Force”.
Pilot Officer Donald Campbell ELLIS O21261/169117, was born in Sydney on 13 April 1927. After attending the Farrer Memorial Agricultural High School, he attained NSW Leaving Certificate in 1944 and completed Wool Classing studies in June 1945 in preparation for his civilian employment as a wool classer. He enlisted in RAAF at Bradfield Park Sydney on 11 Aug 1947 as Radio Serviceman and in 1948, he re-mustered for Pilot trainee, graduating on 23 Feb 1950 and was posted to 77 SQN Korea on 09 Mar 1950 flying Mustang aircraft. During his tour he was awarded the DFC (USA) and US Air Medal and was MIA 22 Dec 1950 aged 23.
Mission Summary
Pilot Officer Donald Campbell ELLIS, Service Number: O21261, DoB: 13 April 1927, 77SQN, MIA 22 December 1950, LKP TOKYO GRID YD4525, latitude and longitude 39 03 00N 125 49 30E.
On 22 December 1950, Pilot Officer Donald Campbell Ellis, O21261 in company with FLTLT Harvey were conducting armed reconnaissance of Taedong River from 10 NM south of Pyongyang (North Korea) and then tracking to the north. The Mustangs were flying a line asternformation at 200 feet AGL with FLTLT Harvey as Number 1. The Mustang formation skirted Pyongyang city and at Approx1100 hrs when flying north east of the city, PLTOFF Ellis made a radio call to FLTLT Harvey that he was going to crash. Harvey immediately turned back and observed Ellis’ aircraft 'burning furiously' on the ground. The aircraft had disintegrated on impact and was burning in open ground over an area of 30 metres. Crash site was North East of Pyongyang GRID YD4525, latitude and longitude.
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