ELLIS, Henry Arthur Laurence
| Service Number: | 412932 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 15 August 1941, Sydney, NSW |
| Last Rank: | Flight Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | No. 77 Squadron (RAF) |
| Born: | Waverley, New South Wales, Australia , 23 May 1921 |
| Home Town: | Waverley, Waverley, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Not yet discovered |
| Died: | Flying Battle, Germany, 20 February 1944, aged 22 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Runnymede Memorial Englefield Green, Runnymede Borough, Surrey, England Panel 256 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, International Bomber Command Centre Memorial, Nar Nar Goon Vacuum Oil Company Pty Ltd. Honour Roll, Runnymede Air Forces Memorial |
World War 2 Service
| 15 Aug 1941: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman 2 (WW2), 412932, No. 2 Initial Training School Bradfield Park, Sydney, NSW | |
|---|---|---|
| 28 Feb 1944: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Lieutenant, 412932, No. 77 Squadron (RAF), Air War NW Europe 1939-45 |
Help us honour Henry Arthur Laurence Ellis's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Faithe Jones
Son of Gordon Daniel and Fanny Elizabeth Ellen Ellis, of Waverley, New South Wales, Australia.
Flight Lieutenant Ellis was born in May 1921 at Waverley, Sydney the son of Gordon and Fanny Ellis. He enlisted on 15 August 1941 at Sydney (RAAF records not digitized)
Awarded a DFC for a night attack on Leverkusen, Germany, in November 1943. Promulgated in the London Gazette on 17 December 1943 page 5488 and the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 6 January 1944. "For courage and devotion to duty in the execution of flying operations against the enemy"
The DFC was presented to his father Gordon Ellis by the Governor General, Lord Gowrie, at Government House, Sydney on 16 February 1946.
"One night in November 1943, this officer piloted an aircraft detailed to attack Leverkusen. When nearing the target the bomber came under heavy fire from the ground defences. Two of the aircraft’s engines were hit and other damage was sustained. Undeterred Pilot Officer Ellis flew on to the target and pressed home his attack. Not long afterwards both the defective engines became useless. In spite of this, Pilot Officer Ellis flew the bomber to base. He displayed superb skill, great courage and resolution."
Halifax LL 143 took off at 2331 hours from RAF Station Elvington, on an operation sortie on the night of 19/20 February 1944, the target Leipizig. The crew were on their 30th operation.
CREW: RAAF Flight Lieutenant H A LEllis -Pilot RAF Sergeant J N Schofield -Flight Engineer RAF Pilot Officer P H J Mackie -Navigator RAF Pilot Officer R D Sullivan -Air Bomber RAF Sergeant H F Payne -Wireless Air Gunne rRAF Pilot Officer C W G Graham -Air Gunner RAAF Pilot Officer D Fletcher -Air Gunner
Both aircraft and crew were lost without trace and the crew have no known grave. They are remembered on the Memorial to the Missing, Runnymede, Surrey, UK.
Flight Lieutenant Ellis is remembered with honour at the Australian War Memorial and the Waverley,
Click images to start slideshow.