Flight Lieutenant Alec Elliott - RAFVR

 The aircraft left Lissett at 1647hrs and successfully bombed the target but failed to return. On the homebound journey it was hit by a night-fighter destroying the H2S blister and moments later, a second attack destroyed the ammunition trays and conveyors of the four guns of the rear turret. Arriving at the Dutch–German border flying due West, only two engines were operable and after consulting with Norris, the navigator, it was considered advisable by Elliott to divert the course to the South in an attempt to reach an Allied-held airport in Belgium. 

 At that moment the Halifax was attacked again and the third engine was put out of action, together with the elevator trimmers, rendering the plane unmanageable. McMahon the Mid Upper Gunner reported from his turret that he saw flames passing him from the wing fuel tanks. Pilot Elliott ordered his crew to bale out. Sadly, having waited for all his crew to jump, he had left it too late and was found dead close by his crashed aircraft with his parachute half-opened. The Halifax crashed at 20:15 ;16km West of Almelo in the Overissel province of Holland. Flight Lieutenant Alec Elliott was twenty-five at the time of his death and is buried in the Cemetery at Hellendoorn, Holland.

The crew consisted of:

 Flight Lieutenant Alec Elliott was born on the 21^st August 1919, the son of Robert and Lilian Elliott of 62 Heath Road, Twickenham, Middlesex. Alec Elliott was educated at St.Mary’s School, Twickenham continuing to Christ’s Hospital, Horsham and finally to Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge in 1938.

 On 31^st July 1940 he was recommended for Pilot Training and a commission and enlisted in the RAF at Uxbridge on 3^rd August 1940.After further training he graduated from Cranwell with 83.4% and was posted to #2 FTS in April 1941 for a Flying Instructor’s Course. After being commissioned as a Pilot Officer, he continued to #14 SFTS as a Flying Instructor on the 1^st June 1941 where he served before being sent to Canada, arriving at #36 SFTS ,Penhold, Alberta in the Fall of 1941. He was promoted to Flying Officer on 6^th October 1942 and Flight Lieutenant on 7^th June 1943

 Alec met his wife, Gladys Benton of Innisfail, Alberta, when he was stationed at Penhold, a few miles from her home. They were married in July,1942 and had a son, David Alec.

Alec at Penhold

RAF College Cranwell - Alec Elliott is in the middle row, second from the right

Alec (centre) and crew

Alec's Grave

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Alec at Penhold

 

 When #36 SFTS ceased operations in February,1944, he was repatriated to Britain and was posted to #10 O.T.U. at Abingdon. His wife and son followed him to England in convoy across the Atlantic, residing at the family home in Twickenham until the end of the war and returning to Canada in late 1945.

On the 5^th June 1944 his crew was formed and in July of that year were recognized as Best Crew. After posting to 41 Base & 1658 HCU at Riccall, Yorkshire, he was posted to 158 squadron at Lissett flying Halifaxes. The crew’s first Operational mission was to Bochum in Germany, ten other missions followed.