LEST WE FORGET
Sergeant Patrick John ELLIS
Service No: 15680
Born: Bermagui NSW, 17 March 1908
Enlisted in the RAAF: 18 June 1940
Unit: No. 32 Squadron
Died: Aircraft Accident, Milne Bay PNG, 16 August 1942, Aged 34 Years
Buried: Port Moresby (Bomana) War Cemetery PNG
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Edwin James Ellis and Matilda Ellis; husband of Jessie Doreen Ellis, of Koorawatha, New South Wales
Roll of Honour: Lismore NSW
Remembered: Panel 103, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Lismore Cenotaph, Lismore NSW
At Milne Bay on 16 August 1942, a tyre of No. 76 Squadron Kittyhawk A29-78 blew on take-off, causing the aircraft to veer into No. 32 Squadron Hudson A16-218 that was preparing to takeoff on a test flight. On board each aircraft were:
Kittyhawk A29-78 (repaired at Milne Bay)
Flying Officer (later Wing Commander) Colin Wellesley Lindeman DFC (260810) Slightly injured, Discharged from the RAAF: 26 July 1945
Hudson A16-218 (severely damaged)
Sergeant Patrick John Ellis (15680)
Leading Aircraftman Russell Frederick Joseph Mussett (20627) Slightly injured, Discharged from the RAAF: 19 November 1945
Flying Officer (later Squadron Leader) Henry Archdale Robertson (290667) (Pilot) Slightly injured, Discharged from the RAAF: 11 September 1945
Sergeant William John Stutt DFC (408536) Uninjured, Discharged from the RAAF: 10 December 1945
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A9845, 25
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line