Roll of Honour

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Name ELLIS
First names Richard Leonard Ashburton
Rank Sgt
Service RAF
Service number 742693
Crew position Pilot
Age 23
Date of death 21/03/41
Cemetery Exeter Higher Cemetery Devon

Photographed by Brian Sutton

21/22 March, 1941; LORIENT/MINELAYING:
The squadron prepared 8 aircraft for operations; in the end just 6 took off between 18.23hrs and 22.28hrs. Of these, 2 bombed the submarine pens at Lorient and 2 were successful in dropping mines.
Tragedy was to befall the crew piloted by P/O Robert Wilson (X3054). Returning to England from the French coast, their aircraft struck high ground on Dartmoor killing the 25 year- old pilot and his three fellow crew members.

Hampden X3054
P/O R.D. Wilson Pilot (Killed)

Sgt R. Brames W/AG (Killed)
Sgt R.L.A. Ellis 2nd Pilot (Killed)
Sgt C.J. Lyon A/G (Killed)


A stone on Hameldown Tor, Dartmoor, marks the crash site.