Captain Herbert Edward Oscar EllisMC (15 July 1893 – date of death unknown) was an English World War I flying ace credited with seven aerial victories. On 4 May 1917, after running out of machine gun ammunition, he scored his third victory of the day with pistol fire.[1]
Ellis was commissioned as a temporary second lieutenant in the Corps of Royal Engineers on 16 March 1915.[2] He was promoted to lieutenant on 2 May 1916,[3] and was awarded the Military Cross on 18 August 1916, his citation reading:
Temporary Second Lieutenant Herbert Edward Oscar Ellis, Royal Engineers.
For conspicuous gallantry and ability when organising the communications for an attack, and later for keeping them up under a heavy bombardment during the operations.[4]
He was transferred to the Royal Flying Corps, receiving Royal Aero Club Aviator's Certificate No. 3829 after flying a Maurice Farman biplane at the Military Flying School, Birmingham, on 2 November 1916,[1] and was appointed a flying officer on 7 February 1917.[5]
Posted to No. 40 Squadron flying the Nieuport Scout, Ellis scored four victories during Bloody April 1917, on the 13th, 23rd, 26th, and 28th.[1] On 4 May 1917, he engaged three Albatros D.III fighters over Douai. One he shot down at 500 feet, and sent a second into a crash-landing, but the third got on his tail even as Ellis ran out of machine gun ammunition. He managed to drop below it and emptied his service pistol into it. It fell into a sideslip that tore off its bottom wing, then plunged into a pond.[6] Ellis' final tally was six enemy planes destroyed, and one driven down out of control. Two days after this triple triumph, Ellis was injured in a crash which ended his career as a fighter pilot.[1][7]
Ellis remained in the RFC, but lost his flying officer status on 19 September 1917, being appointed an Equipment Officer, 3rd class.[8] He was promoted to Experimental Officer, 2nd class (graded as an Equipment Officer, 2nd class) on 1 January 1918,[9] and was promoted to captain in the Technical Branch on 1 April 1918,[10] the same day that the RFC was merged with the Royal Naval Air Service to form the Royal Air Force.
Ellis finally left the RAF, being transferred to the unemployed list on 15 February 1919.[11]
Referencesedit
Notes
^ abcd"Herbert Edward Oscar Ellis". The Aerodrome. 2014. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
^"No. 29162". The London Gazette. 14 May 1915. p. 4654.
^"No. 29675". The London Gazette. 21 July 1916. p. 7217.
^"No. 29713". The London Gazette (Supplement). 18 August 1916. p. 8228.
^"No. 29962". The London Gazette (Supplement). 23 February 1917. p. 1998.
herbert, ellis, officer, other, people, named, herbert, ellis, herbert, ellis, disambiguation, captain, herbert, edward, oscar, ellis, july, 1893, date, death, unknown, english, world, flying, credited, with, seven, aerial, victories, 1917, after, running, mac. For other people named Herbert Ellis see Herbert Ellis disambiguation Captain Herbert Edward Oscar Ellis MC 15 July 1893 date of death unknown was an English World War I flying ace credited with seven aerial victories On 4 May 1917 after running out of machine gun ammunition he scored his third victory of the day with pistol fire 1 Herbert Edward Oscar EllisBorn 1893 07 15 15 July 1893Hoxton Middlesex EnglandAllegianceUnited KingdomService wbr branchBritish ArmyRoyal Air ForceYears of service1915 1919RankCaptainUnitNo 40 Squadron RFCAwardsMilitary CrossMilitary service editEllis was commissioned as a temporary second lieutenant in the Corps of Royal Engineers on 16 March 1915 2 He was promoted to lieutenant on 2 May 1916 3 and was awarded the Military Cross on 18 August 1916 his citation reading Temporary Second Lieutenant Herbert Edward Oscar Ellis Royal Engineers For conspicuous gallantry and ability when organising the communications for an attack and later for keeping them up under a heavy bombardment during the operations 4 He was transferred to the Royal Flying Corps receiving Royal Aero Club Aviator s Certificate No 3829 after flying a Maurice Farman biplane at the Military Flying School Birmingham on 2 November 1916 1 and was appointed a flying officer on 7 February 1917 5 Posted to No 40 Squadron flying the Nieuport Scout Ellis scored four victories during Bloody April 1917 on the 13th 23rd 26th and 28th 1 On 4 May 1917 he engaged three Albatros D III fighters over Douai One he shot down at 500 feet and sent a second into a crash landing but the third got on his tail even as Ellis ran out of machine gun ammunition He managed to drop below it and emptied his service pistol into it It fell into a sideslip that tore off its bottom wing then plunged into a pond 6 Ellis final tally was six enemy planes destroyed and one driven down out of control Two days after this triple triumph Ellis was injured in a crash which ended his career as a fighter pilot 1 7 Ellis remained in the RFC but lost his flying officer status on 19 September 1917 being appointed an Equipment Officer 3rd class 8 He was promoted to Experimental Officer 2nd class graded as an Equipment Officer 2nd class on 1 January 1918 9 and was promoted to captain in the Technical Branch on 1 April 1918 10 the same day that the RFC was merged with the Royal Naval Air Service to form the Royal Air Force Ellis finally left the RAF being transferred to the unemployed list on 15 February 1919 11 References editNotes a b c d Herbert Edward Oscar Ellis The Aerodrome 2014 Retrieved 26 November 2014 No 29162 The London Gazette 14 May 1915 p 4654 No 29675 The London Gazette 21 July 1916 p 7217 No 29713 The London Gazette Supplement 18 August 1916 p 8228 No 29962 The London Gazette Supplement 23 February 1917 p 1998 Franks 2000 p 26 Roll of Honour Wounded Flight IX 439 499 24 May 1917 Retrieved 26 November 2014 No 30352 The London Gazette Supplement 26 October 1917 p 11011 No 30481 The London Gazette Supplement 15 January 1918 p 941 No 30673 The London Gazette 7 May 1918 p 5485 No 31212 The London Gazette 4 March 1919 p 3023 Bibliography Franks Norman 2000 Nieuport Aces of World War I London UK Osprey Publishing ISBN 978 1 85532 961 4 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Herbert Ellis RAF officer amp oldid 1157512566, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
