I was recently contact by a friend of the sisters and nephew of a trainee pilot LAC Douglas Charles Ellerbeck who was killed on 27/2/1941 flying on an unauthorized flight from Exeter to Bedford? – to see his girlfriend. He was allegedly shot down by friendly fire over the playing fields of Oundle School and is now buried at Sandy.
I am lead to believe that he was flying a Whirlwind though as an apparent Pilot Under Training I am sceptical about this. I am also unable to access my Whirlwind books which are tucked away in the loft space, could anyone shed any light ?
By: EN830 - 15th May 2009 at 19:39
A poster on another forum turned up the following info for me :-
Oxford R5957 (Mk I) of 14 FTS, crashed Monday 27th February 1941.
Halley : Turned after night take-off and flew into ground 1m N of Sibson, 27.2.4114 FTS ORB : Cranfield
27/2/41 Oxford R5957 crashed at Sibson RLG during night flying. Both the instructor and pupil F/O M I F Green and LAC D C Ellerbeck were killed
1180BCPASPA : 86658 Flg Off (Plt Instr) Maurice Ivan Frank Green, RAFVR, 26, of Norwich. ACA. Norwich (The Rosary) Cemetery, Norfolk.
928881 LAC (Plt U/T) Douglas Charles M Ellerbeck, RAFVR. Sandy Cemetery, Bedfordshire.The primary source above is the units Operations Record Book (ORB).
I wonder if I could ask a favour. If anyone is passing through Sandy at some point, could they get me a photograph of LAC Ellerbecks grave ?
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May 14, 2009 at 11:41 pm