LEST WE FORGET
Flying Officer Desmond Barton ELLERAY
Service No: 404091
Born: Nambour QLD, 11 May 1918
Enlisted in the RAAF: 24 May 1940
Unit: No. 25 Operational Training Unit (RAF)
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 25 Operational Training Unit Manchester aircraft L7248), Nottinghamshire, 18 November 1941, Aged 22 Years
Buried: Finningley (Holy Trinity and St Oswald) Churchyard Extension, Nottinghamshire
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Barton and Margaret Lilian Elleray, of Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia
Roll of Honour: Toowoomba QLD
Remembered: Panel 121, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
On 18 November 1941, Manchester L7248 took off from RAF Finningley for a night navigational training flight. Following loss of power from the port engine, the aircraft crashed at 2245 hours at Scaftworth, seven miles north north-west from Retford, Nottingham. Three crew members were killed and two injured.
The crew members of L7248 were:
Flight Sergeant Linford Herbert Adams DFM (742983) (RAFVR) (Pilot)
Flight Sergeant Ronald William Hazard Baxter DFM (742962) (RAFVR) (Second Pilot)
Pilot Officer C Danielson (RAF) Injured
Flying Officer Desmond Barton Elleray (404091) (Observer)
Sergeant R Rowell (RAF) Injured
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records (RAAF Casualty Information compiled by Alan Storr (409804))
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705 163/30/46