Frank Ellis

	Frank Ellis and a Wirra
	Frank Ellis and a Wirra
	Frank Ellis and a Wirra
	The Wirraway was an excellent training A/C as it had all the faults of a modern Fighter & more. If you could fly a Wirra you could fly anything. After the Wirra there was no dual single engined A/C.
	Climbing aboard the Wirra
	Sister Joan in Sydney Sts. The white flash in cap denotes aircrew trainee a.c.2.
	I was in the RAAF diving Team but not for the high dive
	On the back of the photo:- Hoolihan & myself going off the 40 ft tower at Narrandera. I lost my balance & had to kick and swing my arms like mad to stop going over on my back. Nearly broke my neck but we got he photo. Hoolihan is the Nth. Queensland high diving Champ but I'll dive from any height he's game to. Frankie
	Spitfires - Frank's favourite aircraft

	Back of photo:- A steep turn with hands off. You appear to stick a wing in the deck & pivot around on it.
	Back of photo:- Racing a train hands off along the Grong Grong road.
	Shots from Frank's baby brownie whilst training in Wirras
	Shots from Frank's baby brownie whilst training in Wirras
	Shots from Frank's baby brownie whilst training in Wirras
	Shots from Frank's baby brownie whilst training in Wirras
	1936 plane crash on Yeppoon Beach & my new 7s. 6d. Brownie was on the scene. Pilot sat in back open cockpit & passengers enclosed in front. This was the first airplane I had a ride in.
	1936 plane crash on Yeppoon Beach & my new 7s. 6d. Brownie was on the scene. Pilot sat in back open cockpit & passengers enclosed in front. This was the first airplane I had a ride in.
	1936 plane crash on Yeppoon Beach & my new 7s. 6d. Brownie was on the scene. Pilot sat in back open cockpit & passengers enclosed in front. This was the first airplane I had a ride in.
	1936 plane crash on Yeppoon Beach & my new 7s. 6d. Brownie was on the scene. Pilot sat in back open cockpit & passengers enclosed in front. This was the first airplane I had a ride in.
	1936 plane crash on Yeppoon Beach & my new 7s. 6d. Brownie was on the scene. Pilot sat in back open cockpit & passengers enclosed in front. This was the first airplane I had a ride in.


	After the Passing Out Parade 28 Course gathers for the compulsory photo, then we scattered to all parts of the world & not one of our paths crossed again. Stopped crossing off from casualty reports - too many. 3rd Row from top, 2nd on right P/O Jerry Spargo killed in Kittyhawk Bankstown; Top row, my right Norm Rea, P/O 82 Sqd. Kittys & Cobras; Bottom row second from right Frank Parton, Army Co-op., killed N.G.
	Wirraway snapped on the box brownie
	Jap supplies - fuel - on fire
	Frank Ellis and a few of his AIF school mates at Nadzab in the Markham Valley in front of his kite - note the White Eagle holding a bomb in a screaming dive
	Jap barges under attack and on fire
	Another Jap barge that did not make it
	Frank Ellis and Frank Debenham King's Village, Kiriwina Trobian Islands. Frank Ellis' hunting party on beach at Kiriwina
	Frank's cobber in the village with the chief
	In the village
	Typical village scene
	"Look what you get when you go hunting in New Guinea - I mean the bird on the left of course!"
	Frank Ellis all dressed up!
	Some of the villagers
	Buna Village 1943 - Wise men
	Buna Village 1943
	Buna Village 1943
	Approaching Gona Village, New Guinea
	Japanese field guns at Lae
	Spitfire crash at Snake Bay, Melville Island.
	Spitfire crash landed at Snake Bay on Melville Island - date unknown
	The Japanese ship Myoko Maru off Lae
	Madang Air Strip under dive bombing attack. Look closely and you may see Jap planes bomb bursts
	Madang Air Strip under dive bombing attack. Look closely and you may see Jap planes bomb bursts
	Madang Air Strip 50 years later
	24 Squadron heads home from a bash. 3rd from left is Frank Ellis with White Eagle on engine cowling.
	Closeup of two aircraft from the above shot.
	24 Squadron heads home from a bash. "The staggered formation was to present a firing platform for the rear gunners to protect our bums. The pilot operated forward guns firing from the wings"
	"That's me furthest from the camera. Note the grim determined look; also white eagle on the cowling." Smoke from bombs drooped on Alexishafen airfield in New Guinea
	Pilot Guy Main of Sydney and his radio operator Lou Stevens of Cecil Park near Sydney standing on their Vultee Vengeance of 24 Squadron RAAF after a crash landing in the Markham Valley on 29 January 1944.
	A closeup of the aircraft. The person closest the camera appears to be signalling with a reflective object.
	Newspaper article on the above crash
	Another newspaper article on the above crash
	"1943 arrives; we've completed Operational Training on Vultee Vengeance Dive Bombers & here we are in New Guinea at Dobodurra; Aircraft receiving maintenance at our Work Shop."
	?
	"And so we go to face the fierce foe. Shots taken climbing on way to target in New Guinea. The white tail fin was to stop our guys shooting us down."
	"And so we go to face the fierce foe. Shots taken climbing on way to target in New Guinea. The white tail fin was to stop our guys shooting us down."
	"Returning from a bash at Nadzab. Dive brakes are extended for the ground crew to guide you along the narrow taxiway. A large aircraft with limited visibility on ground. Front gun ports are open, guns have been fired. Normally sealed."
	"This was the best camp we had, built by the Yanks. Elect light mind you - Nadzab Feb 1944."
	A Vultee Vengeance of 24 Squadron RAAF at Charters Towers
	"The 'Hiss-Pit' 24 Squadron Headquarters at Dobodura"
	"Headquarters Nadzab - debriefing of crew on return from a bash"
	"Shaggy Ridge - difficult to locate the target - army support but worse for the poor diggers on the ground."
	"Climbing to 13,000 ft from where we would dive vertical to 2,000 to bomb away."
	"Vultee Vengeance of 24 Squadron RAAF landing at Kiriwina, Trobian Islands, in November 1943. Not on ground and doing about 100 mph."
	"Coming home around the coast and kuni covered hills. Two rear guns were 0.5. Gunner was also radio operator."
	"Between winning the war I used to do a bit of sign writing & Plane identification"
	"Between winning the war I used to do a bit of sign writing & Plane identification"
	War Bird: Sgt. Frank J. Ellis, first Queensland ATC member to gain his wings and one of the first ATC to meet the enemy, photographed at an advanced airfield in New Guinea.
	Help - I can't see over the dashboard!!
	"A flamer going down"
	"Thats a hit on a boat."
	"P38 Lockheed Lightning returning from a bash as Kiriwina - note coral."
	"That's me on the right posing. Malaria became a self inflicted injury"
	"Supply barge caught in the open. Normally they only travelled at night."
	"A Jap 'Betty' bomber that did not make it back home"
	"P.40 Kittyhawk - Main Aust Fighter"
	"Boomerang - Aust design & make. No. 4 Sqd. Operated at tree top as Army Co-operation."
	"Wackett - Aust. design & built trainer"
	"Avro Anson 'The flying Greenhouse' training of Observers at Cootaminga"
	"Beaufighters "Whispering Death" so named by Japs because of their tree top straffing runs. Dead before you heard the noise."
	"Boston medium bomber - hard worker next to B25 Mitchell. Flt. Lt. Newton V.C. shot down in Boston as Salamua."
	"Spitfire - the draam of every fighter pilot."
	"Fairy Battles Evans Head training gunners. Withdrawn from action as unsuitable."
	"Avro Anson 'Aggie' 6 Com Flt Fentons Mob. Cargo & Ambulance. Hand crank the engines to start & wind up the wheels by hand."
	"Walrus amphibian 'pusher' type engine fully aerobatic. Carried on Cruisers, launched by Catapult & picked up by crane - maybe."
	"D.H.86 'Dragon' 6 Com Flight cargo & ambulance; ply & fabric."
	"Fairey Fireflys - Fleet Air Arm."

	Mustang; British design; USA manufacture. Top fighter latter part of the War & used in the Korean War. Last of the props. Home page on Mustang "Old 113"
	"1944 Northern Territory; buffalo hunting in what is now known as Kakadu. Locals are from Oenpelli & only wore clothes when hunting buffalo. Hunt & shoot from horse back."
	?
	?
	"Jap miniature submarine sunk in Sydney Harbour, on display in the Domain after being dragged from Harbour. Now in Canberra."
	"Jap miniature submarine sunk in Sydney Harbour, on display in the Domain after being dragged from Harbour. Now in Canberra."
	"1943 Sgt/Pilot Ellis with his mother - Sydney Streets"
	"1945 Pilot Officer Ellis with his father - Sydney Streets."
	"Warrant Officer Ellis with Miss Melva Alison Hawkins - Sydney 1944"
	"Yes - me as a sailor"
	"Lois, me & Melva - Ballina"
	"Me and Melva"
	"6 Com Flight Batchelor Darwin Work Shop crew. Me? 3rd from left standing. Note flowing moustache 1945."
	"Vultee I pranged 31.10.44 Batchelor"
	"Vultee I pranged 31.10.44 Batchelor"
	"Vultee I pranged 31.10.44 Batchelor"
	"Vultee I pranged 31.10.44 Batchelor"
	Tiger Moth (6 Com Flight Batchelor) "Doing the mail run from Darwin to Birdum - 194. On a buffalo plain outside of Adelaide River - would be met there by Army Dispatch Rider - who took this photo."
	"A Tiger I pranged just outside Katherine" Crash of a Tiger Moth near Katherine on 22 Nov 44
	"A Tiger I pranged just outside Katherine" Crash of a Tiger Moth near Katherine on 22 Nov 44
	Wreck of Vultee Vengeance A27-422 at Manton Dam, on 16 Feb 1945
	A Liberty ship which ran straight onto Swain Reef - Post War flying with 10 Squadron we used this for bombing runs.

	Darwin after the bombing raids








	St. Mary's 1943
	Sydney Harbour Bridge 1943
	"Good on yer Son. The Country is safely in the hands of the Japs now so here's a medal & you can hang up Yer Rusty Sword .... 1968"

	Left to Rigth: Squadron Leader Catanach (DFC), Flying Officer Andersen?, Sgt. Walters, Pilot Officer Ces Cameron (Frank's cousin) Captured and taken prisoner 4 Sep 1942. Stalag Luft VIII B, Germany. Executed by Germans as reprisal for "The Great Escape" from Stalag 3. 50 Air Force Officers shot as an example.
	1942 - Uranquinty - Advanced Flying Training Course No 28. Paul Bash and myself - Aircraft is Wirraway loaded with practice bombs for Dive Bombing. Paul graduated and flew Boomerangs with an Army Co-operation Squadron and survived the War.

	Tiger Moths
	Frank Ellis in front of Tiger Moth A17-101
	More Tiger Moths