Victor H Ellard Jr
MilitaryUploaded
Was in an experiment to prevent colds. We put vaporisers in all of the barracks at an air base near Kettering, England. Maintained them and kept records for about 2 months, but it was not a success. The colds continued.
GC/ WW II VM/ DSC/ ETO/ EAME
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Company
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Unit Hierarchy: Division
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Other
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Grafton Undermud
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Dawson, New Mexico | 24 September 1923 | |
Enlisted |
Camp Shelby, MS 39401, USA | 25 February 1943 | Residence: Lowndes County, Mississippi Private, Branch Immaterial |
Other Attached |
Grafton Underwood, Kettering, Northamptonshire NN14, UK | 30 January 1944 | Attached to the 546th Bombardment Squadron for Rations, Quarters and Administration on AAF Station 106 Special Orders #21 Dated 30 January 1944. |
Other Relieved from Attached |
17 February 1944 | Relieved from attached to the 546th Bombardment Squadron for Rations, Quarters and Administration on AAF Station 106 Special Orders #32 Dated 17 February 1944. |
Revisions
Victor H Ellard Jr heard about the Pearl Harbor attack while he was sitting on his bicycle on the square of his small Mississippi hometown of Pittsboro. He decided to volunteer for the US Army Air Force so he could have some choice of service. He first rode troop trains and saw America as he received training in bases all over including Camp Shelby, Mississippi; Camp Kearns, Utah; Warner Robins, GA; and Camp Kilmer, NJ. Before finally heading out for action he and his new army friends made a memorable visit to Times Square. He started traveling to his final base in central England by taking a three week sea voyage, first passing through New York Harbor past the Statue of Liberty and up close to Iceland in a converted Dutch freighter Sloterdyk in a large convoy of ships to avoid or defend against German U-boats. At war's end Vic came straight back to New York in 5 days on the unescorted Queen Mary, again passing by Lady Liberty. The return trip was less spartan but both voyages featured only two meals a day and they always included boiled eggs and beets.
Son of Victor H Ellard Jr relates that he passed away February 27, 2015 and was a great father who raised two sons inspired to lead worthy lives. Of his wartime memories he mentioned that at the end of WW2 hostilities in Europe, the 8th Air Force allowed some of the ground crews including Vic an opportunity to fly in the planes they had supported. Vic spent a day flying in a B-17 from England to Germany and back. During the trip the pilots asked for volunteers to fly the aircraft. He was the only one who raised his hand and was allowed to take the controls for about 15 minutes. What an experience! Approaching landing he said he thought of bailing out over the base but thought better of it.
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / self