Date of birth:

1910 (Highworth/Wiltshire, Great Britain)

Date of death:

October 8th, 1962

Service number:

74716

Nationality:

British

Paul Elwell began flying in 1932 following an apprenticeship as an engineer at the Great Western Railways Works. He joined the Royal Air Force in 1939 as a fighter pilot. During the war he served with No. 600 Squadron and as base commander of Djedjelli in North Africa. Back in the UK he joined No. 29 Squadron and No. 264 Squadron.
After the war he continued to fly for commercial carriers in Africa. Betweeen 1955 and 1960 he worked in Kenya where he was the second mayor in Eldoret . He then moved to Uganda wher he worked for Caspair Air Charters.
In 1960 he was awarded an MBE for evacuating Belgian refugees from Congo during the revolution
Elwell tragically died aged 52 when he crashed his de Havilland Dragon Rapide at Entebbe Airport in Uganda in October 1962.
He suffered a heart attack as he came in to land.

Promotions:
September 18th, 1939: Pilot Officer (probation)
September 18th, 1940: Flying Officer
September 18th. 1941: Flight Lieutenant (war sub)
June 25th, 1943: Squadron Leader (war sub)
? Temporary Wing Commander
March 7th, 1946: commission resigned; retaining rank as WIng Commander

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Squadron Leader

Unit:

No. 264 (Madras Presidency) Squadron, Royal Air Force

Awarded on:

August 8th, 1944

Citation:
"This officer has displayed high qualities of leadership, bravery and skill, setting a fine example to the flight he commands. He has completed a large number of sorties and has destroyed 3 enemy aircraft at night. His keenness and devotion have been outstanding."

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

• - The London Gazette Issue 34705 published on the 10 October 1939
  - The London Gazette Issue 34976 published on the 22 October 1940
  - The London Gazette Issue 35319 published on the 21 October 1941
  - Third Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 36140 published on the 17 August 1943
  - Third Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 36644 published on the 4 August 1944
  - Second Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 37541 published on the 19 April 1946
  - The Daily Mail
  - Highworth Historical Society
  - Cieldegloire