Elliott, Surtees

Date of death:: August 20th, 1944
Buried on:: Commonwealth Memorial of the Missing El Alamein
Service number:: 566707
Nationality:: British

Biography

When he was sixteen, Surtees Elliott joined the RAF at Halton to train as a Fitter/Rigger. After postings at RAF Finningly and Honington, he was posted to RAF Aden. Within a year he had volunteered for flying duties and was trained to operate the LEwis gun mounted in the rear cockpit of the Vickers Vincent. It was also for an action whilst flying in this aircraft, that he was awarded the AFM.
Early 1942 he was recommend for aircrew training and on completion he was retrainined to fly on Catalina flying-boats.

After the handover of U-862 on VE Day to the Japanese it was learnt from the captains logbook that on 20 August 1944,40 miles west of the Great Comoro Island the uboat while surfaced was surprised by Catalina Ib FP104 with Elliott on board. With no time to dive the uboat egaged the diving aircraft, setting the atrboard engine on fire which subsequently crashed. All 13 crew members were lost.

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Air Force Medal (AFM)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Leading Aircraftman
Unit:: No. 8 Squadron, Royal Air Force
Awarded on:: September 24th, 1941

On January, 1941, Elliott was detailed to fly as the crewman in Vincent K4716 carrying spares - including a spare tyre - to an Army unit in the Hadhramout region. Whilst flying the tyre which was lashed to the starboard wing loosened due to the turbulence and slipped against the hot exhaust and was set alight.

"..On his own initiative and without hesitation he climbed on to the wing to secure the wheel. He undoubtedly saved the aircraft from catching fire and the crew from serious injury."

Originally recommended for a George Medal.