Died
29 July 1942
Aged 25
Born
30 January 1917
Sources
Place
Walks
Themes
Sergeant James Franklin Elliott
Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF)
James Franklin Elliott was born in Brisbane, Queensland on 30 Jan 1917, to William George Elliott and Jean O’Connor, of Sandgate, Queensland. He is one of at least 2 RAAF war victims in Barrow. (See Goulter). He is also one of a number of victims of accidents to Boulton-Paul Defiants based at Walney (See Polish airmen).
404331 SERGEANT
J. F. ELLIOTT
ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE
29TH JULY 1942 AGED 25
WE WHO LOVED HIM
MISS HIM SADLY
WE TRUST IN GOD
TO MEET AGAIN
Sergeant ELLIOTT, James Franklin
Source: AWM 237 (65) NAA : A705, 163/107/119 Commonwealth War Graves records
Aircraft Type: Boulton-Paul Defiant Serial number: N 1612
Unit: 10 Air Gunnery School RAF
On the 29th July 1942, Defiant N1612 crashed at Walney Island, Lancashire, at 1420 hours, during a non-operational gunnery exercise. The pilot was killed in the crash and the trainee air gunner was injured but died later of his injuries. The aircraft took off in coarse pitch, took a steep climbing turn to the right, it then stalled due to its low speed, the right wing dropped, the aircraft then rolled on its back and dived into the ground.
A later enquiry found that the accident resulted from an error of judgement by the pilot.
Crew: RAAF 404331 Sgt J F Elliott. (Pilot); RAF LAC Sydney Cooper, (Under Training Air Gunner)
Sgt Elliott is buried in the Barrow-in-Furness Cemetery, UK.
LAC Cooper is buried in the Eston Cemetery, UK. (5 mls from Middlesbrough)
