Victor H Ellard Jr

Military
media-19740.jpeg UPL 19740 Victor H. Ellard at 20 years old. He kept and wore this same perfectly fitting uniform at two Veteran's Day ceremonies in 2014 when he was 91.

Uploaded

Object Number - UPL 19740 - Victor H. Ellard at 20 years old. He kept and wore this same perfectly fitting uniform at two Veteran's Day ceremonies in 2014 when he was 91.

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

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

Brigadier-General Frank Alton Armstrong Jr. during a visit to the 305th Bomb Group Official caption on image: "(GPR-83-9305) (18-6-43) (Brig. Gen. Armstrong..."
  • Unit Hierarchy: Division
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The insignia of the 384th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Places

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

Date
ContributorGregory Ellard
Changes
Sources

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.

Date
ContributorGregory Ellard
Changes
Sources

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.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / self

Victor H Ellard: Gallery (1 items)