Pacific Wrecks

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Prisoners Of War (POW)

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Chronology

P-40E Kittyhawk Serial Number A29-69

RAAF
No. 75 Squadron

Former Assignments
No. 76 Squadron

Pilot F/O Montague David Ellerton, 568 (KIA, BR) Burwood, NSW
Crashed April 27, 1942

Aircraft History
Built by Curtis in Buffalo, New York. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) P-40E Warhawk serial number 41-5550. Disassembled and shipped overseas to Australia and reassembled.

Wartime History
During March 1942 delivered to Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) as Kittyhawk serial number A29-69. On April 1, 1942 assigned to No. 76 Squadron. On April 25, 1942 assigned to No. 75 Squadron. No known nickname or nose art.

Mission History
On April 27, 1942 took off piloted by F/O Montague David Ellerton on a flight northward bound for Port Moresby then to Milne Bay to join No. 75 Squadron. Ellerton attempted to land on the beach roughly 50km to the northwest of Cooktown to assist P-39F Airacobra 41-7210 pilot Lt William McGovern that crashed the previous day.

Ellerton attempted to land with his landing gear down on the beach south of Murdoch Point, near the rock ledges near Cooktown. While landing, his wingtip hit a sand dune and flipped upside down. In the cockpit, Ellerton was trapped inside and drown due to the incoming tide.

Memorials
Ellerton was officially declared dead the day of the mission. After his remains were recovered, he was buried at the Townsville War Cemetery at B. C. 5). He was the son of Montague and Mabel Eliza Ellerton. Prior to the war he lived with his wife Judith Jean Ellerton at Burwood in New South Wales.

References
ADF Serials - P-40E Kittyhawk A29-69
CWGC - Montague David Ellerton
Oz@War - 27 April 1942 crash of a Kittyhawk 50kms north west of Cooktown
44 Days (2016) pages 220-222

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Last Updated
August 8, 2021

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