Elkington, Eric William
Killed in Action 1941-11-05
Birth Date: 1919
Born:
Home:
Enlistment:
Enlistment Date: Unknown
Service
RAFVR
Unit
608 (BR) Sqn- Squadron
Base
Thornaby
Rank
Position
Sergeant
Service Numbers
1325097
First Burial
Panel 42. at Runnymede Memorial, United Kingdom
Library and Archives Canada Service Files (may not exist)Hudson Mk. V AM642
Reconnaissance Terschilling Gat Netherlands (Mussels) 1941-November-05 to 1941-November-05
(BR) Sqn (RAF) Thornaby
On the night of Nov. 5-6, 1941, Yeates took Lockheed Hudson V (AM 642 "“ R Robert) into the air from RAF Thornaby, in North Yorkshire, and headed for a general North Sea line between Terschelling (Frisian Islands) and the Heligoland Bight. The idea was to patrol and attack anything found.
The strike was led by Wing Commander Rupert Derbyshire, who had eight Hudsons on the operation. It turned out to be a busy, costly evening.
O Orange flew right by a Luftwaffe Me 110, and probably a JU 88, without being seen, then attacked a convoy and likely overshot with its bombs. G George found the same convoy, hit something and caused a fire, without definite results. L Lion surprised a flak ship (which must have scared hell out of the crew as well), dropped its bombs, and came home with a six-inch hole in the starboard wing.
H Harry dropped on a merchant vessel of some description, "starting a fire."
Nothing was ever heard again from the wing commander and his crew, or Gordon Yeates and his (Sgt. J. Sansome, Sgt. Francis J. Hazlett, Sgt, Eric Elkington). They disappeared into the North Sea and are remembered on the Runnymede Memorial, north west of London.
Source: Malcolm Kelly is the author of SPROG: A Novel of Bomber Command, available at shops and online.
Hudson AM642
Lockheed Hudson A-28 A-29 AT-18
Source National Air Force Museum of Canada.
The Lockheed Hudson was an American-built light bomber and coastal reconnaissance aircraft built initially for the Royal Air Force (RAF) shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War and primarily operated by the RAF thereafter. The Hudson served throughout the war, mainly with Coastal Command, but also in transport and training roles, as well as delivering agents into occupied France. They were also used extensively with the Royal Canadian Air Force's (RCAF) anti-submarine squadrons.National Air Force Museum of Canada.
Hudson
Wikipedia Hudson 
Harold A Skaarup Web Page 
Hudon - Kestrel PublicationsHudson AM642 Mk. V - Reconnaissance Terschilling Gat Netherlands (Mussels) - 1941-11-05 to 1941-11-05
6 Group Unavailable
On the night of Nov. 5-6, 1941, Yeates took Lockheed Hudson V (AM 642 "“ R Robert) into the air from RAF Thornaby, in North Yorkshire, and headed for a general North Sea line between Terschelling (Frisian Islands) and the Heligoland Bight. The idea was to patrol and attack anything found.
The strike was led by Wing Commander Rupert Derbyshire, who had eight Hudsons on the operation. It turned out to be a busy, costly evening.
O Orange flew right by a Luftwaffe Me 110, and probably a JU 88, without being seen, then attacked a convoy and likely overshot with its bombs. G George found the same convoy, hit something and caused a fire, without definite results. L Lion surprised a flak ship (which must have scared hell out of the crew as well), dropped its bombs, and came home with a six-inch hole in the starboard wing.
H Harry dropped on a merchant vessel of some description, "starting a fire."
Nothing was ever heard again from the wing commander and his crew, or Gordon Yeates and his (Sgt. J. Sansome, Sgt. Francis J. Hazlett, Sgt, Eric Elkington). They disappeared into the North Sea and are remembered on the Runnymede Memorial, north west of London.
Source: Malcolm Kelly is the author of SPROG: A Novel of Bomber Command, available at shops and online.