ALFRED ELLIS FEATURED IN THE EDMONTON JOURNAL JUNE 20, 2016
Like many of Canada’s air force units,
the early years for 408 Squadron were a difficult and deadly trial by fire.
Alfred Ellis was part of it, working long hours in English
airfield hangars to fix up Halifax and Lancaster bombers that had returned from
runs over Europe.
“There were a lot of disasters. Planes coming back short of fuel,
or shot up and that,” Ellis recalled of his 1943-45 experience. “There was one
situation where a plane crashed into a meadow and killed seven cows. One came
back with 52 holes in it. Another one came back with a hole blown in the wing
that must have been eight feet in diameter.”
By the end of the Second World War, the squadron had collectively
flown more than 4,600 sorties, while suffering 936 casualties.
Today, at age 93, Ellis is one of the few remaining veterans from
that era who can tell the stories of the squadron’s early days of bravery and
sacrifice.
On Sunday, he was on hand at the Edmonton Garrison to do just that
as his former squadron — now renamed the 408 Tactical Helicopter Squadron —
concluded three days of celebrations to mark its 75th anniversary.
The event included marches conducted by current members of the
squadron, along with a group of about 20 veterans and old guard, including
Ellis. O Canada was played, followed by a fly past of four Griffon helicopters
— the squadron’s current aircraft — in diamond formation.
“Anniversaries are a time for us to connect with our history, and
history inspires for what we have to do in the future,” 1 Wing Commander Col.
Scott Clancy told about 200 people gathered on the tarmac outside Hangar No. 2.
He remarked on some of the squadron’s accomplishments as it
underwent different homes, assignments and aircraft types since
Ellis’ time.
In addition to its work photographing and mapping much of Canada’s
North, the squadron has deployed to a number of war zones. Most recently, it
played a pivotal role in Afghanistan, operating Chinook and Griffon helicopters
that kept Canadian troops off roads laden with improvised
explosive devices.
The unit has also assisted in the response to various natural
disasters around the world, including last month’s Fort McMurray wildfire.
Despite all the changes over the decades, the squadron has
maintained its original patch, a Canada goose, which was championed by the
unit’s first commander, Nelles Timmerman.
Timmerman was also responsible for the squadron’s motto: For
Freedom.
“When asked why that motto, (Timmerman) answered with a simple
question,” Clancy told the crowd. “Why are we here?”
Clancy said that remains good advice for the current members of
the squadron, which has just been placed in a state of high readiness for a
potential deployment to Iraq in January.
Lt.-Col. Trevor Teller, the current commander of 408, said the
details of any mission are still being determined.
“But I see it being as very much as we did in Afghanistan,” he
said. “Supporting the ground forces. Command and liaison. Enabling movement
over great distances and avoiding the danger that is obviously on the ground.”
As for Ellis, who followed his time in the military with careers
raising tropical fish and restoring antique cars, he said he is proud to
be part of a unit that continues to do important and dangerous work on Canada’s
behalf.
“I pray for them,” he said, staring at a black-and-white 1943
picture of himself sitting atop a Halifax bomber surrounded by other mechanics.
“Keep it up.”
PLEASE NOTE:
Alfred Ellis was also featured in the Edmonton Sun. Below is a picture of Alfred Ellis being interviewed by Pastor Max Solbrekken at Community 10 TV in Camrose. You may see the interview on Max Solbrekken on youtube. - Donna Solbrekken
