Lothrop F. Ellis Home On Leave After 50 Combat Missions

LT. L. F. Ellis Home On Leave After 50 Combat Missions

Took Part In Sicilian and Italian Drives;
Is Recommended for Distinguished Flying Cross

(March 3, 1944) - 1st Lt. Lothrop F. Ellis, 23 year old AAF P-38 Lightning pilot, formerly of Mountainview Avenue, has completed 50 combat missions over enemy territory in the North African and European theatres of war and is home on a 21-day leave with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Donovan Ellis, now of Germantown, Pa. Later he will go on to Atlantic City for rest and reassignment.

A member of the veteran Lightning group that was first to see action after the invasion in North Africa, Lt. Ellis took part in the bombing of Pantelleria, in the Sicilian campaign, the Italian invasion, and numerous escort missions with Flying Fortresses and Medium bombers over Italy, Austria, the Balkans, Greece, France and Germany.

He has also taken part in dive-bombing missions, fighter sweeps, and strafing raids during that time.

While flying with his group. Lt. Ellis destroyed Messerschmidt 109s under circumstances which caused him to be recommended for the Distinguished Flying Cross.

He has been awarded the Air Medal for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight and also eleven Oak Leaf Clusters for the Air Medal for additional acts of merit and destroyed enemy aircraft.

He has on many occasions led his squadron through enemy opposition to complete the assigned missions, and has also led the group on escort of the Flying Fortresses.

Lt. Ellis has lived in Nutley most of his life and was graduated from Nutley High School. He enlisted right after Pearl Harbor while a student at Georgia Institute of Technology. He began his training at Fort Eustis, Va., with the Coast Artillery, later transferring to the Army Air Force. He was been overseas about a year.

Ensign Donovan Ellis Jr., USNR, also a graduate of the high school here, is in command of a L.C.T. in the South Pacific. He was graduated from Princeton in 1940.

The boys' father is with the United States Signal Depot at Philadelphia Mrs. Donovan has been spending a few days in town as guest of Mrs. Hugh Davis of Prospect street.

From The Nutley Sun, March 3, 1944

LT. L. F. Ellis Home On Leave

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