Service No. 414009
\n\nDate of Birth: 9 Jul 1914
\n\nPlace of Birth: TOOWOOMBA, QLD
\n\nDate of Enlistment: 20 Jul 1941
\n\nDate of Discharge: 26 Apr 1946
\n\nRank: Flight Lieutenant
\n\nDate of Death: 08 Nov 1999
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\n\n<<<<< >>>>>
\n\nFlight Lieutenant - Bill Collins - Pilot
\n\tFlight Lieutenant - Leonard Eric (Len) Elsner Navigator/Bomb Aimer
\n\tFlight Sgt. - Ken Nicholl - Wireless Operator
\n\tFlight Sgt. - Jack Farland - Wireless Operator/Air Gunner
\n\t“I met Len on his first week-end leave from Evans Head Bombing and Gunnery Training course. I'd just come off 8 weeks of night duty at Lismore Hospital and my friend and I thought we'd earned a night out and went to the Saturday night dance held for the “troops”.
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After 7 weeks Len moved onto Parkes where he got his “wings”’ looking very smart I must say! About 6 weeks later they sailed off to the UK, then Egypt – away for about 2 ½ years. We became engaged in 1944 and were married in July 1945. Len arrived back in April, and the war ended in August. He was posted to Sandgate arranging post-war rehabilitation until his discharge in April 1946.
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Len had very good health, except for a mild miocardic mishap in 1979 – his death was very sudden, a ruptured aortic aneurism – just 7 hours from “go to whoa”. When the surgeon told him he might not survive an operation, and if he didn't operate he wouldn't make it, Len's reply was – "I've had 85 good years so lets leave it at that".
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We had our Golden Wedding in 1995 – have 3 lovely daughters and great son-in-laws and 9 beautiful grandchildren – what more could you ask for?
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Unfortunately Ken Nicholl and Jack Farland have also died and Bill Collins has not been well so that their operational details are not readily available.
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Marie Elsner has sent the crew photo standing near Baltimore “H” Harry.
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