Biography of Lesley Ean Benson McKellar

Squadron/s: 79 SQN
616 SQN RAF
Rank On Discharge/Death: Flying Officer (FLGOFF)
Mustering / Specialisation: Pilot
Date of Birth: 03 Jul 1918
Contributing Author/s: Compiled by Vince Conant, 2017

The Spitfire Association

Date of birth: 03 Jul 1918
Place of birth: Sydney, NSW
Place of enlistment: Sydney, NSW
Next of Kin: McKellar, Leslie

Aircraft/Accident Record:

A58-144 F.VC EE851 Rec 1AD ex UK 20/04/43. Rec 79Sqn RAAF 28/05/43. Coded UP-O. Accident 0935Hrs 10/07/43, during high altitude test flight over base Vivigani, Goodenough Island, the engine cut-out at 36000ft, resulting in deadstick wheels up landing at non matted portion of strip. Aircraft overshot strip on landing and touched down on southern end. Pilot was Sgt McKellar Ser#403681. Aircraft extensively damaged, though pilot un-hurt. Rec 26 RSU ex 79Sqn RAAF 15/07/43. Allotted to 15ARD ex 26RSU 15/07/43. AMSE Approval per File#9/16/952 Min#7 23/08/43. RR Merlin M46 #93761. This particular aircraft was flown mostly by Unit CO, S/Ldr Rawlinson previously.

Courtesy ADF SERIALS

Squadrons in which Lesley served

Photographs

Kiriwina, Trobriand Islands, Papua. 1944-01-11. Group portrait of pilots of No. 79 (Spitfire) Squadron RAAF outside their alert hut. FRONT ROW: FLGOFF P. Birch, Sydney, NSW; FLGOFF K. Slatyer, Perth, WA; FSGT R. Rice, Glenelg, SA; PLTOFF L. McKellar, Gunnedah, NSW; FSGT A. Byrne, Sydney, NSW. STANDING: FLGOFF W. Pickard, Sydney, NSW; FLGOFF R. Nathan, Singapore; FSGT D. Grinlington, Melbourne, VIC; SQNLDR M. Bott, Sydney, NSW; FLGOFF P. Sebire, Brisbane, QLD; FSGT P. Turner, Murwillumbah, NSW; FLGOFF W. Wright, Samarai, Papua; FLGOFF J. Barrie, Melton, VIC; FLGOFF O. Morgan, Malvern, SA; FLGOFF W. Napier, Sydney, NSW; FLGOFF F. Binning, Sydney, NSW.