Dr Ken Ellwood - Hamilcar Glider Pilot who purchased G-AOIS
Ken Ellwood first flew a Tiger Moth in March 1943 at the Elementary Flying Training School (FTS) at Derby. He then completed his flying training at No 3 British Flying Training School Miami, Oklahoma between August 1943 and February 1944, flying the Cornell and Harvard training aeroplanes.
Ken Ellwood and Harvard
On returning to the UK, he again flew Tiger Moths at Desford and Cambridge before joining No 5 Glider Training School at RAF Shobdon in December 1944 to fly the Hotspur glider. Thereafter, he trained on progressively heavier gliders, the Horsa and Hadrian, at RAF Brize Norton, Keevil and Hampstead Norris. Disappointed not to have been involved in Operation VARSITY, the Rhine crossing in March 1945, Ellwood arrived at RAF Tarrant Rushton at the beginning of April 1945 to fly the mighty General Aircraft Hamilcar, the largest British glider of the War, which he soloed on 3 April.
Hamilcar at Tarrant Rushton 1945, Warrant Officer Ken Ellwood far right
‘Holding’ at No 15 EFTS, RAF Carlisle from January 1946 until his release from the RAF in November, Ellwood’s first flight from Carlisle was made in R5172 on 31 January 1946.
Ken Ellwood poses with Tiger Moth, Carlisle 1946
Post-War Dr Ken Ellwood made a career as a dentist. In his early 70s, he discovered that R5172 was one of three Tiger Moths he had flown which were still airworthy; he purchased G-AOIS in May 1995, basing her at Sherburn-in-Elmet in Yorkshire, frequently returning to the skies with former RAF colleagues.
Ken Ellwood with his Tiger Moth and 1932 Rolls Royce at Sherburn-in-Elmet
Following a take-off accident on 5 August 2001, he arranged for the Aeroplane to be restored in her ‘Carlisle, 1946’ colour scheme, a scheme in which she emerged in January 2006 and wears to this day.
1946 Pose Re-Created with Mrs Ellwood... and his original RAF jacket!
Ken Ellwood last flew ‘IS solo, aged 88, on 16 April 2011, taking her on a visit to Elvington. Dr Ken Ellwood died on 21 September 2015.
