Ellis was educated in Adelaide and enlisted in RAAF Aircrew on the 31st of January 1942.

Training at Victor Harbour, Parafield and Uranquinty, he was posted to Mildura for fighter training at 2OTU. Ellis was flying Kittyhawk A29-119 on the 12th of April 1943 in formation with other aircraft. They were cloud flying and Ellis was last seen at 1500 feet. The aircraft crashed at Yarrara, 35 air miles southeast of Mildura. Reg Ellis, his brother, was a Lancaster pilot with Bomber Command.

Acknowledgement – Doreen Bisset (his widow).