Born: 18th March 1922 in Adelaide, South Australia

Killed: 01st May 1946 Camooweal, Queensland, Australia

Worked as a junior survey draughtsman for Land Department prior to service. Enlisted on the 11th July 1940 at No. 52 Recruiting Centre, Adelaide at the age of 18. Trained at No. 26 Elementary Flying Training School on the 26th April 1941 in Rhodesia, South Africa flying the Tiger Moth and Harvard. No. 22 Elementary Flying Training School on the 10th June 1941. Pilot badge awarded on the 29th July 1941. Embarked for England and at No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre on the 25th November 1941. Further training with No. 55 Operational Training Unit on the 09th December 1941 in Newcastle, England.

P/O. on the 03rd January 1943, F/O. 03rd September 1943, Fl/Lt. 03rd January 1945.

Flying with W/O. Patrick Sidney William Daniel 1182509 RAFVR when his wingman lost his life. Further details here.

Joined 128 squadron on the 06th May 1942 flying Hurricanes, then to 247 squadron on the 29th April 1943 flying the Typhoon. Transferred to the reserve as a Fl/Lt. on the 21st March 1945 to join Connellan Airways

DFC Citation - London Gazette dated the 29th August 1944:

'Flying Officer Sellick has taken part in many sorties Including attacks on locomotives, railway sidings, mechanical transport and other targets on the ground. He has displayed the greatest keenness for operations and his determination to inflict loss on the enemy has been most evident.

In June, 1944, he took part in an attack on a number of armoured vehicles in the Caen area. Before closing in the aircraft was hit by fragments of shell and at the same time Flying Officer Sellick observed another aircraft of the formation being heavily engaged by fire from the ground defences. Displaying great resolution, he dived almost to ground level and raked the gun site with cannon shells in an effort to divert the enemy fire he afterwards attacked his main target in the face of much light and heavy anti-aircraft fire.

His aircraft was repeatedly hit but this officer flew it to base and effected a masterly landing'.

On the 01st May 1946 he was piloting Percival Gull VH-UVA of Connellan Airways from Alice Springs via Camooweal (first scheduled overnight stop) on the Borroloola mail run.

It seems that he was perhaps low on fuel and circled Camooweal with the intention of making a forced landing on the High Street. The aircraft wing snagged a wire and was ripped off, sending the plane crashing into the town below. The engine broke free of its mountings on impact and struck a house, rest of airframe demolished with just the rear fuselage partly intact.

Sadly, Sellick was killed when he was thrown out of the aircraft however, no one else was hurt. On inspection No fuel remained in the fuel tanks.

Above: Main Street, Camooweal - listed as the longest High Street in the world according to 'Waymarking' (188 km)

Percival Gull VH-UVA:

1935 - Built by Gravesend by Percival Aircraft Ltd.

18th October 1937 - Change of ownership. Edward John Connellan (1), Alice Springs New Territories.

Aircraft painted dark blue, named 'Jan II' on the cowling.

(1) Edward John Connellan died on 26th December 1983, age 71. He is buried in the memorial cemetery at Alice Springs, adjacent to the cemetery is a museum dedicated to Connellan and Connellan Airways.

Burial details:

Kyle Bowering Sellick. Centennial Park Cemetery. Mitcham City, South Australia. General C, Path 0, Grave 29. Son of Edward Ernest Bowering Sellick (died 12th August 1965, age 66) and Beatrice Sellick (née Harrison - Married on the 30th September 1920) of 25 Commercial Road, Hyde Park, South Australia.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to the National Archives of Australia, Geoff Goodall and his database on the Percival Gull, Aviation Safety, Aviation History.

Also maybe of interest:

Pages related to Veterans
Pages regarding Australian losses

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