The Co-pilot of the Shackleton that was sent up to search for Hastings TG579 off RAF Gan has passed away

The on duty Shack was index number WB834 and had a crew of 10
Captain and first squadron pilot was Flight Lieutenant John Elias
Second pilot was David Parry-Evans
Two Navigators, Bill Williams and Barry Wallace
A Flight Engineer Flight Sergeant Medlam
Five Signallers, Master Signaller Lyall, F/Sgt. Wright, Sgt. Thomas, Sgt. Head and Sgt. Rushmere.
A special mention of thanks must go to the captain and crew of this aircraft for their involvement in our rescue, for within minutes of TG579 ditching John Elias started up the four Griffon engines of his aircraft and was instructed to taxi from the dispersal area to the Channel End of the runway and to shine the powerful lights of his aircraft to look for the ditched Hastings, the crew and its passengers. As recalled by Don Ellis. John thought if he had to do this he might as well get airborne, which he did probably about 20 minutes after the initial crash, no one is certain of this time but this time is within reason.

It is worth recalling that this aircraft took off in what was described at that time as the worst storm the island had encountered from those stationed on Gan, and that this aircraft took off in conditions identical to those which Flight Lieutenant Scott was trying to land his Hastings in! I understand from conversations with members of the current Shackleton Association that John Elias ended his flying career with an astonishing 14500 flying hours on Shackleton type alone. His co-pilot David Parry-Evans (now Air Chief Marshal Sir David Parry-Evans GCB CBE) and John must have been dispatched by someone above to have achieved this miracle of airmanship!

See Page 21 https://www.rafnews.co.uk/pdf/RAF-News-18-Sep-2020.pdf