Hammitt K. Elliott Jr.
Rank: Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army
Unit: Signal Reserve Corps Aviation Service
Entered service from: New Jersey
Died:
Buried at: Mount Moriah Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Second Lieutenant Hammitt Kennett Elliott Jr. was born in Pennsylvania around 1899 to Hammitt K. Elliott and his wife, the former Katie V. Kimble. Sadly, his mother died before he was 11 years old. When the Census was taken in 1910, he was living with his father, a men’s clothing salesman, uncle, and grandmother at 205 Fourth Avenue in Haddon Heights, New Jersey. The family later moved to 306 Washington Terrace in Audubon, New Jersey.
Hammitt K. Elliott Jr. enlisted in the Signal Reserve Corps Aviation Service in October 1917, and was sent to the Princeton Flying School on October 20, 1917. He was sent to Houston two weeks later.
Second Lieutenant Elliott was killed at the United States Aviation Field at Houston, TX on February 27, 1918, when he lost control of the airplane he was flying 350 feet above the ground. He was caught in a heavy gust of wind trying to make a tail spin and failed to regain control of his machine. J. H. Geisse, a cadet flying with him, escaped with slight injuries. The day before he was killed he was commissioned a lieutenant. 19 at the time of his death, he was survived by his father and stepmother, Hammitt K. & Mae Elliott, of 306 Washington Terrace, Audubon, NJ, and a sister, Bessie. His father was managing a men’s haberdashery at the time of Lieutenant Elliott’s passing.
Aerial Craft Take More Deadly Toll
Nevada State Journal —
AERIAL CRAFT TAKE MORE DEADLY TOLL
Lieutenant Elliott Killed in Tail Spin While Flying at Ellington Field
HOUSTON, Texas, Feb. 27.—Second Lieutenant Hammitt K. Elliott, 19 years old, was killed and Cadet J. H. Geisse was slightly injured today at Ellington Field, when the airplane in which they were flying fell into a tail spin and crashed about 350 feet to the ground. Lieutenant Elliott, who enlisted at Haddon Heights, N. J., October 5, 1917, was commissioned yesterday. Cadet Geisse’s home was not announced.
Tail Spin Fatal
Officers termed Geisse’s escape from death miraculous. The wind was blowing in heavy gusts and caused a loss of control of the machine. When it fell into the tail spin the men were not high enough to regain control. The machine was demolished and Lieutenant Elliott’s body was mangled. Cadet Geisse in his report of the accident said that it occurred so suddenly that he did not realize anything was wrong until, virtually the plane had crashed.
Elliott
Philadelphia Inquirer —
ELLIOTT.—Suddenly at Ellington Field, Houston, Texas. HAMMITT KENNETT ELLIOTT. Second Lieutenant, R. M. A., son of Hammitt K. and the late Katie V. Elliott (nee Kimble) in his 20th year. Due notice of funeral from residence of his father, No. 6 Washington Terrace, Audubon, N. J.
Elliott
Philadelphia Inquirer —
ELLIOTT.—Suddenly at Ellington Field, Houston, Texas. HAMMETT [sic] KENNETT ELLIOTT. Second Lieutenant, S. R. C. A. Son of Hammett [sic] K. and late Katie V. Elliott (nee Kimble). In his 20th year. Relatives and friends, also Haddon Heights Home Guard, Washington Camp, 127, P. O. S. of A., employes of Victor Talking Machine Co. and all other societies of which he was a member, are invited to attend funeral, Wed., 1 P. M., from residence of his father, 6 Washington Terrace, Audubon, N. J. Services at St. Mary’s P. E. Church. Int. at Mount Moriah Cem. Friends may call Tues. eve.
Funeral of Audubon Aviator
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Special to The Inquirer.
AUDUBON, N. J., March 5.—Patriotic Order Sons of America funeral services were held over the body of the young aviator, Lieutenant H. Kenneth Elliott, at the home of his parents on Washington avenue tonight, attended by the local lodge, many friends of the family and other organizations. The funeral services tomorrow afternoon will be under the military escort of the Haddon Heights Home Guards.