Ellis' crew were seen as effective from a tactical and a psychological perspective, as their aircraft's presence was often sufficient to cause RUF forces operating in an area to flee.

As the RUF advanced on the capital, Freetown, British forces stationed in Sierra Leone were evacuated, leaving the city to be occupied by the rebel faction.

Although they were attacking at night, where the air crew had no equipment that would provide night-vision, Ellis issued a plan to fly out and meet them in an effort to drive them off.

Anecdotally, when their ammo supplies were expended, Ellis would fly his gunship low to the ground in order to intimidate the RUF and cause their armed trucks to overturn due to the downdraft.

These efforts would eventually draw the attention of British military command once more, who upon their decision to return to Sierra Leone agreed to provide his crew with support and work in conjunction with him in their operations.