Keele, Brian Rushworth Died

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Personal Information

Rank F/L
Forename(s) Brian Rushworth
Surname Keele
Gender M
Age 28
Decorations DFC
Date of Death 12-11-1944
Next of Kin Son of Joseph Keele and Katie Elizabeth Keele (née Atkins). Husband of Irene Frances Keele (née Taylor).
KEELE BR

Aircraft Information

Aircraft de Havilland Mosquito NF.30
Serial Number MV525
Markings VY-

Memorial Information

Burial/Memorial Country United Kingdom
Burial/Memorial Place Wandsworth (Putney Vale) Cemetery
Grave Reference Block A.S. Grave 1231.

IBCC Memorial Information

Map
Directions to panel 192
KEELE BR

Location

Row -
Panel 192
Column -
Line -

Directions From the Chadwick Centre, take the central path towards The Spire.

Phase 2
Panel Number 192

Enlistment Information

Service Number 110837
Service Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Group 100
Squadron 85
Squadron Motto Noctu diuque venamur (We hunt by day and night)
Trade Pilot
Country of Origin United Kingdom

Other Memorials

Location Haveringland Parish Church, adjacent to former RAF Swannington, Norfolk
Country United Kingdom
Memorial Type Framed Scroll and Framed RoH
Memorial Text Remembering the men and women of the Royal Air Force and Allied Forces who served with 100 (BS) Group
Location St. Peter's Church, Haveringland, Norfolk
Country United Kingdom
Memorial Type Inscribed stone tablet
Memorial Text This church was dedicated as the memorial church to 100 (Bomber Support) Group. Remembering the men and women of the RAF and Allied Forces who served with 100 (Bomber Support) Gp

Miscellaneous Information

Born 15 January 1916, Wandsworth, London.
The navigator Flt Lt Wright was pulled from the flames by 1241052 Cpl Thomas Charles Woodhead, who was awarded the BEM (Military)-Gazetted 24 April 1945. Citation: One afternoon in November, 1944, an aircraft, whilst attempting to make a forced landing on an airfield, crashed and burst into flames. Corporal Woodhead who was working in the vicinity ran to the scene of the accident in company with other airmen. By the time they arrived one wing was burning fiercely and the fire was spreading to the cockpit and fuselage. Disregarding the flames and the ammunition which had started to explode, Corporal Woodhead and his helpers jumped on to the port wing and the cockpit perspex canopy and tried to break into the cockpit but they were unable to release the emergency roof exit or to get at the crew. They could see that the pilot was bent over the control column and that the navigator was on the floor. By this time a fire engine had arrived and commenced to play foam jets on to ithe cockpit, but the heat had become so intense that all were forced to retire. A few moments later the navigator's head and shoulders appeared through a hole which had been made in the side of the fuselage. Despite the intense heat and danger from exploding tanks, Corporal Woodhead immediately dashed into the flames and dragged the injured man to safety. Corporal Woodhead then attempted to return and search for the pilot but was driven back by the heat which was by then too great to allow of any further rescue attempt to be made. Corporal Woodhead had shown complete disregard of his personal safety and his action in finally rescuing the navigator from the blazing wreckage was one requiring great courage".
Flt Lt Keele awarded DFC whilst with 604 Squadron. Gazetted 7 September 1943. Citation: As pilot this officer has displayed great skill and keenness in night operations, during which he has destroyed 5 enemy aircraft. His example of gallantry and devotion to duty has been highly commendable.

The National Archives

Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/706/22
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/706/22

Last Operation Information

Start Date 12-11-1944
End Date 12-11-1944
Takeoff Station Swannington
Day/Night Raid Day
Operation Training- airborne intercept exercise
Reason for Aircraft Loss Port engine failed and the crew returned to base. Stalled at 200' while making the descent for landing, bursting into flames on impact
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Casualty Pack

IBCC is delighted to introduce a unique facility to link the Losses Database to the relevant RAF Casualty Pack on the National Archives website. This project is the result of on-going collaboration between IBCC, the MOD Records Office and National Archives, Kew. This document describes what Casualty Packs are, when they were created, the process of making them available to the public and then goes on to describe the process by which you can view the contents of the packs. Casualty Packs (CPs) were created by the RAF whenever there was serious injury or loss of life associated with operational activity within the RAF. This includes operational flying losses, enemy action due to air raids, road accidents either on station or even off-station if they involved RAF vehicles. Deaths due to natural causes in service or accidents that did not involve RAF vehicles did not generally give rise to a CP.

CPs were originally given a unique reference number by the RAF. Each begins with the letter ‘P’ and is followed by six digits, then an oblique (forward slash) and the finally the year in which the incident took place- for example P396154/42.

The CPs are in the process of being made available to the general public as they are passed from the MOD Records Office, Portsmouth to National Archives, Kew. This process requires some rework to the files which is very time consuming, so the process of making them all available to National Archives will take several years. They are being made available in increasing date order.

Once CPs arrive at National Archives they are assigned a unique AIR81 number, so each CP has both a P-number and an AIR81 number. Both are searchable on the National Archives website under ‘Search the catalogue’ and both are included on the IBCC website.

The AIR81 reference on the IBCC website is a link to the file on the National Archives website. When you click on it, the relevant page will open in a new tab on your browser.

There is currently no plan to digitise AIR81 files, partly because they are fragile and partly because the information they contain can at times be sensitive, even harrowing, since they may contain exhumation reports and even photographs of corpses. Family members wishing to read the AIR81 files relating to their ancestors are advised to exercise caution and be guided by National Archives warnings where appropriate.

There are two means for accessing AIR81 files- to attend in person or to order a copy by post.

To attend in person, the attendee should first create a Reader’s Ticket. This can be done online by following this link: https://secure.nationalarchives.gov.uk/login/yourdetails. Then click on the AIR81 reference on the IBCC website and click Order in Advance. Enter your Reader’s Ticket number and state the date on which you intend to visit. National Archives will have the file ready for you when you arrive, saving you time. When you visit Kew, you must quote the Reader’s Ticket number and take along two forms of ID- one bearing your signature and one bearing your address. When you view the files, you are permitted to take photographs of each page, should you wish.

Alternatively, if you wish to order a copy by post, please be aware that there is a charge for this service based on the number of pages in the file. Click on the AIR81 reference on the IBCC website and then click Request a Copy. There is an £8.40 charge for National Archives staff to access the file and give you a quotation for the copying service. The process takes around 24 days to complete and can be expensive.

IBCC wishes to thank the staff at the MOD Records Office and National Archives for their engagement and assistance in making this facility available to our website users.