Leitch, John Traill
Personal Information
Rank | Sgt |
Forename(s) | John Traill |
Surname | Leitch |
Gender | M |
Age | 19 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 16-09-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of John Traill Leitch and Jessie Leitch, of Westcliff-On-Sea, Essex. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax III |
Serial Number | MZ915 |
Markings | HD-T |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Denmark |
Burial/Memorial Place | Abrena Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Allied Mil. Plot. Row 5. 11. |
Epitaph | MINE WERE THE HEIGHTS THE EAGLES FOUND |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 198 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 1801415 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 4 |
Squadron | 466 (Australian) |
Trade | Air Bomber |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | Memorial Gardens, North End Park, Driffield, East Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Marble Memorial |
Memorial Text | A memorial to the men and women of 462 and 466 Sqns RAAF who served in Bomber Command during WW2 |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1926/18 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1926/17 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 15-09-1944 |
End Date | 16-09-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Driffield |
Day/Night Raid | Night (2% moon) |
Operation | Kiel. 490 aircraft, 6 lost. The old town and modern city centre were devastated, although the local report also states that many bombs fell outside the city limits. Despite the damage, the death toll was remarkably low at 12 with a further 28 injuries. |
Reason for Loss | Collided with 432 Squadron Halifax MZ915 and crashed onto Als Island, Denmark |