McAlpine, Keith George
Personal Information
Rank | P/O |
Forename(s) | Keith George |
Surname | McAlpine |
Gender | M |
Age | 21 |
Decorations | MiD |
Date of Death | 20-02-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of William John and Mary Josephine McAlpine, of Glebe, New South Wales, Australia. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax III |
Serial Number | LV864 |
Markings | TL-O |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | 9. B. 28. |
Epitaph | HIS DUTY NOBLY DONE. EVER REMEMBERED |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 207 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 412623 |
Service | Royal Australian Air Force |
Group | 8 |
Squadron | 35 (Madras Presidency) |
Trade | Pilot |
Country of Origin | Australia |
Other Memorials
Location | Roadside Location, Graveley, Cambridgeshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Memorial Stone |
Memorial Text | Graveley Airfield 1942-1945 8 Group Bomber Command 35 Squadron Pathfinder Force 692 Squadron Light Night Striking Force R.A.F. To commemorate this airfield in honour of those who served the nation aircrew, groundstaff & WAFF of United Kingdom Dominions, C |
Location | All Saints Church, Offord Cluny, Cambridgeshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stained Glass Window, Sqn Badge & Roll of Honour |
Memorial Text | Remember before God all those airmen and airwomen 3who served with 35 Squadron R.A.F. Graveley 1939-1945 |
Miscellaneous Information
Mentioned in Despatches January 1946 |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/381/4 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/381/3 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 19-02-1944 |
End Date | 20-02-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Graveley |
Day/Night Raid | Night (22% moon) |
Operation | Leipzig. 823 aircraft, 78 losses (9.5%). Excluding early returners, the Halifax loss rate was 14.9%. As a result, Halifax Mks II and V were permanently withdrawn from service over Germany. The Kiel mine laying diversion was successful in drawing off fighters, but the German controllers only sent half of the available aircraft. As soon as the bomber stream crossed the Dutch coast they were confronted by the remaining half of the fighters and, moreover, the ones sent to Kiel were returned to join the fray. As a consequence, the fighters steadily picked off bombers all the way to this distant target. The winds were strongly than had been predicted and many bombers arrived early and had to orbit the target awaiting the Pathfinders, further increasing the likelihood of being picked off, either by flak or fighters. Leipzig was cloud covered and sky-marking had to be used. Early bombing appeared to be concentrated but later bombing less so. There was no local report nor a reconnaissance flight the following day. An American raid the following day then made it impossible to judge the effectiveness of the raid. |
Reason for Loss | Shot down by a night-fighter and, in flames, was partially abandoned from as little as 900' |