McClelland, Gerald
Personal Information
Rank | F/O |
Forename(s) | Gerald |
Surname | McClelland |
Gender | M |
Age | 21 |
Decorations | DFM |
Date of Death | 23-04-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of Margaret McClelland, of Coleraine, Co. Derry, Northern Ireland. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax V |
Serial Number | LL235 |
Markings | KN-L |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Denmark |
Burial/Memorial Place | Assens (Fyn) New Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Sp. Mem. |
Epitaph | PEACEFULLY SLEEPING FREE FROM PAIN WE WOULD NOT WAKE HIM TO SUFFER AGAIN |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 207 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 160597 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 4 |
Squadron | 77 |
Squadron Motto | Esse potius quam videri (To be, rather than to seem) |
Trade | Navigator |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | Tranerodde, near Lighthouse, Als Island, Syddanmark Provincer |
Country | Denmark |
Memorial Type | Inscribed memorial stone |
Memorial Text |
Translation "77 Sqn Halifax LL235, 23/4/44. Shot down by a German night fighter" |
Location | Holy Trinity Church, Elvington, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stained Glass Window & Roll of Honour |
Memorial Text | Memorial windows and Roll of Honour for 77 Sqn. R.A.F. |
Location | Yorkshire Air Museum, Elvington North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Marble Column with Metal Sculpture and Plaques |
Memorial Text | Memorial to 77 Sqn. R.A.F. City of Lancaster's own |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/657/8 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/657/7 |
Fellow Servicemen
Please note that this list gives all the losses aboard the quoted aircraft and occasionally these may have occurred on an earlier date when the aircraft was not itself lost. Please check the dates of death carefully.
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 23-04-1944 |
End Date | 24-04-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Elvington |
Day/Night Raid | Night (2% moon) |
Operation | Mining over the Baltic. 114 aircraft to lay mines in five separate areas of the Baltic. 5 losses |
Reason for Loss | Shot down by a night-fighter (Me 110) and crashed close to Traner Odde lighthouse on Ils Island, Denmark |