McKelvie, Charles Dale
Personal Information
Rank | Sgt |
Forename(s) | Charles Dale |
Surname | McKelvie |
Gender | M |
Age | 22 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 21-04-1943 |
Next of Kin | Son of William and Catherine McKelvie. Nephew of John D. McKelvie, of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Short Stirling III |
Serial Number | BF508 |
Markings | WP-S |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Denmark |
Burial/Memorial Place | Esbjerg (Fourfelt) Cemetery |
Grave Reference | AIII. 7. 23. |
Epitaph | WHEN SHALL THEIR GLORY FADE |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 209 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 1075572 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 3 |
Squadron | 90 |
Trade | WOp/AG |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | McKelvie Island, Manitoba; Within Max Lake |
Country | Canada |
Memorial Type | Island |
Memorial Text |
Location | Roadside location, Tilbury Juxta Clare, Essex |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Marble Memorial |
Memorial Text | In memory of the Airmen of XC Sqn, No 3 Bomb Group flying operations from here with the Mk 1 Stirling Bomber December 1943 until May 1943 |
Location | St. Mary & All the Saints Church, Little Walsingham, Norfolk |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Stone Tablet |
Memorial Text | In loving memory of Henry Philip Lee Warner AFC DFC. Only Son of Philip Henry & Mary King Lee Warner. Actg S/L RAFVR killed in action over Germany Aug 26th 1944 in his 32nd year |
Location | Village Green, Tuddenham, Suffolk |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Memorial atopped with Inscribed Silver Sun-Dial |
Memorial Text | For all those who served their country as part of XC Sqn RAF |
Location | St. Mary's Church, Tuddenham, Suffolk |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Framed Sqn Roll of Honour |
Memorial Text | They grow not old as we that are left grow old. Age shall not weary them nor the years condemn. At the going down of the Sun and in the morning, we will remember them |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/731/14 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/731/13 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 20-04-1943 |
End Date | 21-04-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Ridgewell |
Day/Night Raid | Night (99% moon) |
Operation | Rostock. 86 Stirlings to attack the Henkel factory. A deliberate smoke screen hid the factory and the bombing was scattered as a result. 8 losses (9.3%). |
Reason for Loss | After take off the Stirling left England via Cromer and was supposed to cross the Danish coast at the southern end of Ringkøbing Fjord and then go to Fyns Hoved where it should set course for Rostock. It was however seen flying over Taulov on fire and shortly afterwards, at 00:44 hours, it crashed into Fænøsund near Teglgaarden farm on the position 55`29`12 N 09`43`30 E, killing all onboard. The bodies of Pilot F/L Anthony S.W. Prioleau and two more crewmembers were found on the same night and taken to Odense, where they were laid to rest on Assistenskirkegaarden cemetery on April 23 as three unknown airmen. In 1946 the bodies were exhumed for identification purposes by The British Army and the body of Prioleau was identified. His two comrades still rest as unknown airmen. The body of Navigator Sgt Dennis Stowe was found in the morning of 15 June by Odden in Faenosund. It was handed over to the German Commandant in Middelfart and brought to Esbjerg, where it was buried in Fovrfelt cemetery on 19 June. The body of W/Op Sgt Charles D. McKelvie was found on the beach of Skrillinge Strand on 23 July at 21:05 hours and taken to the Hospital in Middelfart. He was laid to rest in Fovrfelt cemetery in Esbjerg on 19 July 1943. |