McLaren, Alistair Stuart Died
Personal Information
| Rank | Sgt |
| Forename(s) | Alistair Stuart |
| Surname | McLaren |
| Gender | M |
| Age | 37 |
| Date of Death | 23-05-1944 |
| Next of Kin | Son of John and Margaret McLaren. Formerly Served In The Metropolitan Police Force. |
Aircraft Information
| Aircraft | Avro Lancaster III |
| Serial Number | ND762 |
| Markings | TL-E |
Memorial Information
| Burial/Memorial Country | Netherlands |
| Burial/Memorial Place | Eindhoven (Woensel) General Cemetery |
| Grave Reference | Plot KK. Grave 55. |
| Epitaph | HE SOUGHT THE GLORY OF HIS COUNTRY; HE SEES THE GLORY OF GOD |
IBCC Memorial Information
| Phase | 2 |
| Panel Number | 209 |
Enlistment Information
| Service Number | 1891777 |
| Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
| Group | 8 |
| Squadron | 35 (Madras Presidency) |
| Squadron Motto | Uno animo agimus (We act with one accord) |
| Trade | Air Gunner |
| Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
| Location | Stroomkesberg, Vessem, Noord-Brabant Province |
| Country | the Netherlands |
| Memorial Type | Memorial stone, inscribed metal sculpture & stencilled composite information board |
| Memorial Text |
Het is 13 minuten voor elf in de avond van 22 Mei 1944. Een Lancaster met vuchtnummer ND762 van 35 Sqn RAF vertrekt voor een aanval op Dortmund. De route vert over het IJsselmeer naar het doel, waarna rechtsomkeer wordt gemaakt. Vliegend op 16.000 voet wordt men boven Brabant onderschept door een nachtjager De brokstukken van de bommenwerper belanden recht voor U in het Molenbrock
Translation "It is 13 minutes to eleven in the evening of May 22, 1944. A Lancaster with registration number ND762 of 35 Sqn RAF leaves for an attack on Dortmund. The route goes across the IJsselmeer to the goal, after which a right turn is made. Flying at 16,000 feet it is intercepted by a nightfighter above Brabant The fragments of the bomber land right in front of you in the Molenbrock" |
| 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, Colonies,Allied air forces 35/635. ASSN..1991 |
| 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 |
| Location | Roadside location (off E6), Fættenfjord, near Åsenfjord, Trøndelag Fylke |
| Country | Norway |
| Memorial Type | Inscribed memorial stone atopped with inert aerial sea mine and Tirpitz anchor chain link |
| Memorial Text |
For Frihet Til minne om Allierte Flymannskaper fra RAF drept under angrep pa det tyske slagskipet Tirpitz i Fættenfjord 1942
Translation "For freedom In memory of the Allied Aircrews from the RAF who died in attacks on the German Battleship Tirpitz in the Fættenfjord 1942 " |
The National Archives
| Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/381/10 |
| Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/381/10 |
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.
| Name | Outcome |
|---|---|
| Cox A W (F/S) | Died |
| Cursiter J R (Sgt) | Died |
| Maskell H T (F/O) | Died |
| Stewart J K (F/L) | Died |
Last Operation Information
| Start Date | 22-05-1944 |
| End Date | 23-05-1944 |
| Takeoff Station | Graveley |
| Day/Night Raid | Night (1% moon) |
| Operation | Dortmund. 375 aircraft, 18 Lancasters Lost (4.8%). Most of the bombing fell in the SE districts and mostly in residential areas. 852 houses and 6 buildings were destroyed. 361 were killed, including 22 PoW. |
| Reason for Aircraft Loss | Shot about by a night-fighter at 16000' on return leg and exploded. Three survivors were thrown clear and became PoW. Debris fell 14km west of Eindhoven, Holland |