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Archive Report: Allied Forces

Compiled from official National Archive and Service sources, contemporary press reports, personal logbooks, diaries and correspondence, reference books, other sources, and interviews.
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401 Squadron Crest
09.03.1942 No. 401 Squadron Spitfire Vb BL538 Sgt. A.D. Blakey

Operation: Aircraft test

Date: 09th March 1942 (Monday)

Unit: No. 401 Squadron (The Rams)

Type: Spitfire Vb

Serial: BL538

Code: YO-?

Base: RAF Biggin Hill, Kent

Location: Fairfield, Kent

Pilot: Sgt. Alexander Douglas Blakey R/78705 RCAF Age 21. killed

We are extremely grateful to François Dutil (438 Squadron Archivist) for supplying photographs and information to Aircrew Remembered in October 2017. All photographs shown within this page are available to relatives at a higher resolution (as are most of those named within this page) - courtesy of François.

REASON FOR LOSS:

Understood that the aircraft suffered structural failure with the port wing becoming detached during a roll during an aircraft test. We welcome any further information on his loss.

Above left: P/O. John Tucker with Sgt. Alexander Blakey - P/O. Tucker was lost later that year on Spitfire Vb BM429 on a Rodeo when he crashed into the English Channel. Right: RAF Biggin Hill December 1941 L-R: Fl/Lt. Jeep Neal, Sgt. Dennison, Sgt. Morrison, P/O. Hutchinson, Sgt. Blakey, Sgt. Murray, P/O. Blakeslee.


L-R: P/O. John Randolph Patton, Sq/Ldr. Douglas, Sgt. Jim Flander, P/O. Gerald Bickle Whitney, P/O. Hugh Merritt, Sgt. Slim Cosburn, Fl/Sgt. James Whitham, Sgt. Alec Blakely, Sgt. Jerry Denancrede, P/O. Hugh Godefroy, P/O. Ormston. Front: Sgt. Don Morrison, Sgt. Chuck Pope, Sgt. Frank Duff.

Burial details:

Sgt. Alexander Douglas Blakey. Brookwood Military Cemetery. Grave: 36.G.8. Born on the 23rd September 1920 in Elgin County, the son of Herbert Douglas and Mabel Daisy Blakey (née Harmer), 85 Maple Street, St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada. Grave inscription reads: “In Our Lonely Hours Thoughts Of Him Are Always Near. "Our Son”. A total of 217 flying hours logged, 44 of which on this type.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to Francois Dutil and sources as quoted below:

KTY - 15.10.2017

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Acknowledgements
Sources used by us in compiling Archive Reports include: Bill Chorley - 'Bomber Command Losses Vols. 1-9, plus ongoing revisions', Dr. Theo E.W. Boiten and Mr. Roderick J. Mackenzie - 'Nightfighter War Diaries Vols. 1 and 2', Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt - 'Bomber Command War Diaries', Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Tom Kracker - Kracker Luftwaffe Archives, Michel Beckers, Major Fred Paradie (RCAF) and MWO François Dutil (RCAF) - Paradie Archive (on this site), Jean Schadskaje, Major Jack O'Connor USAF (Retd.), Robert Gretzyngier, Wojtek Matusiak, Waldemar Wójcik and Józef Zieliński - 'Ku Czci Połeglyçh Lotnikow 1939-1945', Archiwum - Polish Air Force Archive (on this site), Anna Krzystek, Tadeusz Krzystek - 'Polskie Siły Powietrzne w Wielkiej Brytanii', Franek Grabowski, Norman L.R. Franks 'Fighter Command Losses', Stan D. Bishop, John A. Hey MBE, Gerrie Franken and Maco Cillessen - Losses of the US 8th and 9th Air Forces, Vols 1-6, Dr. Theo E.W. Boiton - Nachtjagd Combat Archives, Vols 1-13. Aircrew Remembered Databases and our own archives. We are grateful for the support and encouragement of CWGC, UK Imperial War Museum, Australian War Memorial, Australian National Archives, New Zealand National Archives, UK National Archives and Fold3 and countless dedicated friends and researchers across the world.
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