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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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02nd March 1945 691 Squadron Hurricane IIC LF638 Fl/Sgt. Gledhill

Operation: Training

Date: 02nd March 1945 (Friday)

Unit: No. 691 Squadron (motto: Volamus Ut Serviamus - 'We fly to serve') 70 Group

Type: Hurricane IIC

Serial: LF638

Code: 5S-?

Base: RAF Harrowbeer, Devon

Location: Plymouth Sound

Pilot: Fl/Sgt. Albert William Conrad Gledhill NZ/4214048 RNZAF Age 21. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off at 09:35 hrs on a low level bombing exercise on an anti-aircraft co-operation exercise for the navy.

Some 40 minutes later ditched in Plymouth Sound following an engine failure. An RAF rescue launch was very quickly on the scene but he was discovered with head injuries and had drowned.

Burial details:

Buried on the 06th March.

Fl/Sgt. Albert William Conrad Gledhill. Haycombe Cemetery. Plot 39. Sec. H. Row E. Grave 244. Born on the 05th November 1923 at Takaka. Prior to enlisting worked as a clerk for Colgate Palmolive at Petone. Enlisted in the RNZAF on the 31st October 1942 at Masterton. Awarded his wings on the 26th November 1943 and promoted to sergeant. Son of Clarance Conrad Gledhill, and of Louisa Catherine Mary Gledhill (née Stent), of Petone, Wellington, New Zealand. 440 flying hours logged with 50 on the Hurricane.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to Jenifer Lemaire and to the extensive research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, Auckland Library Heritage Collection, AWMM, Weekly News of New Zealand, other sources as quoted below:

KTY 13-02-2021

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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 Captain 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', Andrew Mielnik: Archiwum - Polish Air Force Archive (on this site), Anna Krzystek, Tadeusz Krzystek - 'Polskie Siły Powietrzne w Wielkiej Brytanii', Franek Grabowski, Polish graves: https://niebieskaeskadra.pl/, PoW Museum Żagań, 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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