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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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02.03.1945 691 Squadron Hurricane IIC LF638 Flt Sgt. Gledhill

Operation: Training

Date: 2nd March 1945 (Friday)

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

Type: Hurricane IIC

Serial: LF638

Code: 5S:P

Base: RAF Harrowbeer, Devon

Location: Plymouth Sound

Pilot: Flt Sgt. Albert William Conrad Gledhill 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 with the Royal Navy.

Handwritten on the reverse "RAF Station Roborough, Devon. Hurricanes of 'B' Flight, 691 Squadron. Flt Sgt Bert Gledhill was flying LF638 (foreground) when he was killed on March 2nd 1945, after the Squadron had moved to RAF Harrowbeer, on 13th February 1945”. (Courtesy of the Air Force Museum of New Zealand).

Some 1 hour 40 minutes later the aircraft 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.

Albert William Conrad Gledhill worked as a clerk for Colgate Palmolive at Petone prior to enlisting in the RNZAF on the 31st October 1942 at Masterton. Awarded his wings on the 26th November 1943 and promoted to Sergeant. 440 flying hours logged with 50 on the Hurricane.

Burial details:

Buried on the 6th March 1945.

Flt Sgt. Albert William Conrad Gledhill. Haycombe Cemetery. Plot 39. Sec. H. Row E. Grave 244. Born on the 5th November 1923 at Takaka. Son of Clarance Conrad Gledhill, and of Louisa Catherine Mary Gledhill (née Stent), of Petone, Wellington, New Zealand.

Researched by Kelvin Youngs (Webmaster) 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 (Feb 2021). Thanks to Antonio McDonald for the aircraft photograph and updated information (Aug 2025).

Other sources listed below:

RS 04.08.2025 - Updated with new photograph and information

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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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