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Operation: Patrol
Date: 23rd April 1941 (Wednesday)
Unit: No. 247 Squadron (motto: 'Rise from the East') 10 Group
Type: Hurricane I
Serial: V7016
Code: HP-?
Base: RAF Roborough, Devon (On attachment at St. Eval, Cornwall)
Location: Celtic Sea
Pilot: Sgt. Alan Cameron Kelly NZ/40771 RNZAF Age 24. Killed
REASON FOR LOSS:
Taking off with one other on a patrol over shipping in poor weather conditions.
Returning at 06:20 hrs they both descended in a shallow dive through clouds near Portreath.
When they levelled off at 400 ft about 500 yards from the shore the leader discovered his No. 2 missing.
Sgt. Kelly had in fact ditched a few miles ahead off St. Agnes Head. A 152 squadron Spitfire had seen the pilot in the water and swimming towards the shore.
Despite rescue efforts which were delayed through errors they could only pick up his body after midday, the pilot had succumbed to exposure.
Burial and personal details:
Sgt. Alan Cameron Kelly. Illogan Churchyard, (St Illogan). Row 1. Grave 2. Born on the 07th May 1917 at Dunedin. Prior to enlisting he had been a teacher at Mackandrew Bay School. Enlisting at Levin on the 12th March 1940 after serving with the territorial army. Trained with No. 1 Flying aTraining School and awarded his pilots badge on the 27th July 1940 and promoted to sergeant on the 21st September 1940. 06th December 1940 embarked for England and had further training with 56 Operational Training Unit. Joined 247 squadron on the 24th January 1941. Son of George Arthur and Mary Muriel Kelly (nee Cameron), of Gore, Southland, New Zealand. Brother of Ida and Joyce Kelly. A total of 203 flying hours logged and completed 10 operational sorties.
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, Weekly News of New Zealand, other sources as quoted below:
KTY 28-05-2021
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Last Modified: 28 May 2021, 14:25