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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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453 Squadron Crest
26.07.1944 No 453 Squadron Spitfire IX MK379 Fl/Lt. Patrick McDade

Operation: Armed recce

Date: 26th July 1944 (Wednesday)

Unit: No. 453 Squadron

Type: Spitfire IX

Serial: MK379 (1)

Code: FU-?

Base: RAF B.11 Longues, France

Location: Quillebeuf-sur-Seine, France

Pilot: Fl/Lt. Patrick Vincent McDade DFC. AUS/403000 RAAF Age 22. PoW No: 7620 Camp: Stalag Luft Sagan and Belaria

We are indebted to Mr. Paul Watts who's father served with 453 Squadron and sent Aircrew Remembered over 400 photographs of the Squadron in January 2018. Anyone interested in the Squadron and are able to identify any of the pilots / ground crew are invited to contact us.

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking part in an armed recce during the afternoon when he was hit whilst attacking enemy transport. No further details, but captured and taken PoW.

He had a lucky escape less than a fortnight earlier, on the 13th July his aircraft hit by flak over Villers Bocage in Spitfire IX ML146, managed to return and belly land the Spitfire on return to base. He was OK, but the aircraft suffered Category E damage.

DFC Citation January 26th 1946:

"Fl/Lt. McDade has taken part in numerous operational sorties which have included fighters patrols, bomber escorts and missions against enemy shipping. Throughout the intensive operations prior to the invasion of Normandy he led a flight in a brilliant and effective manner, and during the invasion he participated and successfully in support of the army invasion. Fl/Lt. McDade has destroyed at least two enemy aircraft in addition to numerous enemy transport vehicles and trains, He has displayed outstanding keeness and courage".

(1) The Australian archives list the aircraft he was flying as PL220.

Burial details:

None, Fl/Lt. Patrick Vincent McDade DFC. Born on the 22nd June 1920, survived the war - had lived at Barker Street, Casino, New South Wales, Australia. Prior to service worked as a survey assistant. No further details - are you able to assist?

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

KTY - 22.01.2018

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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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