LEST WE FORGET
Sergeant Keith Martin McBRIDE
Service No: 407441
Born: Burra SA, 15 September 1917
Enlisted in the RAAF: 12 October 1940
Unit: No. 450 Squadron, Gambut, Egypt
Died: Air Operations (No. 450 Squadron Kittyhawk aircraft AK734), Gambut, 23 February 1942, Aged 24 Years
Buried: Tobruk War Cemetery, Libya
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Philip Albert Martin McBride and Rita Irene McBride, of Glen Osmond, South Australia
Roll of Honour: Kingston SA
Remembered: Panel 105, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: World War II Honour Roll, National War Memorial of SA, North Terrace, Adelaide
On 23 February 1942, Kittyhawk AK734 was one of 15 aircraft which took off from Gambut satellite airfield detailed to escort an attack by Boston bombers on the Mimi-Bomba road. The formation was attacked by ME109s, but AK734 returned safely. It appeared to be making an approach to land into wind about 500 yards to port of the runway and an altitude of 500 feet, flying very slowly. It then commenced to turn very steeply, and the aircraft dropped and spun, crashed and caught fire.
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veteran’s Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 163/141/469
Bibliography:
Brown, R. (Russell) Desert Warriors Australian P-40 Pilots at War in the Middle East and North Africa 1941-1943, Banner Books Maryborough QLD 4652, 2000