205079 Sgt. Kenneth Archibald McIver DFCRoyal Australian Air Force pilot 467 Sqd. from:Merriwagga, N.S.W. Australia (d.3rd Oct 1943) We are enquiring as to whether Kenneth McIver is listed on the Lincolnshire Memorial established to Bomber Command. He was only 24 and we have been tracing details of his service records, anything anyone could do to help us would be appreciated. His sister in law, Mrs Elizabeth McIver would love to know more about him. Additional Information: | Pilot Officer Kenneth Archibald McIver served with 467 Squadron Royal Australian Air Force.
Kenneth's crew were posted to 467 Squadron on 20th of April 1943. Part of the 467 Squadron history notes:
'The crew had a bad tour all the way, 3 times they were flak damaged and returned on 3 engines. Once, attacking Hamburg they lost an engine early and pressed on and completed the attack. In an attack on Cologne the pilot was wounded in the left arm and the A/C was damaged but they pressed on and bombed the target.
2/3.10.43. In the attack on Munich, they encountered bad icing and fuel consumption was abnormal, they ran out of fuel 20 miles from the English coast and ditched in the sea near Beachy Head. F/S McGrath the Bomb Aimer was the only survivor, he was picked up in a dinghy 3.10.43.'
Kenneth was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross where the citation stated.
"Pilot Officer McIver has completed a number of operational sorties during many of which severe opposition has been encountered. His targets have included Essen, Cologne and other industrial centres in the Ruhr. On one occasion, when detailed to attack Cologne he completed his mission with success although the aircraft was damaged and he was himself wounded in the left arm. This officer has always displayed inspiring courage and determination."
On the night of the raid the crew took off from RAF Bottesford at 18:44hrs to bomb Munchen. And Bomber Command Losses for 1943 notes that the aircraft,
'... ran out of fuel and came down in the sea 0138hrs 3 Oct 43 some 25 miles off Beachy Head. F/S McGrath was picked up by an ASR walrus. Subsequently two bodies were washed ashore;
P/O McIver is buried in North Walsham New Cemetery but Sgt McLelland is buried in Bergen op Zoom Canadian War Cemetery having been found at Katwijk 30 Nov 43. The others are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.'
The following crew members were aboard the aircraft:
- SGT McLelland, A B, RAF
- FSGT Gale, J K, RAF
- FSGT McGrath, M E, RAF
- SGT MacLean, C, RAF
- SGT Short, R, RAF
- FSGT Shaw, F W, RAF
STEVE SMITH
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