ALFRED – Joseph Mckenzie

1810280 – Flight Sergeant – RAFVR – Bombardier – No3 Group, 75 (NZ) Sq – Lancaster ME450 – KIA at 23

Fg Off N Thorpe, took off from RAF Mepal at 261052Feb1945 to bomb Dortmund. The aircraft returned to base in formation with other squadron aircraft, but over the base turned to starboard, lost height and crasehed near the gas works at Chatteris, Cambs. Crash occured at 261610Feb1945. Buried at Cambridge City Cemetary, Cambs. Grave # 15516 Son of Bertha Alfred, of Port of Spain, Trinidad

[Source: CMHA]

Name: ALFRED, JOSEPH MCKENZIE
Initials: J M
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Flight Sergeant (Air Bomber)
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Unit Text: 75 Sqdn.
Age: 23
Date of Death: 26/02/1945
Service No: 1810280
Additional information: Son of Bertha Alfred, of Port of Spain, Trinidad.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Grave 15516.
Cemetery: CAMBRIDGE CITY CEMETERY

F/S. Alfred was lost on the following raid
26 February 1945.
75 Squadron.
Lancaster I ME450 AA-W
Op. Dortmund

The aircraft took off from Mepal at 1052 hrs to carry out a raid on the Hoesch benzol-oil production facility. On return crashed near Chatteris, Cambridgeshire.

[Source: www.WW2chat.com]

2 additions to “ALFRED – Joseph Mckenzie”

  1. Simon Sommerville adds:

    Hi
    I was wondering if there is any family/ relatives of Joseph?. My father also flew ME450 when he was with 75(NZ). I am currently putting together a website to commemorate the aircrews of 75(NZ) and would be interested in telling Joseph’s story.

    many thanks
    Simon

    October 15th, 2012 at 7:41 pm
  2. Raymond A Francis adds:

    Simon
    Heard you on the radio here in NZ this afternoon and have spent sometime looking at various photos of the time my father spent on 75 Squadron and reliving his stories
    He was the sole survivor of this crash and there are a series of photos taken of the remains
    Unlike your Father he was quite open about his war service and talked about it openly
    He has been dead for a couple of years now but if you need to know more I an happy to share
    For example he claimed the crash was caused by the Flight Engineer cocking up the fuel change over
    Yours
    Raymond Francis
    He was W O A Francis 427272

    February 26th, 2014 at 8:51 am

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