Sergeant 1505655, 161 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Died 23/01/1944.

 

It looks like his mother & step-father were living in the area when they married in 1925 but in 1939 they were living in Harrogate where his step-father was working for the air ministry civil service. Mother Margaret I Marshall - step-father Roger K Cushing.

​

161 Squadron was formed in February 1942, flying a mix of Lysander, Havoc and Hudsons in dropping supplies and agents, including landing and pick-up operations. over occupied Europe. At D-Day they were responsible for dropping secret agents into Beugen, Netherlands. 

 

Keith enlisted at Padgate some time after April 1941. He was one of seven on board Halifax V DG272 which took off 1036 23 Jan 1944 from Tempsford to accompany LL182 on an Air Sea Rescue operation. Presumed to have collided over the sea with Halifax LL182 which had been similarly tasked.  Commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.