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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

David Anthony Gregory McKerry

In memory of:

Pilot Officer David Anthony Gregory McKerry

February 20, 1944
Liepzig, Germany

Military Service


Service Number:

J/36019

Age:

19

Force:

Air Force

Unit:

Royal Canadian Air Force

Division:

431 Squadron

Citation(s):

2949-56 Star, Air Crew Europe Star, War Medal 1939-45, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp. Posthumously awarded RCAF Operational Wings in recognition of gallant service in action against the enemy, 25 June 1947.

Additional Information


Born:

December 27, 1924
Toronto, Ontario

Enlistment:

November 27, 1942
Toronto, Ontario

Son of Joseph Patrick Edwin and Margaret Joseph Geraldine (nee O'Donnell) McKerry, of Toronto, Ontario. Brother of William, Maurice, Arthur, Geraldine, Teresa and Helen.

Commemorated on Page 388 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.

Burial Information


Cemetery:
Grave Reference:

Coll. grave 6. D. 12-17.

Location:

The BERLIN 1939-1945 WAR CEMETERY is in the district of Charlottenburg, 8 kilometres west of the city centre, on the south side of the Heerstrasse. From Theodor Heuss Platz in the district of Charlottenburg near the exhibition hall complex and next to the Olympic stadium, follow signs for Spandau, proceeding along the Heerstrasse. The Cemetery lies on the Heerstrasse on the left hand side of the road and 3 kilometres from Theodor Heuss Platz. Visitors should drive beyond the BERLIN 1939-1945 WAR CEMETERY to the traffic lights, then turn left directly onto a small one way street running parallel to the Heerstrasse. The Cemetery entrance is on this small one way road.

Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Digital Collection

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  • Memorial– Pilot Officer David Anthony Gregory McKerry is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Memorial– Pilot Officer David Anthony Gregory McKerry is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Memorial– Father J P Lardie's comments as inscribed on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Toronto Star March 1944. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Toronto Telegram March 1944. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Photo of DAVID ANTHONY GREGORY MCKERRY– From the research work done by Margaret Rose Gaunt and submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper Clipping– Memorialized on the pages of the Globe and Mail. Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– The Toronto Star January 26, 1945, page 4

Crash information from //lostbombers.co.uk; //raf.mod.uk/bombercommand; //rcaf.com/6group

On 19 February 1944, Halifax LK 905 was airborne at 2321 on a raid to Leipzig.  It joined a force of 823 aircraft – 561 Lancasters, 255 Halifaxes and 7 Mosquitos.  After ‘early returns’ of aircraft for various reasons, the Halifax loss rate was 14.9 per cent and after this raid, the Halifax IIs and Vs were permanently withdrawn from operations to Germany.

A secondary force was sent on a minelaying diversion to Kiel and when the main bomber force crossed the Dutch coast, the night-fighters sent north to Kiel returned and joined a further force which meant the bomber stream was under attack all the way to the target.  Unfortunately, further difficulties were caused at the target due to winds not as forecast which resulted in many aircraft reaching the Leipzig area too early.  They then had to orbit and await the Pathfinders.  Four aircraft were lost by collision with German fighters, and 18 lost to flak and night-fighters.   RCAF Bomber Command 6 Group lost 102 men killed and 23 Prisoners of War, and one evader who was the sole survivor of a crew on their first op.

LK 905 was shot down by a night-fighter and crashed at 0317 at Ipse.   F/S A. G. Harvey was the only crew member to survive and he was interned for the duration of the war.  Those killed were buried in the Berlin 1939-45 War Cemetery.  They are:

F/O (P) Murray Sonshine, age 24, from Toronto, Ont.
F/O (BA) Ross J. Kee, age 21, from London, Ont.
F/O (WAG) John A. Houston, age 25, from Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.
P/O (AG) David Anthony Gregory McKerry, age 19, from Toronto, Ont.
P/O (WAG) Robert E. Gillanders, age 23, from Toronto, Ont.
Sgt. (FE) Arnold C. Twitchett, RAF
  • Newspaper Clipping– Memorialized on the pages of the Globe and Mail. Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper Clipping– Memorialized on the pages of the Globe and Mail. Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Biography– From the research work done by Margaret Rose Gaunt and submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Grave Marker– Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

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