Add Information to Record of a Person who served during the Second World War on The Wartime Memories Project Website
Add Information to Record of a Person who served during the Second World War on The Wartime Memories Project Website
Additions will be checked before being published on the website and where possible will be forwarded to the person who submitted the original entries. Your contact details will not be forwarded, but they can send a reply via this messaging system.
228322
F/O Alexander Frederick Bryce
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 138 Sqdn.
from:Edimburgh
(d.8th May 1944)
I am trying to find out more about the life of my uncle, Flying Officer 149705 Alexander Frederick Bryce, who was killed on 8 May 1944 during Operation Citronelle 1 in France.
Update
I don't know how much info you have but this may be of interest. From Chorley's Bomber Command Losses:
Halifax v LL280 NF-O
W/Cdr W McF Russell DFC & Bar
F/S G Cable DFM
F/O D Brown DFC
F/O B P McGonagle DFC
F/O J A Armour DFC DFM
F/O A F Bryce
F/O N Simister DFM
T/o Tempsfordon Operation Citronelle 1 heading for France. Shot down by a night-fighter and crashed at St Denis d'Orques (Sarthe), 40 m WNW of Le Mans and astride what in 1944 was the main road to Laval. All rest in Le Mans West Cemetery.
I have some information on your uncle's crew that I am more than happy to share with you. A summary follows below. My uncle J W McLeod (RAAF 418296; 576 Squadron) was killed on 7 May 1944 along with most of the rest of the Lancaster crew of pilot J M Shearer (RNZAF 415721) when they were shot down about 50 kms north of Le Mans.
The post-war paperwork on the graves of the two crews spends some time sorting out the burial arrangements for the two crews that crashed not far apart in two consecutive nights. The question is not yet fully answered and an unknown airman is buried with your uncle's crew who may be from the crew of J M Shearer.
In May 2004 I visited St Denis d'Orques and the Le Mans Cemetery and have photos.