LEST WE FORGET

Flight Lieutenant Harry Kingwell KECK

Service No: 400591
Born: Castlemaine VIC, 19 April 1912
Enlisted in the RAAF: 18 September 1940
Unit: No. 14 Squadron (RAF)
Died: Air Operations: (No. 14 Squadron Blenheim aircraft Z7627), Egypt, 30 March 1942, Aged 29 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Harry Alfred George and Ethel Annie Keck; husband of Barbara Mary Keck, of Malvern, Victoria, Australia
Roll of Honour: Malvern VIC
Remembered: Column 263, Alamein Memorial, Egypt
Remembered: Panel 125, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT

Brother of Flying Officer Frederick Abbey Keck (400623)

Blenheim Z7627 was reported missing after an operational flight on 30 March 1942. The aircraft was shot down by a Hurricane aircraft near Ras Alam El Rumb and in position 31.22N 027.20E with the crew missing believed killed. In 1948 it was recorded that after extensive search, no trace could be found of the aircraft and the crew were recorded as missing with no known graves.

The crew members of Z7627 were:

Flight Sergeant John Henry Hibbert (906246) (RAFVR) (Observer)
Flight Lieutenant Harry Kingwell Keck (400591) (Pilot)
Flight Sergeant Geoffrey Paul Rylands DFM (984571) (RAFVR) (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner)

References:

Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records (RAAF Casualty Information compiled by Alan Storr (409804))
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 163/40/41

Bibliography:

Napier, Michael Winged Crusaders: the exploits of 14 Squadron RFC & RAF 1915-1945, Pen & Sword Books, Barnsley UK, 2012

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