LEST WE FORGET
Flight Sergeant Keith Albert LANGLEY
Service No: 417496
Born: Hyde Park SA, 3 January 1919
Enlisted in the RAAF: 23 May 1942
Unit: No. 620 Squadron (RAF), RAF Chedburgh, Suffolk
Died: Air Operations (No. 620 Squadron Stirling aircraft FH814), Germany, 4 October 1943, Aged 24 Years
Buried: Brookwood Military Cemetery, Surrey UK
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Frank Albert and Mary Ellen Langley, of Colonel Light Gardens, South Australia.
Roll of Honour: Adelaide SA
Remembered: Panel 125, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: World War II Honour Roll, National War Memorial of SA, North Terrace, Adelaide
On the 4rh October 1943, Stirling FH814 took off from RAF Chedburgh detailed to attack Frankfurt, Germany. The aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire and attacked by an enemy night fighter, but did not crash and returned safely to land at 2335 hours at West Malling airfield. However the Rear Gunner Flight Sergeant Langley was killed in the attack, while the others survived. The crew claimed to have shot down an Me116.
The crew members of FH814 were:
Sergeant K R Butcher (1604241) (RAFVR) (Flight Engineer)
Flight Sergeant S P Clarke (1337671) (RAFVR) (Pilot)
Sergeant A W Dowsett (1201264) (RAFVR) (Mid Upper Gunner)
Sergeant G A Kirby (R/159933) (RCAF) (Air Bomber)
Flight Sergeant Keith Albert Langley (417496) (Rear Gunner)
Sergeant R C Rigg (1148459) (RAFVR) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Sergeant A E Watkins (1601336) (RAFVR) (Navigator)
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 Veteran’s Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 166/24/198