LEST WE FORGET
Flight Sergeant Robert Maxwell McLAY
Service No: 401995
Born: Wangaratta VIC, 27 November 1919
Enlisted in the RAAF: 26 April 1941
Unit: No. 611 Squadron (RAF), RAF Station Biggin Hill
Died: Air Operations: (No. 611 Squadron Spitfire aircraft BS510), France, 14 March 1943, Aged 23 Years
Buried: Etaples Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Robert Maxwell McLay and Rose Olive McLay, of Hawthorn, Victoria, Australia
Roll of Honour: Hawthorn VIC
Remembered: Panel 126, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
At 1700 hours on 14 March 1943, Spitfire BS510 took off from Biggin Hill with eleven other aircraft from the Squadron, detailed to carry out an offensive sweep over northern France. At 1745 hours action was joined with enemy fighters in the vicinity of Berck Bay. In the ensuing encounter others saw BS510 diving steeply with two enemy aircraft behind. Nothing was seen or heard from BS510 after that and the aircraft failed to return to base.
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, 166/26/54