LEST WE FORGET
Pilot Officer Keith MILLGATE MID
Service No: 401010
Born: Essendon VIC, 5 June 1917
Enlisted in the RAAF: 7 December 1940
Unit: No. 60 Squadron (SAAF)
Awarded the Mentioned in Despatches (MID)
Died: Air Operations: (No. 60 Squadron Maryland aircraft AH372), Egypt-Libya Border aerea, 7 December 1942, Aged 25 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Archibald Frank Mitchell Millgate and Ellen Millgate, of Maryborough, Victoria, Australia
Roll of Honour: Melbourne VIC
Remembered: Column 265, Alamein Memorial, Egypt
Remembered: Panel 134, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
On 7 December 1942, Maryland AH 372 took off at 1430Z hours to carry out a photo survey flight in the Mersa Bregaba – El Agheila area, Libya. Nothing further was heard from the aircraft after take off. At 1730Z an attempt was made to contact the aircraft but no reply was received. At 1800Z 285 Wing advised aircraft accidents and they have requested them to contact 212 Group and 3 SAAF Wing to see if the aircraft was plotted by them. Negative replies were received. All units were then signalled asking for any news of the aircraft – no information was received. With no trace of the missing aircraft or crew being found from post war investigations and enquiries, it was concluded in 1948 that the crew were missing with no known grave.
The crew members of AH372 were:
Lieutenant L E Brooks (102506) (SAAF) (Pilot)
Flight Sergeant A McP Donald (98673V) (SAAF) (Air Gunner)
Flight Sergeant P M Gray (98768) (SAAF) (Air Gunner)
Pilot Officer Keith Millgate MID (401010) (Observer)
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, 163/45/213