George Noel Keith
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George Noel Keith Cardston, Alberta | |
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Died | 4 August 1943 Mediterranean Sea | (aged 22)
Buried | |
Allegiance | Canada United Kingdom |
Service/ | Royal Canadian Air Force Royal Air Force |
Years of service | 1940 – 1943 |
Rank | Flying Officer |
Service number | J/15374 |
Battles/wars |
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Awards |
Flying Officer George Noel Keith
Biography
Keith was born in
Service career
In 1941, Keith trained as a pilot via the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. He graduated from the Initial Training School in late January 1941, and then attended the Elementary Flying Training School in March. He graduated from Service Flying Training School in June 1941 and was posted overseas, joining No. 402 "City of Winnipeg" Squadron RCAF where he flew the Hurricane IIB, until changing to Spitfire VBs during the Dieppe Raid in August 1942.
North Africa
He was commissioned as a Pilot Officer in May, 1942 and posted to the Mediterranean theatre in January, 1943 and joined No. 72 Squadron in March, 1943, based in Tunisia. On 3 April, Keith was credited with his first confirmed victory, shooting down a German Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter. The next month, on 6 May, he claimed two Bf 109s destroyed and one probably destroyed.
Malta
In June 1943 Keith moved with his squadron to
On 11 July Keith destroyed his fifth and sixth enemy aircraft, an Italian
Flying Officer Keith is a fine section leader, whose skill and determination have been outstanding. He has destroyed seven enemy aircraft in recent operations.
— London Gazette, No. 36165, 10 September 1943[1]
Death
While strafing ground targets on 4 August 1943, Keith's
Keith is buried at the Agira Canadian War Cemetery in Sicily.[2]
Notes
- ^ "No. 36165". The London Gazette (Supplement). 10 September 1943. p. 4001.
- ^ "Flying Officer George Noel Keith". Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Retrieved 20 April 2023.