Thomas Elder Charles McKeith

Lancaster I ED550, with a crew of seven, took off from Langar at 2033 on 23 August 1943, one of over 700 aircraft which attacked Berlin that night. Twelve of the aircraft were from Langar, leaving between 20.15 and 20.43.

For reasons unknown, ED550 turned back but crashed at 2359 at Nieuw-Dodrecht (Drenche) in northern Holland, 8 km SE of Emmen, Holland. There was only one survivor, Julian George Walker (Flight Engineer), who was injured and taken prisoner of war.

Thomas McKeith, Air Gunner, was buried in Emmen (Nieuw Dordrecht) General Cemetery (Plot 9. Row B. Grave 5).

The other five members of the crew who were also killed were buried in the same cemetery:
141331 P/O Cyril Peter Backlog, Navigator, RAFVR. Plot 9. Row B. Grave 3.
1390228 Sgt. Donald Fells, Air Gunner, RAFVR. Plot 9. Row B. Grave 6.
149557 P/O George William Osmer, Pilot. RAFVR. Plot 9. Row B. Grave 4.
1367967 Sgt. William Martin Ewing Reid, Wireless Operator. RAFVR. Plot 9. Row B. Grave 1.
1458478 Sgt. John Ward Standish, Bomb Aimer. RAFVR. Plot 9. Row B. Grave 2.

CWGC Additional information: Son of Thomas Kinnoch McKeith and Jane McCall Hutchison McKeith, of Perth.