Canadian Virtual War Memorial
David Austin Kelley
In memory of:
Pilot Officer David Austin Kelley
June 3, 1944
Boissière Ecole, France
Military Service
C/88471
22
Air Force
Royal Canadian Air Force
405 Sqdn.
Additional Information
Son of James B. Kelley and Edith Kelley, of Victoria, British Columbia. David's hometown was Killam, Alberta.
On the 62nd anniversary, June 3, 1944 - June 3, 2006, of the crash of the Lancaster LQ-C ND-507 which took the lives of Squadron Leader George E. Coldrey, Pilot Officer David A. Kelley, Pilot Officer Norman Johnston, Pilot Officer J.G. Maurice Renaud and Pilot Officer Leslie A. McCrea were honoured at the unveiling of a monument at la Bossière-Ecole, France.
Guests included former German Pilot Frithjof Fensch, who downed the plane; family members Edith Bannerman, sister of David A. Kelley; Pierre Monfette, nephew of J.G. Maurice Renaud;, Lucinda Brouwer, niece of Leslie A. McCrea.
Tori Olson, daughter of American Lieutenant Leroy Q. Olson, Christopher O'Neill, son of British Flight Lieutenant John H. O'Neill, and George Court, son of Canadian Flight Lieutenant George L. Court, children of the three survivors of the crash attended in honour of their fathers whom all died since 1995.
Representing La Boisseère-Ecole were Francois Heiliger, Mayor, Fabien Drouin, First Deputy Mayor and Fréderic Vincent, Historical Adviser whose research led to the unveiling and commemoration of the deceased.
Commemorated on Page 350 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.
Burial Information
LA BOISSIERE-ECOLE COMMUNAL CEMETERY
Yvelines, France
N/A
La Boissiere-Ecole is a village and commune 38 kilometres south-west of Versailles, and 14 kilometres west-north-west of Rambouillet. The cemetery, which lies on the western side of the village on the road to Faverolles, contains the graves of 2 Canadian airmen situated near the large family vault in the centre of the cemetery.
Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Digital Collection
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Memorial – Pilot Officer David Austin Kelley is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens -
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Memorial – Pilot Officer David Austin Kelley is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens -
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Memorial – Father J P Lardie's comments as inscribed on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens -
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Wreckage of Lancaster LQ-C. – On June 3, 1944, five men were killed and two survived this plane crash. The five men that lost their lives were Pilot Officer Norman Johnston, Squadron Leader George Edwin Coldrey, Pilot Officer Leslie Asa Mccrea, Pilot Officer Joseph Gerard Maurice Renaud and Pilot Officer David Austin Kelley. -
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Group Photo – Dave (left) posing with 3 other members of the 405 Squadron. -
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Photo of David Kelley – Dave in Toronto shortly after enlisting. -
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Memorial -
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Photo of David Austin Kelley -
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Press Clipping – News article from Echo républiacin about the unveiling and dedication of the monument to the crew of Lancaster LQ-C - ND 507.
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