Three: Flight Sergeant S. Alexander, 159 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, who was killed in action when his Liberator exploded and crashed near the Irrawaddy River whilst carrying out a Special Forces supply drop over Central Burma, 3 August 1945

1939-45 Star; Burma Star; War Medal 1939-45, with named Air Council enclosure, in card box of issue, addressed to ‘Mrs. M. Alexander, 23 Eastfield Road, Benton, Newcastle-on-Tyne 7.’, nearly extremely fine (3) £120-£160

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to Second World War Royal Air Force Casualties.

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Stanley Alexander served during the Second World War with 159 Squadron in the Far East. Operating in Liberators out of Digri, India, from April 1944, Alexander was with the forward detachments at Jessore, (other detachments at Karachi and Akyab Island in Burma) by the summer of 1945. The Squadron was tasked with long range bombing and mining missions and, latterly, after being strengthened by hand-picked Liberator crews, on path finder duties.

Alexander was killed in action when Liberator KL671 "Q" (Queenie), piloted by Pilot Officer G. Green, exploded in flames in a heavy downpour during a Special Duties supply-dropping operation over Central Burma, on 3 August 1945. Having taken-off at 0830, they were believed to have reached the target, but were unable to make the drop because of bad weather. At about 1430 the aircraft was seen by the inhabitants of the village of Bigaing South of Magwe, Burma, flying west through a heavy storm and completely enveloped in flames. It suddenly dived into the ground, crashing 100 yards east of the village on the west bank of the Irrawaddy River. An explosion was heard before impact.

The remains of 6 of the 8 crew were found at the crash site, and were buried by villagers. As these could not be individually identified, the remains were never exhumed and moved to a war cemetery, and Alexander, along with the rest of his crew, is commemorated on the Singapore Memorial. His medals were sent to his mother, Miranda Alexander.

Sold with copied research.