Alexander Albert BRAID

BRAID, Alexander Albert

Service Number: 408562
Enlisted: 27 April 1941
Last Rank: Warrant Officer
Last Unit: No. 77 Squadron (RAF)
Born: North Melbourne, Victoria Australia, 21 April 1918
Home Town: Mitcham, Whitehorse, Victoria
Schooling: Melbourne Technical College, West Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Occupation: Architectural Draughtsman
Died: Flying Battle, North West Europe, 17 June 1944, aged 26 years
Cemetery: Uden War Cemetery, Noord-Brabant, Netherlands
Plot 5, Row C, Grave 8
Memorials: Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, International Bomber Command Centre Memorial
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World War 2 Service

27 Apr 1941: Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman 2 (WW2), 408562, Aircrew Training Units
17 Jun 1944: Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Warrant Officer, 408562, No. 77 Squadron (RAF), Air War NW Europe 1939-45

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Biography contributed by Faithe Jones

Son of Alexander and Albertha Agnes Braid; husband of June Beverly Braid, of Mitcham, Victoria, Australia.

Alexander Albert Braid was born 21 April 1918 the son of Alexander and Alberta Braid at North Melbourne, Victoria. Before enlisting on 27 April 1941 Alexander was a practising Architect. He married June Beverly Thomas in 1942. (RAAF records not digitized) On transfer to the United Kingdom he was an observer with 77 Squadron RAF. Warrant Officer Braid was killed whilst on operations when Halifax MZ715 was lost returning from a raid over Sterkrade in Germany on the night of 16 June 1944.

Plane was Halifax HZ 715 of 77 Squadron lost on air operations over Sterkade, Germany  CREW:RAAF Pilot Officer A I Crain-Pilot RAF Sergeant V Gledhill-Flight Engineer RAF Flying Officer T R Davies-Navigator RAAF Warrant Officer A A Braid-Air Bomber RAF Warrant Officer A J Owen Wireless Air Gunner RAAF Flight Sergeant P E T Tiernan-Mid Upper Gunner RAAF Flight Sergeant A J Burns -Rear Gunner.

The aircraft exploded in the air throwing Warrant Officer Owen clear, injured he was hospitalized and spent the remainder of the war as a POW. All other members of the crew were killed. Alexander Braid is buried in The Soldiers Cemetery, Uden, Noord Brabant, Holland Grave 86. Warrant Officer Braid is remembered with honour at the Australian War Memorial and on the Melbourne Cenotaph at Kew, Melbourne, Victoria.

 

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