SQNLDR Kelvin Milne Barclay 407662

DFC

Sussex, England. 1943-10-14. 407662 Squadron Leader K. M. Barclay, Peterborough, SA (left), former Commanding Officer, says goodbye to 404795 Sqn Ldr D. G. Andrews DFC, Southport, Qld, present Commanding Officer, at RAF Station Tangmere, when Spitfire No. 453 Squadron RAAF moves off on its journey to a new location at RAF Station Skeabrae in the Orkneys. (AWM UK0682)

Kelvin "Kel" Barclay was born on the 27th of September, 1920 in Gladstone, South Australia.

He enlisted in the RAAF on the 10th of December, 1940.

Posted from No 2 Personnel Depot for a second tour of operations, his first operational postings in England were with No 32 Squadron between October and December 1941 and briefly with No 66 Squadron in January 1942.

Served with No 453 Squadron (RAAF) between November 1942 and December 1943, becoming CO from May 1943 until end of his tour. He was awarded the DFC. His citation read: "Squadron Leader Barclay has been engaged in operational duties since February 1942. He participated in the Dieppe combined operations and has, on more than one occasion, sustained damage to his aircraft from anti-aircraft fire. This officer has led his squadron well and whilst on escort duty has given conscientious support to bombers, frequently driving off attacking aircraft. On other occasions he has participated in air sea rescue service and in protecting damaged bombers. Besides damaging five enemy aircraft this officer has inflicted damage to several enemy E-boats."

- 1941: No 53 Operational Training Unit, England
- 1941: No 5 Initial Training School
- 1941: No 9 Elementary Flying Training School
- 1941: No 11 Service Flying Training School, Canada
- 1941: No 59 Operational Training Unit, England
- 1942: No 46 Squadron
- 1942-01-04: No 79 Squadron
- 1942-01-28: Promoted to Flying Officer
- 1942-11-05: Promoted to Acting Flight Lieutenant
- 1942-11-05: No 453 Squadron
- 1943-05-11: Commanding Officer No 453 Squadron
- 1943-05-11: Promoted to Acting Squadron Leader
- 1943-07-28: Promoted to Flight Lieutenant
- 1944-02-10: Promoted to Flight Lieutenant
- 1944-10-31: No 457 Squadron
- 1945-06-04: Commanding Officer No 452 Squadron

Repatriated to Australia in May 1944. Posted to No 452 Squadron (RAAF) in June 1945 as CO, remaining with it until the end of the war. Remained with the RAAF after the war.

On 12 July 1945, while flying Spitfire HF.VIII (A58-647) on a bombing operation in North West Borneo, his aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire near the Tawao area while pulling out of a 3,000 ft dive. He gained height to 6,000 feet when oil pressure dropped and bailed out midway between Sebatik and Boekay Islands into the sea. He was picked up three hours later by an Air Sea Rescue launch.

Kel was discharged on the 17th of January, 1946.

Kel in his Spitfire – 452 Squadron. A58-647, HF.VIII, MV476.

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457 Squadron RAAF- Rod Jenkins, 2nd back row, 5th from right. Morotai, 1945.
Front Row from left: Dr. Edwards, Lyn Compton with pipe (A Flight commander), Kel Barclay, Bruce Watson DFC Squadron Leader, Boomer, unknown, unknown and Ted Sly B Flight extreme right.

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