Flying Officer Alan James Pryde (436583) served in the Royal Australian Air Force during World War Two. He was the son of Harry Ewart Gladstone Pryde and Margaret Mary Pryde of Oatlands, Tasmania, Australia.
Pryde served as a pilot with RAF 1674 Heavy Conversion Unit. He had previously served with 5th Australian Infantry Battalion. He died on 19th March 1945 aged 23 years old on board Consolidated Liberator KG896. The plane took off from RAF Aldergrove, Co. Antrim on a low-altitude radar exercise on a moving target on Lough Neagh.
During the flight, the crew made several radio transmissions indicating everything was in order. At 0218hrs on 19th March 1945, the control tower at RAF Aldergrove, Co. Antrim picked up the final communication from KG896. Only 2 minutes later, the plane crashed into high ground 900 feet above sea-level at Tornagrough. The crash site was approximately 6 miles west of Belfast, Co. Antrim. All members of the crew died in the incident.
Remembering the crew of Liberator KG896
Alan James Pryde’s grave is in Section E, Grave 26 of Eglantine Church of Ireland, Lisburn, Co. Antrim. His headstone bears the inscription:
To live in hearts of those who love is not to die.