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
| Last Name | First Name(s) | Rank | Role | Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Holmes | William Ivan | Flying Officer | Pilot (Pupil) | RNZAF 416205. Killed. |
| Pryde | Alan James | Flying Officer | 2nd Pilot (Pupil) | RAAF 436583. Killed. |
| Sargent | Stanley Frederick Bright | Flying Officer | Navigator (Pupil) | RAFVR 165074. Killed. |
| Appleyard | Richard Henry | Flying Officer | Navigator (Pupil) | RCAF J/42507. Killed. |
| Honey | Cecil Andrew James | Flying Officer | Navigator | RAFVR 174869. Killed. |
| Cheyne | William David | Flying Officer | Wireless Operator (Pupil) | RAFVR 157532. Killed. |
| McNeilly | Patrick | Sergeant | Wireless Operator (Pupil) | RAFVR 1522944. Killed. |
| Hook | Rolinson Sidney Palliser | Sergeant | Wireless Operator / Air Gunner (Pupil) | RAFVR 1603654. Killed. |
| Bates | Dennis Archibald | Sergeant | Wireless Operator / Air Gunner (Pupil) | RAFVR 1868033. Killed. |
| Edge | Ronald James | Sergeant | Flight Engineer (Pupil) | RAFVR 1895861. Killed. |
| Aston | Oliver | Sergeant | Air Gunner (Pupil) | RAFVR 1880856. Killed. |
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.