Squadron Leader Keith "Bluey" W. Truscott
Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), No. 76 Squadron
Pilot P-40E Kittyhawk A-29-150 died March 28, 1943

Background
Keith William Truscott was born May 17, 1916 the only child of parents William Truscott and Maud (née Powell) Truscott in South Yarra a suburb of Melbourne in Victoria in Australia. Nicknamed "Bluey" a popular Australian nickname for a person with red hair.

Truscott attended Melbourne High School, where he captained the First XI in cricket and First XVIII in Football. He played Australian rules football for Melbourne in the Victorian Football League (VFL), including their Premierships in 1939 and 1940 and played a total of 44 games. He was working as a teacher then became a clerk at W. Angliss & Co. He and a friend decided to enlist in the military.

Wartime History
On July 21, 1940 enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) with serial number 400213. He was sent overseas to Canada for flight training then was assigned to RAAF No. 3 o No. 3 Elementary Flying Training School. He earned his wings as part of the Empire Air Training Scheme (EATS) and graduating 8th from a Class of 52 and passing with distinction.

On May 5, 1941 assigned to No. 452 Squadron flying the Spitfire at at RAF Station Redhill in England and began flying combat missions. He claimed a total of 16 aerial victories. In January 1942 promoted to the rank of Squadron Leader.


During June 1942 returned to Australia to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and assigned to the No. 76 Squadron flying P-40E Kittyhawk based at Gurney Field (No. 1 Strip) near Milne Bay.

During early September 1942, he interacted with Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) pilots from No. 75 Squadron and No. 76 Squadron, including taking a posed photograph blindfolded with Truscott pointing his Webley revolver at the prisoner.

Mission History
On March 28, 1943 took off piloting P-40E Kittyhawk A28-150 with a wingman on a mission to escort a Catalina. During the flight, the Kittyhawks made mock attack runs on the flying boat. Failing to notice that the Catalina was in a slow descent, Truscott misjudged its height and crashed into the Bay of Rest near Herron Head inside Exmouth Gulf in Western Australia. Truscott did not bail out and was killed in the crash.

Wreckage
After the crash, the aircraft was recovered from a depth of 7 fathoms / 42' / 12.8m and was recovered to the surface and moved ashore.

Recovery of Remains
Inside the cockpit, Truscott's body recovered from the cockpit still strapped into the seat.

Memorials
Truscott was officially declared dead the day of the mission. On April 1, 1943 Truscott was buried at Karrakatta War Cemetery with full military honors. Later, he was permanently buried at Perth War Cemetery at grave H.A.12. Later, Truscott Airfield was named in his honor. The trophy for Best and Fairest at the Melbourne Football Club is dubbed the Keith "Bluey" Truscott Memorial Trophy.

Awards
Truscott earned the Distinguished Flying Cross with bar (second award) and was decorated by King George VI.

References
WW2 Nominal Roll - Keith William Truscott
CWGC - Keith William Truscott
FindAGrave - Keith Truscott (Karrakatta Cemetery)
FindAGrave - Squadron Leader Keith William “Bluey” Truscott (photos, grave photo Perth War Cemetery)
FindAGrave - Keith William “Bluey” Truscott (obituary The Melbourne Argus, Brighton General Cemetery)
Aces High A Tribute to the Most Notable Fighter Pilots of the British and Commonwealth Forces of WWII (1994) page 594 (Truscott)

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