The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. J D Keynes

John Douglas Keynes was born in London on 12th December 1914, the son of William John Keynes (1879-1938) and Muriel Audrey Keynes (nee Morley 1888-1968).

His father served in the Royal Naval Reserve in WW1.

JD Keynes was awarded Aero Certificate 16500 at Yapton Aero Club on 5th November 1938.

He joined the RAFVR in April 1939 as an Airman u/t Pilot. Called up on 1st September, he completed his training and joined 236 Squadron on 27th September 1940. He was commissioned in November.

He was captain of a Blenheim damaged by return fire from a BV138 floatplane engaged over south-west Ireland on 30th November 1940. Keynes returned to St. Eval and he and his observer, Sgt. JE Symonds, were admitted to Truro Hospital with splinter wounds.

Keynes was killed on 4th June 1943 as a Flight Lieutenant with 126 Squadron, aged 29. He was flying in Spitfire IX EN532 which failed to return from an interception off Malta.

He is commemorated on the Malta Memorial.