Wrexham, North Wales

[Prodigal Dragon]

My apologies for 'invading your site', but I am a retired RAF navigator who is researching an RCAF pilot who married into my family during WWII, but was sadly killed in a flying incident in 1944. His name was Fg Off AA 'Alex' McKiggan of No 400 Sqn RCAF, and he married my late dad's cousin, Doris Wilding.

I flew on the venerable Shackleton AEW Mk1 before transitioning to the E-3D Sentry, which has been the backbone of the RAF for 30 years. I arrived there in 1992 for the Bosnia and Kosova Campaigns out of Aviano AB, and left in 2003, just after Afghanistan had kicked-off. I was an FA running the weapons control team, and I guess my 'busiest few hours' was during the VEGA31 F-117 CSAR in Mar 99. I also flew several Ex MAPLE FLAG missions during memorable trips to your beautiful country.

Recently attended the E-3D 'Farewell Bash', with the aircraft about to be retired, and my sqn (8 Sqn) about to fold before it returns to RAF Lossiemouth in 2023 with the new Wedgetail platform.

PS I had issues trying to create a new topic on Safari, and have had to jump ship Google Chrome. Is there a trick I am missing? Or are Macs verbotten?

Best regards,

Flt Lt JK Wynn RAF (Retired)

[BFBSM]

G’day,

Welcome to the forum, your ‘invasion’ is acceptable to us and no apologies necessary.

Some details which may be of assistance:

Surname: McKIGGAN
Given Name(s): ANGUS ALEXANDER
Age: 25
Date of Birth: 1919-07-06
Date of Death: 1944-07-28
Rank: Flying Officer
Unit: Royal Canadian Air Force
Force: Air
Service Number: J23376
Reference: RG 24
Volume: 28107
Extra Information: Son of John Angus and Margaret McKiggan, of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada; husband of Doris McKiggan, of Wrexham.

A copy of his service record is available on Ancestry, if you don’t have membership try your local library, they may provide access. If not try a free membership to obtain the records, and access to a family tree listed on the site.

[Phil]

Welcome to the site! There shouldn't be any issues with Safari, I will do some testing to investigate the issue.

In regards to your research I found some info.

https://www.rcafassociation.ca/heritage ... iddlemiss/

MCKIGGAN, ANGUS ALEXANDER F/O(P) J23376. From Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. Killed Jul 28/44 age 25. #400 City Of Toronto Squadron (Percussuri Vigiles). F/O McKiggan was killed when his Spitfire aircraft #PL 829 caught fire in the air and crashed near RAF Station, Odiham, England. Flying Officer Pilot McKiggan is buried in the Wrexham Cemetery, Denbighshire, Wales.

https://www.bombercommandmuseumarchives ... ar1944.pdf

Feb 20 1944
20 400 Sqn. Mustang I AM158 SP-L hit a tree and was damaged at a NOBALL site in France but
F/O A.A. McKiggan returned safely. See July 28, below

Jul 28 1944
28 400 Sqn. Spitfire PR.XI PL829 caught fire in the air and crashed in England, killing F/O A.A.
McKiggan. F/O McKiggan had returned safely after colliding with a tree on a sortie to
France Feb. 20, above.

http://www.rafcommands.com/database/war ... qnum=32488

SON OF JOHN ANGUS AND MARGARET MCKIGGAN, OF SAULT STE. MARIE, ONTARIO, CANADA; HUSBAND OF DORIS MCKIGGAN, OF WREXHAM.

https://flyingforyourlife.com/gallery/400/

400 Squadron pilots before D-Day, Odlham, England, 1944

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[Prodigal Dragon]

Thank you for your prompt reply. I went to his grave on Sunday after the Remembrance Service. He has several Canadian colleagues with him, although his grave is opposite the main CWGC section.

I will do some more research as I want to find out how he met his wife in Wrexham. It may well be she was in the WAAFs and they met at a station they both served.

Once again, many thanks.

Kevin Wynn

[BFBSM]

More details from Ancestry.

From the UK, World War II Index to Allied Airmen Roll of Honour, 1939-1945 database:

Name: Angus Alexander McKiggan
Rank: Fg Off
Death Age: 25
Birth Year: abt 1919
Death Date: 28 Jul 1944
Military Base: Odiham, Hants
Service Number: J23376
Unit: 400 Squadron
Command: 2 Tactical Air Force
Ship: Spitfire Prxi
Occupation: Pilot
Casualty: Killed whilst flying
Residence Place: Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada
Burial Place: Wrexham Cem, Denbigh
Notes: Caught Fire and Crashed on the Approach to Odiham, Hants

[BFBSM]

This is a copy of the marriage certificate which shows occupation of both parties. It indicates that Doris was a 'process worker', suggesting she was working in a factory.

[BFBSM]

Looking at the family tree on Ancestry, there appears to be a surviving nephew. You can contact the 'owner' of the tree if you become a member. I am unable to message them as I am using a version available via a library.

[Temujin]

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[Prodigal Dragon]

Once again, my thanks to everyone who has contributed. My uncle was only 6 when the accident occurred, but he had met Alex. I will speak to him today to update him on all this information. Understandably, they were told Alex had jumped out but his chute hadn't opened properly due to fire damage. It would seem he was very unlucky to have a catastrophic engine failure/fuel leak when low and slow when trying to land.

[Jmihell]

Is it possible that the name of the person that you're looking for is Angus McKiggen and not Alex McKiggen? As I understand the story, Angus McKiggen was killed in the war, but not before his British wife became pregnant. She subsequently moved to Angus' home town of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada so that she and her new baby Lex, could be cared for by Angus' parents. Lex, who was my neighbour until her death in 2018 recounted this story to me, several years ago. Interestingly, Angus and my father, Norman Mihell (also ex-RCAF) played together on the same hockey team, the Pim Hill Bullies before the war. I'm providing a link to an article on the Pim Hill Bullies that contains a picture of Angus:
https://www.sootoday.com/local-news/hom ... tos-164043
If indeed it is Angus that you're searching for, Lex had two children, and I may be able to put you in contact with one of them if you're interested.
In the meantime, if you'd like to contract me my email address is jamesmihell@gmail.com