FLGOFF Keith Frederick Daff 409090

Keith Daff was born June the 24th 1920 in Moorabbin, in Victoria, Australia. He completed his studies at Hampton School and George Taylor Business School before working as a florist. He joined the RAAF on the 17th of July 1941. He completed his initial training at the ITS 1 Somers then at 1 ED Ascott Vale before continuing his training in Southern Rhodesia with 25 SFTS Belvedere and 20 SFTS Cranbourne. Promoted to Sergeant May the 11th 1942 and confirmed an officer on October the 23rd, he was sent to Britain on November the 14th.

On the 10th of August 1943 he was posted to 453 Squadron and served there until October 1944. Promoted to Warrant Officer on the 23rd of April 1944 and Pilot Officer on the 6th of August, he finished his tour of duty before joining the ADF 1 for conveyor missions during March 1945, getting promoted to the rank of F / O on February 6, 1945. On March 18, he joined the OTU 62 as a staff pilot before being transferred in April to 12 Ferry Unit. In early July, he was assigned to Filton, where he served with the 16th ACHU (Headquarters Area Combined Unit) and 11 PRDC (Personal Reception Disposal Unit). He finally returned to Australia on October the 28th.

17.20Hrs (12 a/c) and 21.30Hrs (12 a/c). The first RAAF Pilot to land at St Craix forward Invasion airstrip at Normandy was P/O Keith F Daff Serv#409090, on the 10/06/44, when his Spitfire LF-IX ML138 FU-C, experienced engine trouble when on patrol over the Normandy Beach Head. He landed on an under-construction landing strip and after a few adjustments to the engine, returned some hours later to the UK.

Combat Film Footage

These are only short clips, but the Imperial War Museum has preserved gun camera footage from Keith. Clip is from 25/7/1944 at 1530h, flying his Supermarine Spitfire against a Messerschmitt Me 109. Keith's clip starts at 08:54.

Imperial War Museum - Combat Film No 5250.

SUSSEX, ENGLAND. 1944-06-11. 409090 WARRANT OFFICER KEITH DAFF, MOORABIN, VIC, AND NO. 453 (SPITFIRE) SQUADRON RAAF, THE FIRST AUSTRALIAN TO FORCE-LAND HIS AIRCRAFT ON AN EMERGENCY STRIP IN THE BEACH-HEAD AREA. IMMEDIATELY ON HIS ARRIVAL BACK AT BASE, RAF STATION FORD, HE IS INTERVIEWED BY AUSTRALIAN WAR CORRESPONDENTS SAM WHITE (LEFT) AND HARRY WILLIAMS.

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