Sub Lieutenant (Pilot), 878 Squadron. Fleet Air Arm, HMS Landrail.
Killed on the 5th January 1944 aged 23.
Alan was the son of Albert & Gwendoline Pollock. He was educated at Alleynes School in Stevenage where he became head boy. He was a pupil of amazing talent eventually becoming the chairman of the school literary & debating society as well as secretary of the scientific society. He was also interested in the dramatic arts and once played Father Christmas in the schools production of A Christmas Carol. Added to these talents was his outstanding sporting abilities being captain of the school boxing team and being part of the schools swimming, football and cricket teams. He then passed the civil service exam and, like his friend Eric Stanley, went to work at Adastral house.
In August 1941 Alan joined the Fleet Air Arm as a Leading Airman and went to both Canada and the USA to train as a pilot. After receiving his commission on the 9th June 1942 he was posted to 762 Squadron at HMS Heron (RNAS Yeovilton) for advanced flying training on Sea Hurricanes.
On the 8th May 1943 he was transferred to 893 Squadron on the aircraft carrier HMS Formidable (Illustrious) and took part in patrols over Sicily and the Salerno landings. On the 5th January 1944, whilst 878 prepared for disbandment, Alan and two fellow pilots took off from RNAS Eglington in Northern Ireland in a Stinson Reliant, FK914. The aircraft crashed in bad weather on the North Eastern side of Sawel Mountain with all the occupants being killed. His body, and that of his two companions, were not found until sometime after they were reported missing.
Alan is buried in the Faughanvale (St.Canice) Church of Ireland Churchyard in Eglinton, Northern Ireland. (Grave 8)