Robert Kearns
Robert
(Bob) Kearns spent some time doing 2 tours of operations with the squadron
as a crew member on Wellingtons and Stirlings and later went on to carry out
training duties.
SOURCE:
Jeremy Kearns, Roberts son. XXXJeremy@RedlineSportsCars.com
NOTE:
Jeremy has an original squadron badge and his fathers medals / ribbons along
with a very old photo of a Stirling bomber in flight which has been taken
from another Stirling in the formation, presumably Roberts Stirling. The
photo kindly submitted by Jeremy can be seen in the aircraft section.
Flt/Lt Kenneth Albert John Kemmett
Flt/Lt
Kenneth Albert John Kemmett, Pilot, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United
Kingdom
SEE
CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress (model unknown) HB817 BU-G
SEE
CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress (model unknown) KJ101 BU-H
SEE
CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress (model unknown) KJ114 (2 May 1945)
BU-B
Born in Gloucester England
Ken (John) Kemmett, the second child of a family of five, was born and brought
up in Gloucester. Leaving school at the age of 14, he started work in the
motor industry where his love of all things mechanical was put to good use.
He volunteered for the RAF in 1941 and graduated as pilot from Flying Training
School in Canada in 1943.
He married, had two daughters and later moved to Plymouth where he continued
working in the motor industry and then opened his own model-making shop.
He later became a tutor in Plymouth Polytechnic before retiring early due
to ill health.
Flt/Lt Murray Peden has told the website that he gave Ken Kemmett his initial
dual on Fortresses (BU-V) on March 24th 1945.
Ken died on 19 June 1993, aged 70
Flt/Lt
Ken Kemmett poses with Fortress in background similar to those which he
would have piloted on operations.
(The visit must have brought back a lot of memories for him, both good and
bad)
RAF CARBERRY 33 SFTS 1943 Reunion
(in one of lifes little coincidences there are 33 signatures)
Bryan
Kemmett, Ken's brother has been in contact with the site and has a copy
of Ken's log book.
Source : Bryan
Kemmett (brother) and Ian Hunt and Jennifer Baumfield and Murray Peden
Date record last updated : 29 May 2010
Sgt C Kerr
Sgt C Kerr, Sgt Kerr's crew as recorded on their first 5 ops entries listed in the ORB seem to give the crew as:-
F/Lt J W Lucas
F/Lt W H Taylor
F/O N W Manners
F/Sgt R Jeffcock
W/O S C Hopkins
Sgt W C Heley (spelt Healey in the first entry but Heley in the next four)
F/Sgt J Parkinson
Sgt C W Pearson
Sgt J Burchell
This crew seems to be listed consistently in this order in the ORB, although it doesn't give their individual crew functions. HOWEVER, the tenth crew member (possibly the jamming equipment Special Operator?) changed a bit over the first 5 ops.
- Firstly it was Sgt J S Reid (1st op);
- then F/O W E Gronau RCAF (2nd op);
- then Sgt C Kerr (next 3 ops).
It may be that this was how the crew settled down to be (ie with Kerr).
SOURCE
& RESEARCH: Ian Hunt
FS Robert Albert Kerr
FS
Robert Albert Kerr, 409144, Royal Australian Air Force, Nationality :
Australian, KIA 26 May 1943, Aged 21
SEE CREWS
AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark III BK659 BU-N
Named on the following Memorial : Australian War Memorial Panel 125
Named on the following Memorial : RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL Panel 193
Born 2 July 1921
Born in Middle Brighton, Victoria
Son of Charles Patrick and Mabel Annie Kerr, of Middle Brighton, Victoria,
Australia.
Robert enlisted in Melbourne.
After his aircraft crashed into the North Sea his body was never found.
Source
: CWGC and Geoff Swallow (Australian Researcher) and Chorley and John Cripps
and National Archives of Australia
Date record last updated : 14 February 2010
Sgt Jack King
Sgt
Jack King 626528 Age 21, Husband of Georgina Swan King, Son
of William Green & Margaret King
On 27 august 1942 three hundred and six aircraft were sent by Bomber Command to attack mainly the aircraft factories at the German city of Kassel situated some forty miles to the north east of the `Dams' which had been attacked in May 1942 by the `Dambusters'. The Command lost thirty-one aircraft, 10.1% of the force sent. One squadron, No 142, lost five of its fifteen Wellingtons taking part in the raid. It is believed that the German Night-Fighter Controllers were `spot on' in assessing just where the target was, hence the heavy casualties.
There was very little cloud cover over Kassel and it was well illuminated by the Pathfinders. Widespread damage was caused, particularly in the south west of the city, with over seventy large fires being started and severe damage being done to all three of the Henschel aircraft factories.
214 Squadron sent twelve aircraft on this raid, including Stirling Mark 1 R9155 Q - BU which took off from Stradishall at 2029 hours. On this occasion Pilot Officer Dunckley took the place of the regular navigator Sergeant S.Newcombe. Pilot Officer R.H.Dunckley was a New Zealander and Sergeant R.R. Gray was a Canadian. The others were British.
FLYING OFFICER A.R.SKONE PILOT
SERGEANT J. KING FLIGHT ENGINEER
PILOT OFFICER R.H. DUNCKLEY NAVIGATOR
SERGEANT A.C. LYLE AIR GUNNER/BOMB AIMER
FLIGHT SERGEANT R.A.COLEHAN WIRELESS OPERATOR
SERGEANT R.R.GRAY AIR GUNNER
SERGEANT W.J.BUSHELL AIR GUNNER
Nothing was heard of them again. It has been established that they were one of the twenty-five bombers shot down by Luftwaffe fighters out of a total loss of thirty-one. They had bombed their target and were on the way back when, shot down by a night fighter, crashed at Issum ten miles to the north west of Moers with no survivors. They were all buried temporarily, in the local cemetery.
Six of the crew of Stirling Mark 1 R9155 Q-BU who died on Thursday 27 Aug 1942 ( 27/08/1942 ) were buried in Collective Grave 28. H. 8-13:
SOURCE
& RESEARCH: ARTHUR SKONE
Wg/Cdr Kenneth Duke Knocker
Always
in my heart
Mother
Wg/Cdr
Kenneth Duke Knocker, 28043, Pilot, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United
Kingdom, KIA 3 July 1942, Aged 35
SEE CREWS
AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark I BF313 BU-T
Named on the following Memorial : Ashtead War Memorial Surrey
Buried in WESTERNIELAND
GENERAL CEMETERY, DE MARNE. Reference : N 474
Son of Leslie Duke Knocker, and of The Baroness de Serclaes, M.M., of Ashtead,
Surrey; husband of Susan Knocker.
Kenneth Duke Knocker was born in 1907. His mother was Mrs. Elizabeth ('Elsie')
Knocker who married his father in 1906 but was widowed shortly after Kenneth
was born. In 1916 she married Belgian pilot Baron Harold de T'Serclaes, thus
becoming Baroness Elizabeth de T'Serclaes. During World War One, she was a
nurse and won the Military Medal when she and her friend Mairi Chisholm (also
MM) negotiated a cease fire so wounded could be evacuated. She divorced from
her husband in 1919. In 1939 she joined the Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF)
and rose to senior officer rank. She died in 1974.
Kenneth Knocker joined the Air Force in 1924 and was stationed in India in
the early 1930's. He was considered to be a brilliant pilot.
A major earthquake shook Bihar on January 15, 1934 with an intensity of 8.25
on the Richter scale with its epicenter on the Indo-Nepal border, creating
mass destruction in cities like Dharbanga, Motihari, Patna and Kathmandu.
On January 30, 1934, F/L Knocker flew an emergency flight between Dum Dum
and Dharbanga.
He was promoted to Squadron Leader on 1 September 1940. In April 1942 he assumed
command of 214 Squadron. In July 1942, Wg/Cdr Knocker was also station commander
of Stradishall.
Kate Brettell is the niece of Flt/Lt RWA Turtle DFC. He flew with Wg/Cdr Knocker
at 149 squadron and later at 214 squadron.
She writes:" I became interested in Sqn/Ldr Knocker because he signed
the recommendaton for my uncle's decoration.
Prior to joining 214 Squadron, Knocker served with 149 Squadron from January
1942, posted there from 419 Squadron. I think they were converting to Stirlings
and received training on a front line squadron. He flew as second pilot with
my uncle on two occasions in March 1942.
In May 1942 , 214 Squadron indeed converted to Stirlings and needed experienced
crews. Many airmen transferred in from other units and Knocker, as well as
others like my uncle transferred from 149 Squadron."
Kenneth Knocker is mentioned in the book "Spitfire: A Test Pilot's Story"
by Jeffrey Quill.
Jeffrey Quill, who was the Chief Test Pilot for Supermarine and renowned for
his role in the development of the 'Spitfire' fighter, learnt to fly at Grantham
1931-2. His flight instructor was Fg/Off Kenneth Knocker. Quill attributed
his success as a pilot to the teaching and encouragement he received from
his instructor; "I was appointed to the Siskin flight,commanded by Flight
Lieutenant H.L.P ( 'Pingo') Lester who had flown in the
Royal Naval Air Service during the war. My instructor was Flying Officer Kenneth
Knocker. Any subsequent success that I achieved as a pilot, and indeed my
very survival, I attribute primarily to the quality of the teaching and encouragement
I received from these two men and the solid horse-sense about flying aeroplanes
which they imparted. "
Quote from Baroness de Serclaes MM in the First World War :
"Not long afterwards there was another plane incident. I saw the machine
spiral down near the German trenches, telephoned 52 Squadron, and told them
that I was going out to collect the pilot. When I got to him he had somehow
got out and crawled into a clump of reeds near by. While the stretcher-bearers
went on I was confronted with the German commanding officers. Since I speak
German well, I was able to explain matters satisfactorily; a new lot of troops
had taken over, and though the form had been explained to them, they must
have been a bit startled to see our party so near their lines.
When we arrived back at Pervyse I noticed that our trenches were simply stiff
with top people. The Earl of Athlone was there, and General Rawlinson, and
several others. I was quite out of breath, very muddy, and rather bewildered.
But the first thing was to get the pilot back to our quarters and give him
a rest and a hot drink. I lent him a pair of my breeches, since his own were
so torn and covered in oil.
This exploit earned me and Mairi the immediate award of the Military Medal,
and with it the Order of St John of Jerusalem, though, in fact, it was not
nearly as difficult and dangerous as some of the other sorties we had made."
Elsie Knocker [Baroness de Serclaes] in Flanders and Other Fields source:
http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/lofiversion/index.php/t42761.html
Another website that contains details about his mother :
http://www.epsomandewellhistoryexplorer.org.uk/Tserclaes1.html
See http://basher82.nl/
See http://www.leatherheadlocalhistory.org.uk/Ashtead-War-Memorials/AshteadWM-KnockerKD-story.htm
Source : Stevin
Oudshoorn and CWGC and Leatherhead Local History website and Kate Brettel
(neice of Flt/Lt Turtle) and http://basher82.nl
Date record last updated : 4 March 2012
Fg/Off
Robert Verdun Kingdon
Fg/Off
Robert Verdun Kingdon,
J128299, Pilot, Royal Canadian Air Force, Nationality : Canadian, KIA 21
March 1945
SEE
CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress (model unknown) HB785 (21 March 1945)
BU-A
Buried in DURNBACH
WAR CEMETERY. Reference : 7. D. 7.
He joined 214 Squadron on 1 November 1944 and then flew 25 ops between 7
December 1944 and 20 March 1945 - the last one being in support of a raid
on a Synthetic-Oil Plant at Bohlen (near Leipzig) from which he and his
crew failed to return.
Source : CWGC
and Nightjar Newsletter Spring 2003 and Andy Rychel (great nephew) and Ian
Hunt
Date record last updated : 2i June 2011
Sgt Peter Roy Kimber, 1336307,
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 5 March
1943, Aged 21
SEE CREWS
AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark III BK662 BU-K
Named on the following Memorial : RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL Panel 155.
Son of Mr. and Mrs. E. H. Kimber, of Peckham, London.
Source : Nightjar Newsletter and CWGC
Date record last updated : 9 October 2010
Flt/Lt
K W Kaufmann
Flt/Lt
K W Kaufmann , Pilot
SEE
CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington (model unknown) T2470 BU-K
SEE
CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington (model unknown) T2470 (2 September 1940)
SEE
CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington (model unknown) T2470 (30 August 1940)
Source : Ian
Hunt and Sheila Scott Byrne (daughter of Wg/Cdr Peter Doig Scott)
Date record last updated : 10 July 2011
FS
B A Kennedy
FS B A Kennedy, Royal Air Force, Nationality : British,
Date taken POW 23 May 1943, POW number 1252
SEE
CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark III BF528
Imprisoned at POW camp Barth, Germany
Imprisoned at POW camp Heydekrug (Silute), Lithuania
Imprisoned at POW camp Thorn (Torun), Poland OR Oerbke (Fallingbostel),
Germany - dates unknown
Source : Dave
Pointer (grandson of Sgt WS Clifton-Moggs) and "Footprints in the sand
of time" by Oliver Clutton-Brock
Date record last updated : 7 February 2008
Sgt
John Geoffrey Knight
Sgt
John Geoffrey Knight, 963535, Flight Engineer, Royal Air Force Volunteer
Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 13 August 1943, Aged 27
SEE
CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark I EF390 BU-A
Buried in LA
BUSSIERE-SUR-OUCHE COMMUNAL CEMETERY. Reference : Coll. grave 3-4.
Son of Joseph and Violet Knight, of Birmingham.
Source : CWGC,
Nightjar Newsletter Summer / Autumn 2003 and J. Michael Townsend, Chairman
of the RAFA French Riviera Branch.
Date record last updated : 18 February 2008
Sgt
R D T Kearns
Sgt
R D T Kearns
SEE
CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark I EF362 BU-N
Source : Ian
Hunt and Nightjar Newsletter Spring 2004 and Joyce Birch (cousin of WG Cooper)
Date record last updated : 12 August 2009
Fg/Off
Brian Francis Kerr DFM
Fg/Off
Brian Francis Kerr DFM, 148842, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality
: United Kingdom, KIA 22 March 1945
SEE
CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress III KJ112 BU-P
Named on the following Memorial : Runnymede Memorial Panel 267
Fg/Off Kerr previously served with 166 Squadron. His DFM was was published
on 19 October 1943.
Source : Chorley
and CWGC and Nightjar Newsletter Spring 2003 and Catherine Stewart (relative
of WO James McFarlane)
Date record last updated : 27 July 2010
Flt/Lt
John Keeble
Flt/Lt
John Keeble, Navigator / Plotter
SEE CREWS
AND LOSSES for Victor Mark I - 3 point tanker XA937
Source : Tom
Robson
Date record last updated : 23 January 2010
FS
King
FS
King
Was occasionally part of the crew of Flg/Off E Woodley
Source : Emily
Ward (Great niece of Fg/Off Ernest Woodley)
Date record last updated : 28 August 2008
Sqn/Ldr
Len Kinzett
Sqn/Ldr
Len Kinzett, Wireless Operator
SEE
CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress (model unknown) ??Bettles BU-?
Husband of Mary
Stayed in service after the war and retired as Squadron Leader
Source : Donald
MacGilchrist and Bob Williams
Date record last updated : 12 December 2010
Sgt
Edward Henry King
Sgt
Edward Henry King, 918289, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner, Royal Air
Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 7 July 1941,
Aged 23
SEE
CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington Mark I C T2992 (7 July 1941) BU-J
Buried in AS
COMMUNAL CEMETERY. Reference : Grave 4
Son of Ernest Edward and Caroline Alice Louise King, of Shepherd's Bush,
London.
Source : CWGC
and grave photograph by Ivo Swinnen of As, Belgium
Date record last updated : 2 October 2009
Plt/Off
Norman Mervyn Kebbell Kirckaldie
Plt/Off
Norman Mervyn Kebbell Kirckaldie, 401315, Royal New Zealand Air Force,
Nationality : New Zealand, KIA 9 May 1941, Aged 23
SEE
CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington Mark I C R1226 BU-L
Buried in BERGEN-OP-ZOOM
WAR CEMETERY. Reference : Coll. grave 32. C. 2.
Son of Norman Kirkcaldie and of Marjorie Grace Kirkcaldie (nee Kebbell),
of Ohau, Wellington, New Zealand.
Source : CWC
and Nightjar Newsletter Summer / Autumn 2005
Date record last updated : 11 April 2009
Sgt
Ralph Kitney
Sgt Ralph Kitney, 931029, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner, Royal Air
Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 2 April 1942,
Aged 21
SEE
CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington Mark I C Z8979 BU-P
Buried in REICHSWALD
FOREST WAR CEMETERY. Reference : Coll. grave 9. A. 3-6.
Son of Charles William and Annie A. Kitney, of Sittingbourne, Kent.
Source : Ian
Hunt and CWGC
Date record last updated : 23 August 2009
FS
Harry 'Jock' Knox
FS
Harry 'Jock' Knox, Flight Engineer
SEE
CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress (model unknown) ??Austin BU-O
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for
Flying Fortress (model unknown) ??Wynne
Source : Leslie
Bostock
Date record last updated : 27 October 2009
Sgt
Edward Kenny
Sgt
Edward Kenny, 968455, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality
: United Kingdom, KIA 5 November 1940, Aged 25
SEE
CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington Mark I C T2470 (5 November 1940) BU-K
Buried in HAVERHILL
CEMETERY. Reference : Sec. U. Grave 131.
Source : CWGC
and Chorley
Date record last updated : 27 September 2009
SAC
Guy Kennedy
SAC
Guy Kennedy, E8078082, Mechanic, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United
Kingdom
Born 12 July 1949
Born in London, England
A Mech P on Victor K1s at Marham for 5 years 1969-1974
Source : Guy
Kennedy
Date record last updated : 7 November 2009
Sgt
William Albert 'Bill' King
Sgt
William Albert 'Bill' King, 1384545, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner,
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 1 September
1943, Aged 28
SEE
CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark III EE959 BU-E
Buried in BERLIN
1939-1945 WAR CEMETERY. Reference : Coll. grave 5. F. 24-29.
Son of William and Ada Grace King, of Tufnell Park, London.
Source : Adrian
Lee (son of Frank Lee) and Chorley and CWGC
Date record last updated : 27 November 2009
WO William Leslie Kendall
WO
William Leslie Kendall, 1182865, Waist Gunner, Royal Air Force, Nationality
: United Kingdom
William served with 214 from December 1944. He did not speak much about
his wartime experiences but did mention that he flew Flying Fortresses,
as a waist gunner, with some American crew members and that part of their
work entailed dropping "chaff" to confuse enemy radar. Sadly William
died in 2004.
Born 25 October 1921
Born in Tonyrefail (Cardiff Glamorgan) Wales
Buried in DENHOLME CEMETERY, UXBRIDGE, UK
William enlisted in July 1940 at the age of 18 and trained as a Flight Mechanic
(Engines) and posted to 1435 Squadron Malta.
He retrained in 1943 as an air gunner and after service in the Middle East
was posted to 214 on 13 December 1944.
He did not speak much about his wartime experiences but did mention that
he flew Flying Fortresses, as a waist gunner, with some American crew members
and that part of their work entailed dropping "chaff" to confuse
enemy radar.
Sadly
William died on 14 January 2004 aged 82.
William is at the front on the right hand side. Can anyone name any of the
other crew members?
His son remembers William saying that he went on R & R and sadly his
crew were killed on the next mission.
Source : Les
Kendall (son)
Date record last updated : 14 March 2010
Sgt King
Sgt
King
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for
Stirling (model unknown) R9322 (1 June 1942)
Source : Don
MacDonald
Date record last updated : 19 March 2010
Sgt R Kent
Sgt
R Kent
SEE
CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington Mark II R1613 BU-G
Date record last
updated : 3 October 2010
Sgt John Laurence Kemp
Sgt
John Laurence Kemp, 1235720, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, KIA
15 January 1943, Aged 19
SEE
CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark I W7637 BU-W
Named on the following Memorial : RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL Panel 155.
Son of Idris Miles Kemp and Dorothy Kemp, of Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire.
Source : CWGC
Date record last updated : 30 October 2010
Sgt Richard Kerry
Sgt
Richard Kerry, 936945, Air Gunner, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve,
KIA 18 August 1942, Aged 23
SEE
CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark I BF330 BU-H
Named on the following Memorial : RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL Panel 87.
Son of John and Elizabeth Kerry; husband of Dorothy Kerry, of Nottingham.
Sgt Kerry enlisted on 12 September 1939. His civilian job had been a machinist
and he started as a Flight Mechanic with the RAF.
His personal description when he was enlisted reads:
Height 5ft 4inches
Chest 35 inches
Hair Brown
Eyes Grey
Fresh complexion
Religion Church of England
He spent a while with 22 Squadron and then attended several training deployments
as an Air Gunner before joining 214 Squadron on 1 April 1942.
Sgt Kerry married Dorothy Barnett on 15 March 1941 and her address was recorded
as 26 Osborne Street, Alfreton Road, Nottingham
Source : CWGC
and Jock Whitehouse and Eric Utley and Janet Utley (niece of Sgt Richard
Kerry)
Date record last updated : 30 July 2011
Sgt Peter Frederick Kay
Sgt
Peter Frederick Kay, 742168, Pilot, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve,
Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 8 June 1940, Aged 20
Buried in HENGOED
(ST. BARNABAS) CHURCHYARD
Son of Frederick and Mabel Hilda Kay, of Knowle, Bristol.
Is listed as Robert Frederick Kay on Jock's records
Source : CWGC
and Jock Whitehouse and Traces of WW2 website
Date record last updated : 8 August 2011
FS R J Knickle
FS
R J Knickle,
Royal Canadian Air Force, Nationality : Canadian
SEE
CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark III KJ103 BU-M
Source : Chorley
Date record last updated : 31 August 2011
FS D 'Des' Kingsland DFM
FS
D 'Des' Kingsland DFM, Rear Gunner, Royal Air Force
FS Kingsland is recorded as a regular crewmember with Flt/Lt Wyver and Fg/Off
Keith McCall.
His role is also listed as Wireless operator. He came from Bournemouth and
was wounded on 14 February 1945.
Source : John
McCall (son of Keith McCall)
Date record last updated : 1 June 2013
Plt/Off 'Jack' Kelly
Plt/Off 'Jack' Kelly, Air Gunner
Plt/Off Kelly is recorded as a regular crewmember with Flt/Lt Wyver and
Fg/Off Keith McCall and was from New York. He was replaced in january 1945.
Source : John
McCall (son of Keith McCall)
Date record last updated : 1 June 2013
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