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PERSONNEL

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To find the person that you want either scroll down the page or select them from the ranges shown below
Surname :
KAUFMANN, K W

Wg/Cdr (Acting) Keith Walter Kaufmann DFC and Bar, 39464, Pilot, Royal Air Force, Nationality : Australian

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington (model unknown) T2470 BU-K
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington (model unknown) T2470 (02-Sep-1940)
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington (model unknown) T2470 (30-Aug-1940)

Named on the following Memorial : Australian War Memorial (Honours and Awards)

Awarded the DFC on 24 December 1940 : Click on this link to see the entry in the London Gazette

Awarded the a Bar to the DFC on 6 November 1942 : Click on this link to see the entry in the London Gazette

Source : Ian Hunt and Sheila Scott Byrne (daughter of Wg/Cdr Peter Doig Scott) and London Gazette and Australian War Memorial

Date record last updated : 26 March 2021



KAY, P F

Kay_Peter_Frederick_grave

Sgt Peter Frederick Kay, 742168, Pilot, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 6 June 1940, Aged 20

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington Mark I N2993 BU-?

Buried in HENGOED (ST. BARNABAS) CHURCHYARD. Reference : N.E. of church.

Son of Frederick and Mabel Hilda Kay, of Knowle, Bristol.

CWGC shows the death date to be 8 June 1940.

Is listed as Robert Frederick Kay on Jock's records

Source : CWGC and Jock Whitehouse and Traces of WW2 website and Gary Bick (Researcher)

Date record last updated : 21 March 2019



KEARNS, R D J

Kearns_Robert_Dennis_Joseph

Kearns_Robert_Dennis_Joseph_squadron_badge_and_medals_and_caterpillar_badge
Robert's Squadron badge, medal ribbons and caterpillar badge

Sgt Robert Dennis Joseph 'Bob' Kearns MiD, 1612432, Bomb Aimer, Royal Air Force, Nationality : British

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark I EF362 BU-N

Born 20 April 1922
Born in Dublin

Son of Joseph and Sarah 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.

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.

Robert died on 14 October 1976 aged 54 and is buried in Hanworth.

Jeremy can be contacted at XXXJeremy@RedlineSportsCars.com (remove the XXX to send an email)

Source : Ian Hunt and Nightjar Newsletter Spring 2004 and Joyce Birch (cousin of WG Cooper) and Jeremy Kearns (son of Robert Kearns)

Date record last updated : 21 February 2016



KEEBLE, J

Keeble_John

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



KELLEY, L L

Sgt L L Kelley, Date taken POW 29 July 1943, POW number 650

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark III BK717 (04-Jul-1943) BU-U

Imprisoned at POW camp Heydekrug (Silute), Lithuania

Imprisoned at POW camp Thorn (Torun), Poland - dates unknown

SEE PRISONERS OF WAR

Plane crashed on 3 July 1943.

Captured in Bordeaux on 29 July 1943. and held at Fresnes prison in Paris before being sent to POW camps.

Source : Chorley and "Footprints on the sands of time" by Oliver Clutton-Brock

Date record last updated : 20 November 2020



KELLY, C J

Kelly_C_J

Plt/Off C J 'Jack' Kelly, Rear Gunner, Royal Air Force, Nationality : American

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark III HB793 (02-Jan-1945) BU-S
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark III HB801 (27-Nov-1944) BU-U
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark III KJ107 (05-Jan-1945) BU-N
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark III KJ107 (06-Jan-1945) BU-N

Born in New York USA

Jack joined the crew in June 1944 and left at the beginning of January 1945

Source : John McCall (son of Keith McCall) and Sqn/Ldr John McLelland (Rtd) (Son of Fg/Off McLelland) and 214 Squadron ORB

Date record last updated : 17 April 2020



KELLY, E G

Sgt Ernest George Kelly, 1875358, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 6 November 1944, Aged 19

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark III HB788 (06-Nov-1944) BU-B

Buried in REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY. Reference : 22. A. 7.

Ward of Mr. E. V. Martin, of Westminster, London.

Source : CWGC

Date record last updated : 16 May 2009



KEMMETT, K A J

Kemmett_Kenneth_Albert_John

Flt/Lt Kenneth Albert John Kemmett, Pilot, Royal Air Force, Nationality : United Kingdom

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark III HB817 BU-G
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark III KJ101 BU-H
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark III KJ114 (02-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.

He was the pilot for three Fortress flights between April 1944 to May 1945 (actual operational take-offs. Does not disregard aborted ops, early returns etc.)

Ken died on 19 June 1993, aged 70

Kemmett_Kenneth_Albert_John_2
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)

Kemmett_Kenneth_Albert_John_reunion_RAF_Carberry
RAF CARBERRY 33 SFTS 1943 Reunion
(in one of lifes little coincidences there are 33 signatures)

Kemmett_Kenneth_Albert_John_logbook
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 : 7 December 2018



KEMP, J L

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



KENDALL, W L

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.

Kendal_William_and_unknown_crew_members
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



KENNEDY, B A

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 - 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



KENNEDY, G

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



KENNY, E

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 (05-Nov-1940) BU-K

Buried in HAVERHILL CEMETERY. Reference : Sec. U. Grave 131.

Source : CWGC and Chorley

Date record last updated : 27 September 2009



KENT, G A

LM G A Kent

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for O/100 3122

Source : David Hearn (Great nephew of Lt Reginald Binckes)

Date record last updated : 13 August 2023



KENT, R

Sgt Robert Kent, 745050, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : British, KIA 2 August 1941, Date taken POW 14 July 1941, POW number Unknown

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington Mark II R1613 (14-Jul-1941)BU-G

Buried in RHEINBERG WAR CEMETERY. Reference : Joint grave 17. B. 10.

SEE PRISONERS OF WAR

Sgt Kent died on 2 August 1941 while a Prisoner of War

Source : "Footprints on the sands of time" by Oliver Clutton-Brock and Chorley and CWGC

Date record last updated : 20 November 2020



KERR, B F

Kerr_Brian_Francis

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



KERR, C

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:-
Flt/Lt J W Lucas
Flt/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 Burchel

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


KERR, R A

Kerr_Robert_Albert_runnymede

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 (26-May-1943) 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 and Australian War Memorial

Date record last updated : 26 March 2021



KERRY, R

Kerry_Richard
Picture from Ancestry.com

Kerry_Richard_wedding
Richard Kerry's wedding

Kerry_Richard_memorial_seat
Kerry_Richard_memorial_seat_plaque
The Memorial Bench above is located in East Kirby in Lincolnshire in England

Sgt Richard Kerry, 936945, Air Gunner, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, KIA 18 August 1942, Aged 23

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling (model unknown) BF318 (16-Jul-1942)
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark I BF330 (17-Aug-1942) BU-H

Named on the following Memorial : RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL Panel 87.
Named on the following Memorial : Sgt Richard Kerry Memorial Bench

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.

Bob Brown writes :
'I can add that he had two brothers, both killed during WW2:
John Kerry was also an air gunner, who died when his Stirling crashed on a training flight in January 1944 (not with 214 Squadron).
Joseph Kerry was killed in action with the Royal Artillery in Italy in December 1944.
Richard also had a sister: Doris Brown, who was my grandmother.'

Source : CWGC and Jock Whitehouse and Eric Utley and Janet Utley (niece of Sgt Richard Kerry) and Bob Brown (nephew of Sgt Richard Kerry) and Colin Murray (Imperial War Museum remote volunteer) and 214 Squadron ORB and Paul Markham (77 Squadron Association) and Ancestry.com

Date record last updated : 19 January 2024



KERSHAW

KERSHAW, F B

Sgt F B Kershaw, 701962, Air Gunner

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington (model unknown) ??Williams

Was part of an aircrew to be seconded to 15 OTU for 215 Squadron on 11 March 1942.

See Photo album 4 "The exodus of 214 Squadron to 215 Squadron".

Source : Colin Burningham

Date record last updated : 29 May 2010



KETTLE, H F

WO H F Kettle, R151476, Royal Canadian Air Force

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark III HB801 (17-Apr-1945) BU-T

Source : ORB and Richard Heath (grandson of Sgt Harold James Heath)

Date record last updated : 2 February 2018



KEY, J A

Sgt J A Key, Date taken POW 12 October 1941, POW number 24386

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington Mark I C X9762 (12-Oct-1941) BU-?

Imprisoned at POW camp Heydekrug (Silute), Lithuania
Imprisoned at POW camp Lamsdorf (Lambinowice), Germany - until 1943 when it became Stalag 344
Imprisoned at POW camp Sagan (Zagan) & Belaria, Germany
Imprisoned at POW camp Thorn (Torun), Poland - dates unknown
SEE PRISONERS OF WAR

Source : Chorley and 214 Squadron ORB and "Footprints on the sands of time" by Oliver Clutton-Brock

Date record last updated : 30 October 2020



KIMBER, P R

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 and Chorley

Date record last updated : 5 January 2014



KING

Sgt King

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark I R9322 (01-Jun-1942) BU-C

Source : Don MacDonald

Date record last updated : 19 March 2010



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



KING, C W G

Sgt C W G King, Date taken POW 12 October 1941, POW number 24366

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington Mark I C X9762 (12-Oct-1941) BU-?

Imprisoned at POW camp Heydekrug (Silute), Lithuania
Imprisoned at POW camp Lamsdorf (Lambinowice), Germany - until 1943 when it became Stalag 344
Imprisoned at POW camp Sagan (Zagan) & Belaria, Germany
Imprisoned at POW camp Thorn (Torun), Poland - dates unknown

SEE PRISONERS OF WAR

Source : Chorley and 214 Squadron ORB and "Footprints on the sands of time" by Oliver Clutton-Brock

Date record last updated : 30 September 2020



KING, E H

King_Edward_Henry_gravestone

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 (07-Jul-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



KING, J

Sgt Jack King, 626528, Flight Engineer, Royal Air Force, Nationality : British, KIA 27 August 1942, Aged 21

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark I R9155 (27-Aug-1942) BU-Q

Buried in REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY. Reference : Coll. grave 28. H. 8-13.

Son of William Green King and Margaret King; husband of Georgina Swan King.

Source : Chorley and CWGC and Arthur Skone

Date record last updated : 31 March 2023



KING, W A

King_William_Albert

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 and Jennifer Stokes (connection to Sgt William Albert King)

Date record last updated : 15 May 2020



KINGDON, R V

Kingdon_R_V

Kingdon_Robert_Verdun_grave

Fg/Off Robert Verdun Kingdon, J/28299 and R167421, Pilot, Royal Canadian Air Force, Nationality : Canadian, KIA 21 March 1945, Aged 29

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark III HB785 (21-Mar-1945) BU-A

Born 14 June 1916

Born in Thistletown, York County, Ontario

Buried in DURNBACH WAR CEMETERY. Reference : 7. D. 7.

Son of Edgar Thomas Kingdon and Zebbie Frances Kingdon (nee Shaw)

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.

Husband of Jessie Bella Kingdon (nee Argo)

Worked at National Steel Car Corp as an Aircraft Fitter from 1949 to 1942

Did a correspondence course at the Technical Institute of Great Britain in Aircraft from1939 to 1942.

Enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force on 2 June 1942

More information on Fg/Off Kingdon and the crew of HB785 (21-Mar-1945) can be found here : http://rcafcentralia.blogspot.com/2012/09/robert-verdun-kingdon.html

There are 52 documents relating to Fg/Off Kingdon on Ancestry.co.uk and Ancestry.ca in the section Canada,WWII Service Files of War Dead, 1939-1947 (Casualties)
You will need an account with the Ancestry website to access these records.

Source : CWGC and Nightjar Newsletter Spring 2003 and Andy Rychel (great nephew) and Ian Hunt and Chris Edwards from Garmisch

Date record last updated : 29 May 2019



KINGSLAND, D G

Kingsland_Desmond_George

Kingsland_Desmond_George_2

Kingsland_Desmond_George_3

FS Desmond George 'Des' Kingsland DFM, 1605641, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark III HB785 (07-Jan-1945) BU-A
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark III HB790 (14-Jan-1945) BU-Q
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark III HB793 (02-Jan-1945) BU-S
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark III HB793 (28-Jan-1945) BU-S
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark III HB801 (27-Nov-1944) BU-U
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark III HB820 (14-Feb-1945) BU-P
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark III KJ107 (05-Jan-1945) BU-N
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark III KJ107 (06-Jan-1945) BU-N
SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark III KJ110 (01-Feb-1945) BU-B

FS Kingsland is recorded as a regular crew member 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.

He was awarded the DFM as a result of his actions on the night of 14 Feb 1945 which included extinguishing a fire and attending to crew members. The aircraft was badly damaged most likely due to a German nightfighter.

DFM award in the London Gazette dated 6 Apr 1945 :
Kingsland_Desmond_George_and_Wyver_Kenneth_gazette_6_Apr_1945
Extract from the London Gazette 6 Apr 1945
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37018/supplement/1849

Source : John McCall (son of Keith McCall) and Sqn/Ldr John McLelland (Rtd) (Son of Fg/Off McLelland) and 214 Squadron ORB and London Gazette

Date record last updated : 17 April 2020



KINZETT, L

Kinzett_Len

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



KIRCKALDIE, N M K

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 : CWGC and Nightjar Newsletter Summer / Autumn 2005

Date record last updated : 11 April 2009



KISSACK, L D

Sgt Laurence Douglas Kissack, 1169259, Pilot, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : British, KIA 21 September 1941, Aged 26

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington Mark II W5452 BU-U

Buried in KIRK BRADDAN (ST. BRENDAN) NEW CHURCHYARD. Reference : 4008

Son of Percy Douglas and Vera Helen Kissack of Derby Haven.

Source : CWGC and Chorley

Date record last updated : 31 December 2014



KITCHIN

KITNEY, R

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 (01-Apr-1942) 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



KLASSEN

KLUSKY

Sgt Klusky

Was a regular crew member with Gp/Capt John Aidan Field

Is possibly Gerald Klusky

Source : Richard Field (son of Gp/Capt John Aidan Field)

Date record last updated : 24 May 2019



KLUSKY, G

Sgt Gerald Klusky, 915976, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Nationality : United Kingdom, KIA 29 August 1941

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Wellington Mark I C R1604 BU-?

Buried in FLUSHING (VLISSINGEN) NORTHERN CEMETERY. Reference : Row B Grave 4

Son of Jack and Lily Klusky, of Neasden, Middlesex.

Source : Chorley and CWGC

Date record last updated : 5 January 2014



KNIBB, D L

Sgt D L Knibb, Date taken POW 26 July 1942, POW number 24100

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark I W7560 BU-C

Imprisoned at POW camp Lamsdorf (Lambinowice), Germany - from 1943, was previously Stalag 8B
Imprisoned at POW camp Lamsdorf (Lambinowice), Germany - until 1943 when it became Stalag 344

SEE PRISONERS OF WAR

Source : "Footprints on the sands of time" by Oliver Clutton-Brock and Chorley

Date record last updated : 20 January 2023



KNICKLE, R J

FS Robert John Knickle, Royal Canadian Air Force, Nationality : Canadian

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Flying Fortress Mark III KJ103 BU-M

Born 17 July 1923

Died 15 May 2004

Source : Chorley and David Champion (researcher)

Date record last updated : 15 December 2017



KNIGHT, J F P

Sgt J F P Knight, Nationality : United Kingdom, Date taken POW 3 June 1942, POW number 426

SEE CREWS AND LOSSES for Stirling Mark I W7537 BU-H

Imprisoned at POW camp Heydekrug (Silute), Lithuania
Imprisoned at POW camp Sagan (Zagan) & Belaria, Germany
Imprisoned at POW camp Thorn (Torun), Poland - dates unknown

SEE PRISONERS OF WAR

Source : Chorley and "Footprints on the sands of time" by Oliver Clutton Brock and http://aircrewremembered.com

Date record last updated : 20 November 2020



KNIGHT, J G

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



KNOCKER, K D

Knocker_Kenneth_Duke_grave

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, Flt/Lt 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 theRoyal 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."

Kenneth's mother mother, Elsie Barroness de T' Serclaes. wrote a book, "Flanders and Other Fields", in which she writes about the last time she saw Kenneth: " After Kenneth was appointed Commanding Officer at Stradishall, I went over to Mildenhall to have lunch with him, and he told me that he had permission from the Group Captain to fly me back to York. He would have to get off at Stradishall to take up his command, but his co-pilot would take me on. He pointed to an enormous steel filing- cabinet in his office, and said he would be taking it with him. It looked so bulky that it seemed to me almost a foolhardy thing to do ,yet when I climbed into the body of the plane (a Stirling) the cabinet was completely dwarfed and looked no bigger than a stool. At Stradishall I embraced my son and kissed him (I think I must have been the only mother to kiss her son good-bye in his war-plane), and off he strode across the tarmac with two men behind him carrying the filing cabinet.

We took off again immediately, and struck heavy rain and thick swirling mist over the Wash. I began to think of all the natural hazards. let alone the man-made ones, aircrews had to face. I dreaded the risks my son had to take, although I knew he was a veteran of many operations. I had such a clear vision, sitting there by the co-pilot, of Kenneth looping and swooping over the garden of my cottage in that funny little plane, and flying upside down over the village. It had all been so playful, but there was nothing playful about this lumbering machine, just built to deliver the maximum amount of death and destruction. I could have wept.

Three months later, just after lunch, I went to my office in Heslington Hall to open some signals. Half a dozen W.A.A.F.'s to such and such a station; vacancies for two or more at another;were there any parachute-packers to spare? Routine stuff. Then I found myself staring at the words: "WE REGRET TO INFORM YOU THAT YOUR SON IS MISSING BELIEVED KILLED."

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://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 Chorley and Stevin Oudshoorn

Date record last updated : 22 June 2014



KNOX, H

Knox_Harry

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




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