FRY, Kenneth Gregson
| Service Number: | 407057 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 27 May 1940 |
| Last Rank: | Flight Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | No. 10 Squadron (RAAF) |
| Born: | Rose Park, South Australia, 10 August 1913 |
| Home Town: | Glenelg, Holdfast Bay, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Scotch College, Adelaide |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | Flying Battle, Atlantic Ocean, 1 August 1943, aged 29 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" |
| Memorials: | Adelaide WW2 Wall of Remembrance, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Glenelg and District WW1 & WW2 Honour Board, One Tree Hill Honour Roll WW2, One Tree Hill War Memorial, Runnymede Air Forces Memorial |
World War 2 Service
| 27 May 1940: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman 2 (WW2), 407057, Adelaide, South Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 27 May 1940: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Lieutenant, 407057 | |
| 1 Aug 1943: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Lieutenant, 407057, No. 10 Squadron (RAAF), Air War NW Europe 1939-45 |
No. 10 Squadron, RAAF - Sinking of U454 and loss of Sunderland W4020
On 1 August 1943 while Flight Lieutenant Fry (No. 10) was cooperating with 2nd Escort Group in this same area he saw a U-boat travelling surfaced at ten knots in a very rough sea only six miles from the sloops. He swung immediately towards the enemy and flew overhead, then made a tight turn to port to attack from the U-boat’s starboard quarter against very accurate fire. His starboard-inner engine was hit, and when the Sunderland closed to 400 yards a shell exploded in the starboard main fuel tank and petrol flooded the bridge. All three pilots were probably seriously wounded at this point but Fry with supreme determination pressed home the attack. The tail gunner saw the U-boat enveloped in the explosion plumes and then sink bows first. The Sunderland maintained course for about six miles, turned towards the ships and plunged into the sea, bouncing twice before settling heavily into the 15-foot swell. Meanwhile HMS Wren turned immediately to help the crashed aircraft. When it arrived ten minutes later all that remained was a stump of the mainplane with five of the crew clinging to it while a sixth man was seen swimming a quarter of a mile away. It was too rough to launch a boat even after oil had been pumped into the sea, but five men were hauled aboard by lifebelt and a seaman dived overboard and supported the other who was near exhaustion. Fry himself, whose indomitable spirit and skill combined to make this attack under conditions which might well have daunted the bravest heart, did not survive; but those members of his crew rescued soon learned that U454 had been broken in two and had sunk within thirty seconds.
Extract from Herington, J. (John) (406545) Air War Against Germany and Italy 1939-1943, Australian War Memorial, Canberra, 1954 – Page 443
Submitted 1 September 2020 by Steve Larkins
Biography contributed by Julianne Ryan
Rootsweb ID: I508549 Birth Record: 10 Aug 1913 in Rose Park, South Australia
Father Norman Seymour Fry and Mother Alice Gregson Fry.
Wife: Roma Kathleen Fry - living at South Terrace, Adelaide, SA.
Next of kin in service:
Brother-in-law - Pilot Officer J Norman
27/5/1940 enlisted in RAAF, in Adelaide, SA
Flight Lieutenant in 10th Squadron
Dec. 1942 A member of the pilots of No. 10 (Sunderland) Squadron RAAF based at
RAF Station Mount Batten, Plymouth, England operating with Coastal
Command in the Battle of the Atlantic.
Jan. 1943 Plymouth, England. Kenneth was involved in an AUSSIE Rules football match
between officers and airmen of No. 10 (Sunderland) Squadron RAAF at
RAF Station Mount Batten.
*** service record needs to be ordered through National Archives of Australia ***
1/8/1943 died in flying battle over Atlantic Ocean
No known grave
His name is commemorated on Panel 187, at Air Forces Memorial, Runnymede, Surrey, UK.
His name is commemorated on Panel 99 at the Australian War Memorial,
Canberra, ACT.
14/1/1944 London Gazette - awarded - Mention in Despatches
Sourced and submitted by Julianne T Ryan. 6/6/2016. Lest we forget.
Biography contributed by Steve Larkins
407057 Flight Lieutenant Kenneth Gregson FRY, MID
Aircraft Captain - 407057 Flight Lieutenant Kenneth Gregson FRY, MID, KIA. Born 10 August 1913 Adelaide SA. Kenneth had enlisted on the 27th of May, 1940. His name is listed at Panel 99 at the AWM, on the Glenelg (SA) WW2 Honour Roll and on the Wall of Remembrance in Adelaide, SA.
Fry and five others (most on the Flight Deck) were killed and five survived the crash.
2nd Pilot - 416307 Flying Officer Hamilton Roland Dacre BUDD, born Murwullimbah NSW 18 Apr 1915. He enlisted on the 25th of May, 1941. On the 1st of August, 1943, he was 2nd Pilot on board RAAF No. 10 Squadron Sunderland W4020 when the aircraft was lost in action.
First Pilot - 410218 FLGOFF John Maxwell CURTIS. KIA. Born in Ballarat, 16 July 1921, John had enlisted on the 5th of December, 1941. His name is also listed at Panel 99 at the AWM.
Fitter 2A - 29746 FSGT John Edmund FRYER, KIA. John was born in Claremont WA on 06 Mar 1909, and had enlisted on the 28th of January, 1941. His name is listed at Panel 99 at the AWM.
2nd Navigator - 418026 FLGOFF Arthur Maurice WELCH, KIA. He was born in Toorak Victoria on 22 Aug 1914, and enlisted on the 24th of April, 1942. His name is listed at Panel 100 at the AWM.
Air Gunner - 27964 SGT Herbert Barry LYDEAMORE, born 22 Apr 1913 in Rose Park, SA, and living in Port Pirie SA when he enlisted on the 1st of July, 1940. His name is listed at Panel 100 at the AWM and on the Wall of Remembrance in Adelaide, SA.
Survivors
Air Gunner - 420734 Flight Sergeant (FSGT) Donald Ian CONACHER born in Sydney 8 March 1923, and had enlisted on the 9th of November, 1941. He survived, was rescued, and, later commissioned. Donald was serving as a Flight Lieutenant with No. 10 Squadron when discharged on the 30th of June, 1945.
Radio Operator - 405965 FSGT Phillip Edward COOK, born 17th June 1922 in Goondiwindi Queensland, and enlisted on the 17th of July, 1941. He survived and was serving as a Warrant Officer with No. 10 Squadron when discharged on the 30th of June, 1945.
Armourer - 41635 Sergeant (SGT) Jack HASLEM, born 21 Apr 1920 in Albury NSW, had initially served with the Australian Army. Jack enlisted to the Army as S/No. V64029 on the 9th of August, 1940. He was serving as a Sapper with 20 Army Field Company and took discharge on the 6th of July, 1941 in order to join the RAAF the following day, 7th of July, 1941. Jack survived, was rescued and was serving as a Leading Aircraftman with No. 1 Flying Boat Repair Depot when discharged on the 8th of August, 1945.
2nd Flight Engineer - 17142 SGT Frederick Olaf PETTERSSON was born in Cottlesloe, WA on 11 Oct 1914 and enlisted on the 1st of July, 1940. He survived this crash, received promotions through to WOFF and was discharged at No. 5 Personnel Depot on the 28th of May, 1946.
Navigator - 407932 Flying Officer John Hereford PORTUS, DFC was born in Cessnock, NSW on 12 May 1913 and enlisted on the 3rd of February, 1941. He was also rescued and was serving as a Flight Lieutenant at No. 4 Embarkation Depot when discharged on the 4th of August, 1944.
Radio Operator - 416911 FSGT Ronald Gifford WELFARE was born at Semaphore, SA on 03 Nov 1916. He enlisted on the 11th of October, 1941. He survived this crash, was later Commissioned and was serving as a FLGOFF with No. 10 Sqn when discharged on the 24th of September, 1945.
Click images to start slideshow.