Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Kenneth (Ken) Leslie King was educated at Monash, Berri and Cowell Schools. He passed Intermediate Level and studied accountancy via correspondence.  King was employed as a clerk in a general agency business in Cowell from 1935-1940. He made many friends and excelled in sporting activities, having won some of the most important running events held on the coast. 

Prior to enlisting, King moved to Adelaide where he was a meter reader with the Adelaide Electricity Supply Company. He also played League football for the North Adelaide Football Club.

Ken King enlisted with the Australian Military Forces in August 1940. He served as Private and was involved in Homeland Defence.  In March 1942 King enlisted with the Royal Australian Air Force. After marrying Gywn Constance King in April 1943, he embarked Australia in May for the United Kingdom. On arriving in the United Kingdom he spent time at various flight training schools. In May 1944, Kenneth King joined the No 460 Squadron RAAF.

The squadron became part of the Royal Air Force’s Bomber Command and committed to operations over Germany, Italy and German-occupied Europe. The 460 Squadron is regarded as having been the most efficient of the Australian bomber squadrons. It maintained consistently higher serviceability rates among its aircraft, set numerous operational records within Bomber Command, flew the most bombing raids of any Australian squadron and was credited with the greatest tonnage of bombs dropped.  The squadron, however, suffered heavily. It lost 181 aircraft on operations and suffered 1081 fatal casualties (589 Australian) the highest number of any of the Australian squadrons.

Flight Sergeant King was one of 7 crew from 460 Squadron (2 Australian, 2 Canadian and 3 British aviators) on board a Lancaster Bomber which was detailed to attack Acheres (France) on the night of 10 June 1944. After taking off from Binbrook Station with 79% moon coverage, the Lancaster Bomber crashed close to the village of Elancourt, near Trappes. Flight Sergeant King, who was the bomb aimer and all his companions, including Pilot Officer RL Nicholson from Port Augusta, were killed. The local villagers did their utmost to collect the remains of 5 aircrew and buried them quickly in Elancourt cemetery. The remaining 2 crew members were found later within a burned parachute in a nearby field.  All of the airmen were later re-buried at the Viroflay New Communal Cemetery.

References (see likns to the side)

Cowell RSL - WW2 Folder Full Biographies. Stocker, B.

Australian War Memorial

National Archives Australia 

North Adelaide FC 

Virtual War Memorial Australia 

Squadron 460 

International Bomber Command Centre – Losses Database 

Mrs. K. L. King of Buller street, Prospect, has been advised that her husband, Flt-Sgt. Kenneth L. King, has been missing since June 10. Flt-Sgt. King was the bomb-aimer in a Lancaster which was detailed to attack a target at Acheres. France. No further news has been received of any member of the crew or the aircraft. Flt-Sgt. King is the second son of Mr. and Mrs. L. F. King, of Monash. He was employed by the Adelaide Electric Supply Co., Ltd., and prior to that by Mr. G. J. Payne, of Cowell. Flt-Sgt. King was a member of the North Adelaide League football team.