Robert Millar KENNARD

KENNARD, Robert Millar

Service Number: 422080
Enlisted: 24 April 1942
Last Rank: Flying Officer
Last Unit: No. 180 Squadron (RAF)
Born: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 15 July 1923
Home Town: Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Not yet discovered
Died: Flying Battle, Germany, 21 March 1945, aged 21 years
Cemetery: Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany
21. A. 8.
Memorials: Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour
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World War 2 Service

25 Mar 1942: Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Leading Aircraftman, 422080, Aircrew Training Units, Empire Air Training Scheme
24 Apr 1942: Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman 2 (WW2), 422080, Aircrew Training Units
10 Jun 1944: Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer, 422080, No. 180 Squadron (RAF), Air War NW Europe 1939-45

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Biography contributed by David Barlow

Mitchell bomber KJ563 of 180 Squadron RAF was shot down by anti-aircraft fire over the target area of Bocholt, Germany with 3 members of the all RAAF crew killed:

Flying Officer Harry Stewart Chatto 421569

Flying Officer Robert Millar Kennard 422080

Flying Officer Leslie Albert Ellis 422151 (survived the loss of Ventura aircraft AE678 in May 1943 while undergoing training in Canada - Sergeant Rogers 421828 was killed in that incident)

Flight Sergeant John Milton Farr 422472 bailed out of the stricken aircraft and survived to become a Prisoner of War - he was liberated by advancing Allied forces in early April and was discharged from the RAAF in July 1946

 

Information from http://www.rafcommands.com/archive/06573.php

On 21 March 1945 six Mitchell bombers from 180 Squadron RAF of the Second Tactical Air Force took off from B.58 advanced airfield near Melsbroek in Belgium on a mission to bomb the rail marshalling yards in Bocholt, Germany

Mitchell KJ563 with a 4 man RAAF crew was hit by flak and crashed at a farm in the Stenern district near Bocholt

Mitchell FW236 with a 5 man RAF crew was shot down by flak and crashed 5 km north east of Borken

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