KERSTEN, Kenneth Irving
| Service Number: | 406857 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 28 April 1941 |
| Last Rank: | Flying Officer |
| Last Unit: | No. 2 Squadron (RAAF) |
| Born: | Boulder, Western Australia, 1 May 1912 |
| Home Town: | St Peters (SA), Norwood Payneham St Peters, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Perth Modern School, Western Australia 1925-29 |
| Occupation: | School Teacher |
| Died: | Flying Battle, Ambon Harbour, Ambon, Netherlands East Indies, 22 May 1942, aged 30 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Column 9. Ambon Memorial, Ambon, Maluku, Indonesia |
| Memorials: | Ambon Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Bindoon Chittering War Memorial, No 2 Squadron RAAF Roll of Honour, Subiaco Perth Modern School WW2 Honour Board |
World War 2 Service
| 3 Sep 1939: | Involvement Pilot Officer, 406857 | |
|---|---|---|
| 28 Apr 1941: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, No. 2 Squadron (RAAF) | |
| 28 Apr 1941: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer, 406857 |
Help us honour Kenneth Irving Kersten's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by David Barlow
Son of Henry and Marion Martha Kersten
Husband of Edna Marion Kersten of North Adelaide, SA
RAAF Lockheed Hudson aircraft A16-187 of Number 2 Squadron was shot down at Ambon, Netherlands East Indies 22 May 1942 - two of the crew were killed in the crash and are commemorated on the Ambon Memorial:
Pilot Officer Kenneth Irving Kersten 406857
Pilot Officer Wilbur Charles McLay 408865
The other two crewmen were captured by the Japanese and were executed while being held as Prisoners of War (22 November 1942) - buried in Ambon War Cemetery are:
Pilot Officer Graham William Charles Allchin 401321
Sergeant Laurence John Montgomerie 406865
Click images to start slideshow.