Kent Morgan WATKINS

WATKINS, Kent Morgan

Service Number: 425689
Enlisted: 25 April 1942
Last Rank: Flying Officer
Last Unit: No. 3 Squadron (RAAF)
Born: Brisbane, Queensland, Australia , 10 April 1923
Home Town: Clayfield, Brisbane, Queensland
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Bank clerk
Died: Flying Battle, Italy, 18 March 1944, aged 20 years
Cemetery: Ancona War Cemetery, Italy
Sect III, Row J, Grave No. 10,
Memorials: Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Brisbane No 3 Squadron Roll of Honour, Toowoomba Roll of Honour WW2, Toowoomba WW2 Roll of Honour Book, Toowoomba War Memorial (Mothers' Memorial)
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World War 2 Service

25 Apr 1942: Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman 2 (WW2), 425689, Brisbane, Queensland
25 Apr 1942: Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer, 425689, No. 3 Squadron (RAAF)
2 Nov 1942: Embarked Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman 2 (WW2), 425689, Royal Australian Air Force, Melbourne, Victoria. Attached to RCAF for aircrew training
16 Apr 1943: Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Pilot Officer
12 Mar 1944: Transferred Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer, No. 3 Squadron (RAAF)
17 Mar 1944: Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer, 425689, No. 3 Squadron (RAAF), Middle East / Mediterranean Theatre

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Biography contributed by Paul Trevor

'Flying Officer Kent Morgan WATKINS, service number 425689, is buried at Ancona War Cemetery, Italy.  Plot III, row J, grave 10.   Age 20.

Son of John Gruffydd Thomas Watkins and Mabel Gwendoline Watkins, of Lutwyche, Queensland, Australia.

On 17/3/44 at 0805, Flight Lieutenant Funston (in Curtiss Kittyhawk II FS450) led twelve Kittyhawks off from Cutella to attack the 230ft-long Massa Martana railway bridge over the Naia River at A811587.  They flew due west to Popoli at 9,000 feet, then swung north-west to Aquila, and on to Terni.  On arriving the leader saw a train with twelve carriages crossing the bridge towards a siding on the western side, it stopped at the railway station at A8059, but Funston's R/T was unserviceable and he was unable to report the train, so dive-bombed the bridge from 9,000 down to 1,500 feet, from north-west to south-east.  Funston scored a direct hit on the eastern end, and Flying Officer Hayes (in Kittyhawk II FS462) a hit near the centre.

The remaining pilots couldn't see the target for smoke but bombed in the area.  After the bombing Funston handed over to Flying Officer Matthews (in Kittyhawk II FS424).  Whilst at 11,000 feet near Rieti, Flying Officer "Ken" Watkins in Curtiss Kittyhawk IIA FL332, who was on his first operational mission, reported engine trouble with overheating glycol.  [Later it was reported that FO Hayes had seen Watkins flying with closed engine-cooling gills whilst forming-up.]  Warrant Officer Steele was detailed to follow him, but didn't hear the message so Flying Officer Shipley (in Kittyhawk II FS467) broke away to follow him.  Watkins then called up to say that he was making for the coast, then later reported that he couldn't make it over the mountains, saying, "Going to bale out, can't make the hill".   Shipley gave a mayday call on Channel D and obtained a position fix, and then searched the area Aquila-Amatrice-Teramo for an hour, but without finding him.' SOURCE (www.3squadron.org.au)

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