Kenneth Ronald WOOD

Kenneth Ronald WOOD Update Details

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WOOD, Kenneth Ronald

Service Number:	404155
Enlisted:	24 May 1940
Last Rank:	Warrant Officer
Last Unit:	No. 1 Squadron (RAAF)
Born:	Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 12 February 1919
Home Town:	Ascot, Brisbane, Queensland
Schooling:	Not yet discovered
Occupation:	Newspaper Journalist
Died:	Died at sea (Rakuyo Maru), South China Sea, 12 September 1944, aged 25 years
Cemetery:	No known grave - "Known Unto God" Singapore Memorial, Singapore
Memorials:	Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Ballarat Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial, Singapore Memorial Kranji War Cemetery

World War 2 Service

24 May 1940:	Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Warrant Officer, 404155
24 May 1940:	Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Leading Aircraftman, 404155, No. 1 Squadron (RAAF), Enlisted, No.3 Recruiting Centre, Brisbane, Qld.
24 May 1940:	Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Warrant Officer, 404155
10 Jul 1940:	Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Leading Aircraftman
5 Apr 1941:	Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant, No. 1 Squadron (RAAF), (NAA, Pg-2) Service Record of Sergeant: Kenneth Ronald WOOD, SN 404155.
15 Feb 1942:	Imprisoned Malaya/Singapore, POW - as per stated: from, 29/01/1942, 1st reported missing, believed a Prisoner of War; (Sinking disaster, Rakuyo Maru, 12/09/1944) missing in action, believed deceased (drowned). (NAA, Pg-4) Service Record of Sergeant: Kenneth Ronald WOOD, SN 404155.
1 May 1943:	Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Sergeant, No. 1 Squadron (RAAF), (NAA, Pg-2) Service Record of Flight Sergeant: Kenneth Ronald WOOD, SN 404155.
8 Dec 1943:	Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant, Reported POW Moulmein Burma. Now Camp Thai, Thailand
27 Nov 1944:	Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Warrant Officer, 404155, No. 1 Squadron (RAAF), Previously reported POW in Japanese hands. Now reported missing believed dead

Help us honour Kenneth Ronald Wood's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

Biography contributed by David Barlow

The Japanese Transport Ship Rakuyo Maru was torpedoed and sunk by a US Navy Submarine enroute from Singapore to Japan with a cargo of Prisoners of War - many of whom drowned before any possibility of rescue and these men are commemorated on the Singapore Memorial

Of the 11 RAAF Personnel known to be on board, 9 died & 2 survived the sinking and the war - 10199 Quick, David and 35423 Day, Noel Charles Ephraim - both from 1SQN

KENDALL, Richard Daniel (Leading Aircraftman) 19690

BURSTON, Herbert (Leading Aircraftman) 25171

WOOD, Kenneth Ronald (Warrant Officer) 404155

McCLELLAND, Rupert Watkin (Leading Aircraftman) 19190

GILL, John Thomas (Leading Aircraftman) 13091

BEGG, Colin Boyd (Aircraftman 1) 18951

MEREDITH, Albert Charles (Corporal) 11813

MYERS, Edward George (Leading Aircraftman) 24300

BONNETT, Raymond James (Corporal) 207782

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