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 |
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
Click images to start slideshow.