WOOD, Kenneth Alan
| Service Number: | 403616 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 3 February 1941 |
| Last Rank: | Warrant Officer |
| Last Unit: | No. 156 Squadron (RAF) |
| Born: | Sydney, New South Wales, 7 March 1915 |
| Home Town: | Mosman, Municipality of Mosman, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Mosman Public School; Scots College, Bellevue Hill, NSW |
| Occupation: | Salesman |
| Died: | Night Bombing raid - lost to night fighter, Berlin, Germany, 2 December 1943, aged 28 years |
| Cemetery: |
Becklingen War Cemetery, Germany Plot 13, Row B, Grave 5 Roll of Honour - Mosman, NSW, Becklingen War Cemetery, Luneburg, Germany |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, International Bomber Command Centre Memorial |
World War 2 Service
| 3 Feb 1941: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman, 403616, Aircrew Training Units, Enlisted at Sydney NSW | |
|---|---|---|
| 3 Feb 1941: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Warrant Officer, 403616, No. 156 Squadron (RAF) | |
| 21 Mar 1942: | Embarked Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant, 403616, Aircrew Training Units, Embarked at Melbourne | |
| 2 Dec 1943: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Warrant Officer, 403616, No. 156 Squadron (RAF), Air War NW Europe 1939-45, Aircraft JB472 lost on its third raid to Berlin with all crew except the Navigator who survived as a PoW |
Death of a Lancaster - No. 156 Squadron
From Flight Sergeant Norman MacDonald, only survivor of JB472
The crew of Lancaster JB472 with Reginald Wicks as pilot, joined the Squadron on 23 November 1943. They flew their first mission on 23 November - a night raid on Berlin. This was closely followed by another night mission to Berlin on 26 November.
On 2 December JB472 took off from Warboys airfield for their third raid on Berlin. In a report given by Flight Sergeant Norman Macdonald after the war he describes what happened to their aircraft as they flew over eastern Germany:
'Attack by enemy fighter reported by rear gunner - pilot acknowledged, took evasive action and just then we were hit. Crew put on chutes, aircraft in steep dive. At approx between 17 and 15, 000 feet violent explosion. I was sucked out the starboard side of aircraft. Regained consciousness at approx 4,000 feet opened 'chute landed ok. I believe pilot jettisoned bombs endeavouring to save crew and aircraft but aircraft crashed 20 miles north of Hannover. The next day I was captured in the goods yard of the village railway station by 2 German soldiers who were searching for me and taken to identify wreckage of aircraft from which German officials had removed the bodies of my 6 colleagues. Taken to Frankfurt for interrogation put into solitary confinement then to Stalag IVB.'
Submitted 8 September 2017 by Steve Larkins
Biography contributed by Carol Foster
Plane was Lancaster JB 472 lost on operations over Berlin
Also served in the Scots College Cadets
Reached Intermediate level, Passed, English, Geology, History, Business Principles and Geography. Failed French and Art
Studied Business Accounting at Business College
Sports - Football, Swimming (Balmoral SC, Mona Vale Surf Club,Golf, Icw Hockey