LEST WE FORGET
Flying Officer Kenneth Richard BROOK DFC
Service No: 416165
Born: Milang SA, 11 January 1922
Enlisted in the RAAF: 31 March 1941
Unit: No. 1651 Conversion Unit (RAF), Detachment RAF Station Woolfox Lodge, Rutland
Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), 6 June 1944 (Citation Title: No. 578 Squadron (RAF))
Died: Air Operations (No. 1651 Conversion Unit Lancaster aircraft JB699), Lincolnshire, 4 March 1945, Aged 23 Years
Buried: Bradford (North Bierley) Cemetery, Yorkshire
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Austin Fred and Cora Margaret Brook, of Strathalbyn, South Australia; husband of Mary Louise Brook, of Bradford
Roll of Honour: Strathalbyn SA
Remembered: Panel 119, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: World War II Honour Roll, National War Memorial of SA, North Terrace, Adelaide
The Citation for the DFC awarded to Flying Officer Brook then of No. 578 Squadron (RAF), is that of a General Citation (London Gazette of 6/6/1944 Page 2701 refers)
At 1913 hours on the night of 3 March 1945, Lancaster JB699 took off from Woolfox Lodge as part of a diversionary force of ninety-five aircraft supporting main force operations. The aircraft was shot down by an intruder aircraft, at 0135 hours, diving almost vertically to crash near Cottesmore airfield. All the crew members were killed. The special flight was of six hours duration. At 0040 hours an air raid RED was received and this was transmitted on Base D/F. At 0125 hours JB699 was returning from its mission, and Flight Lieutenant Baum called up on radio and was immediately given the code word for a diversion and told to switch off his navigation lights. This was acknowledged, and about five minutes later a combat was seen to be taking place just north of the airfield. At 0135 hours JB699 was shot down by an enemy intruder near Cottesmore airfield.
The crew members of JB699 were:
Flight Lieutenant Dennis Jacob Baum (117670) (RAFVR) (Pilot)
Flying Officer Kenneth Richard Brook DFC (416165) (Mid Upper Gunner)
Pilot Officer David Clifford Davies (177181) (RAF) (Navigator)
Flight Sergeant Charles Edward Gardener (422384) (RNZAF) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Sergeant Thomas Platt (3011828) (RAFVR) (Rear Gunner)
Sergeant John Arthur William Smith (1524154) (RAFVR) (Flight Engineer)
Flight Sergeant Ronald Warne (1622428) (RAFVR) (Air Bomber)
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records (RAAF Casualty Information compiled by Alan Storr (409804))
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veteran’s Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 166/6/985