LEST WE FORGET
Sergeant Kenneth Herbert BUTLER
Service No: 408069
Born: Launceston TAS, 22 May 1921
Enlisted in the RAAF: 12 September 1940
Unit: No. 11 Operational Training Unit (RAF)
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 11 Operational Training Unit Wellington aircraft R1149), Cambridgeshire, 15 November 1941, Aged 20 Years
Buried: Bassingbourn Cum Kneesworth Cemetery, Cambridgeshire
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Herbert Arthur and Gladys Irene Butler, of Launceston Tasmania, Australia
Roll of Honour: Launceston TAS
Remembered: Panel 119, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
On 15 November 1941 Wellington R1149 took off from RAF Bassingbourn for a night training exercise. While preparing to land the aircraft stalled and crashed at 2233 hours near Kenilworth, 11miles south west of Cambridge. Visibility at the time of the crash was extremely poor. Five of the crew members were killed and one was injured.
The crew members of R1149 were:
Sergeant G Adkin (963821) (RAFVR) (Observer) Injured
Sergeant Albert George Arnold (922743) (RAFVR) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Sergeant Kenneth Herbert Butler (408069) (Air Gunner)
Sergeant James Williard Early (R/71550) (RCAF) (Pilot)
Sergeant Ernest Henry Jaques (988504) (RAFVR) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Sergeant Herbert Arthur Leopold (R/67511) (RCAF) (Pilot)
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 Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705 163/94/156