LEST WE FORGET
Flight Sergeant Kenneth Roy CLARKE
Service No: 413362
Born: Fairfield NSW, 24 September 1922
Enlisted in the RAAF: 17 August 1941
Unit: No. 10 Operational Training Unit (RAF), Detachment RAF Station St Eval
Died: Air Operations (No. 10 Operational Training Unit Whitley aircraft BD359), off the French Coast, 5 July 1943, Aged 20 Years
Buried: Plouguerneau Communal Cemetery, Finistere, France
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Eric Roy and Doreen Thelma Clarke, of Fairfield, New South Wales, Australia
Roll of Honour: Fairfield NSW
Remembered: Panel 120, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Fairfield Uniting Church Honour Rolls, Fairfield NSW
Remembered: Honour Avenue, Fairfield NSW
At 0856 hours on 5 July 1943 Whitley BD359 took off from St Eval detailed to carry out an anti submarine patrol over the Bay of Biscay. The aircraft was scheduled to return at 1740 hours. Nothing was heard from the aircraft after take off and it failed to return to base. The aircraft was lost and the crew members were killed.
The crew members of BD359 were:
Sergeant Norman Allen (1543290) (RAFVR) (Navigator)
Flight Sergeant Kenneth Roy Clarke (413362) (Pilot)
Sergeant Henry John James Neve (1335481) (RAFVR) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Flying Officer James Frederick Newman (131000) (RAF) (Second Pilot)
Sergeant Lorne Glen Stewart (R/163697) (RCAF) (Air Gunner)
Sergeant Eric William White (1610619) (RAFVR) (Wireless Air Gunner)
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, 166/7/140
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line