LEST WE FORGET
Flight Sergeant Kermit Joseph PETERSON
Service No: 408459
Born: Ontario, Canada, 15 November 1918
Enlisted in the RAAF: 19 June 1942 (at Hobart TAS)
Unit: No. 102 Squadron (RAF), RAF Station Pocklington
Died: Air Operations (No. 102 Squadron Halifax aircraft HK188), over Germany, 26 November 1943, Aged 25 Years
Buried: Brookwood Military Cemetery, Surrey
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Mr. and Mrs. F. E. Peterson, of Kapuskasing, Ontario, Canada
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: Panel 128, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
On 26 November 1943 Halifax HK188 was detailed to bomb the industrial area of Stuttgart, Germany. On the way into the target area it was attacked by an Me210 enemy night fighter at 1930 hours on a heading of 083 degrees hours in position 51.56N 009.18E. The Me210 was not sighted until 300 yards astern and down, it then moves to the starboard quartet and attacked from there. The first burst put the Mid Upper turret (Flight Sergeant Peterson) out of action. The Rear Gunner opened fire on the fighter which broke to port and down and did not return. Flight Sergeant Peterson had several head injuries and must have died instantly. The remainder of the crew were not injured and the aircraft returned safely to base although it was badly damaged.
The crew members of HK188 were:
Flight Sergeant M Bernbaum (RCAF) (Flight Engineer)
Flying Officer W N A Dick (RAF) (Pilot)
Pilot Officer G A Henderson (RCAF) (Rear Gunner)
Sergeant J Holden (RAF) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Sergeant G Holmes (RAF) (Air Bomber)
Flying Officer C S Pattrick (RAF) (Navigator)
Flight Sergeant Kermit Joseph Peterson (408459) (Mid Upper 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, 166/32/251