Bennett, Kenneth Edwin Harold Died
Personal Information
| Rank | F/O |
| Forename(s) | Kenneth Edwin Harold |
| Surname | Bennett |
| Gender | M |
| Age | 22 |
| Date of Death | 18-12-1944 |
| Next of Kin | Son of Harold and Ethel Louisa Bennett, of Annandale, New South Wales, Australia. |
Aircraft Information
| Aircraft | Avro Lancaster I |
| Serial Number | LL847 |
| Markings | JO-D |
Memorial Information
| Burial/Memorial Country | France |
| Burial/Memorial Place | Le Gros-Theil Communal Cemetery |
| Grave Reference | Coll. grave. |
| Epitaph | DEARLY LOVED AND SADLY MISSED. DAD, MUM AND BROTHER SELWYN OF SYDNEY |
IBCC Memorial Information
| Phase | 1 |
| Panel Number | 8 |
Enlistment Information
| Service Number | 424117 |
| Service | Royal Australian Air Force |
| Group | 5 |
| Squadron | 463 (Australian) |
| Squadron Motto | Press on regardless |
| Trade | Pilot |
| Country of Origin | Australia |
Other Memorials
| Location | In car park of Gros-Theil communal cemetery, Le Bosc Du Theil, 27 - Eure Prefecture |
| Country | France |
| Memorial Type | Memorial stone & stencilled metal tablet |
| Memorial Text |
Le 17 Décembre 1944 à 22 h 45 dans la plaine devant vous, à la limite de l'horizon, le bombardier Avro Lancaster LL847 "JO-D" du 463 (RAAF) Sqn explose en s'écrasant au retour d'une mission sur Munich. Les 8 jeunes aviateurs australiens et britanniques constituant l'équipage y perdront la vie. Ils reposent tous dans le cimetière de Le Gros – Theil Nous leur devons Notre Liberté
Translation "On December 17, 1944, at 1045pm, in the plain before you, at the edge of the horizon, Avro Lancaster bomber LL847 "JO-D" of 463 (RAAF) Sqn, exploded upon crashing back from a mission over Munich. All eight young Australian and British airmen who made up the crew perished. They all rest in the cemetery at Le Gros-Theil. We owe them our liberty" |
| Location | SHQ, RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Memorial Type | External Clock, Internal Inscribed Brass Plaque |
| Memorial Text | A commemorative clock in memory of the members of 463 and 467 Sqns RAAF who served at RAF Waddington during WW2 |
| Location | Memorial Gardens, RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Memorial Type | Propeller & Inscribed Metal Plaque |
| Memorial Text | A memorial to the members of 463 and 467 Sqns RAAF who served at RAF Waddington during WW2 |
| Location | Bar Lane, Waddington, Lincolnshire |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Memorial Type | Memorial Clock & inscribed Wooden Plaque |
| Memorial Text | A memorial clock to the members of 463 and 467 Sqns RAAF who served with Bomber Command during WW2 |
| Location | In front of the mess esplanade, Mailly-le-Camp, 10 - Aube Prefecture |
| Country | France |
| Memorial Type | Stone memorial sculpture, inscribed marble tablets and inscribed metal plaque |
| Memorial Text |
En souvenir des heros de la RAF. Qui ont participe au bombardment du camp de Mailly. Unites de la RAF engagees dans le raid sur Mailly-le-Camp, la nuit du 3 au 4 May 1944. N° 9-12-44-49-50-57 61-83-97-100-101 Special Duties Flight-103-105-106-166- 169-192-207-460 (RAAF)-463 (RAAF)-467 (RAAF)-550-576-617- 619-625-626-627-649
Translation "In memory of the RAF heroes who took part in the bombing of Mailly Camp. RAF units engaged in the raid on Mailly-le-Camp, the night of 3-4 May 1944. Squadrons that took part: N° 9-12-44-49-50-57 61-83-97-100-101 Special Duties Flight-103-105-106-166- 169-192-207-460 (RAAF)-463 (RAAF)-467 (RAAF)-550-576-617-619-625-626-627-649" |
The National Archives
| Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1922/8 |
| Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1922/8 |
Fellow Servicemen
Please note that this list gives all the losses aboard the quoted aircraft and occasionally these may have occurred on an earlier date when the aircraft was not itself lost. Please check the dates of death carefully.
| Name | Outcome |
|---|---|
| Byrnes R W (P/O) | Died |
| Easton S (F/S) | Died |
| Fowler H (Sgt) | Died |
| Frizzell G A C (Sgt) | Died |
| Nuttall R G (Sgt) | Died |
| Ogilvie J H (F/O) | Died |
| Watson T N (P/O) | Died |
Last Operation Information
| Start Date | 17-12-1944 |
| End Date | 18-12-1944 |
| Takeoff Station | Waddington |
| Day/Night Raid | Night (7% moon) |
| Operation | Munchen |
| Reason for Aircraft Loss | Crashed at Le Gros-Theil (Eure), 10 km NNW of Le Neuborg. |