Bonnar, Kenneth Whyte Died

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Personal Information

Rank S/L
Forename(s) Kenneth Whyte
Surname Bonnar
Gender M
Decorations MiD, IGSM
Date of Death 07-05-1942
BONNAR KW

Aircraft Information

Aircraft Handley Page Halifax II
Serial Number W1050
Markings TL-F

Memorial Information

Burial/Memorial Country Belgium
Burial/Memorial Place Neufchateau Communal Cemetery
Grave Reference Grave 4.

IBCC Memorial Information

Map
Directions to panel 133
BONNAR KW

Location

Row -
Panel 133
Column -
Line -

Directions From the Chadwick Centre, take the central path towards The Spire.

Phase 2
Panel Number 133

Enlistment Information

Service Number 39059
Service Royal Air Force (RAFO)
Group 4
Squadron 35 (Madras Presidency)
Squadron Motto Uno animo agimus (We act with one accord)
Trade Pilot
Country of Origin United Kingdom

Other Memorials

Location Chemin de Coubry, Libin-Ochamps, Luxembourg Province
Country Belgium
Memorial Type Information board, stencilled composite plaque and metal aircraft sculpture
Memorial Text En memoire des aviateurs qui ont ici perdu la vie la nuit du 6 au 7 Mai 1942 dans la chute de leur bombardier, Halifax W1050, immatricule TL-F, du 35 Squadron RAF. In memory of the airmen who lost their lives here, on the night of 6 to 7 May 1942 in the fall of their bomber, Halifax W1050, code TL-F, of 35 Squadron RAF. Squadron Leader BONNAR, Kenneth Whyte, 39059, RAF. Sergeant FIRTH, John Alexander, 986458, RAF Volunteer Reserve. Sergeant HINDLE, John Norman, 620185, RAF. Sergeant HOOD, Norman Henry, DFM, 976069, RAF Volunteer Reserve. Sergeant STANWORTH, Joseph Thomas, 1021906, RAF Volunteer Reserve. Egalement les members d’equipage qui furent fait prisonniers: Also of the following crew members who were taken prisoners of war: Pilot Officer GARDINER, Glenn Powell, RCAF, + 18/12/2011. Sergeant FUCE, Alec Henry, RAF. Passants, souvenez-vous. You who walk by, just remember.
Translation "In memory of the airmen who lost their lives here on the night of 6-7 May 1942 when their bomber, Halifax W1050, registration TL-F, of 35 Squadron RAF. In memory of the airmen who lost their lives here, on the night of 6 to 7 May 1942 in the fall of their bomber, Halifax W1050, code TL-F, of 35 Squadron RAF. Squadron Leader BONNAR, Kenneth Whyte, 39059, RAF. Sergeant FIRTH, John Alexander, 986458, RAF Volunteer Reserve. Sergeant HINDLE, John Norman, 620185, RAF. Sergeant HOOD, Norman Henry, DFM, 976069, RAF Volunteer Reserve. Sergeant STANWORTH, Joseph Thomas, 1021906, RAF Volunteer Reserve. Also of the following crew members who were taken prisoners of war: Pilot Officer GARDINER, Glenn Powell, RCAF, + 18/12/2011. Sergeant FUCE, Alec Henry, RAF. Passers-by, remember. You who walk by, just remember."
Location Roadside Location, Graveley, Cambridgeshire
Country United Kingdom
Memorial Type Inscribed Memorial Stone
Memorial Text Graveley Airfield 1942-1945 8 Group Bomber Command 35 Squadron Pathfinder Force 692 Squadron Light Night Striking Force R.A.F. To commemorate this airfield in honour of those who served the nation aircrew, groundstaff & WAFF of United Kingdom Dominions, Colonies,Allied air forces 35/635. ASSN..1991
Location All Saints Church, Offord Cluny, Cambridgeshire
Country United Kingdom
Memorial Type Stained Glass Window, Sqn Badge & Roll of Honour
Memorial Text Remember before God all those airmen and airwomen 3who served with 35 Squadron R.A.F. Graveley 1939-1945
Location Roadside location (off E6), Fættenfjord, near Åsenfjord, Trøndelag Fylke
Country Norway
Memorial Type Inscribed memorial stone atopped with inert aerial sea mine and Tirpitz anchor chain link
Memorial Text For Frihet Til minne om Allierte Flymannskaper fra RAF drept under angrep pa det tyske slagskipet Tirpitz i Fættenfjord 1942
Translation "For freedom In memory of the Allied Aircrews from the RAF who died in attacks on the German Battleship Tirpitz in the Fættenfjord 1942 "
Location Yorkshire Air Museum, Elvington, North Yorkshire
Country United Kingdom
Memorial Type Memorial Gardens, Propeller, Inscribed Marble Tablets
Memorial Text In everlasting homage to the courage of those who have found their winged victory through the skies of Yorkshire
Location Yorkshire Air Museum, Elvington, North Yorkshire
Country United Kingdom
Memorial Type Propeller Unit & Inscribed Marble Tablets
Memorial Text They made the supreme sacrifice so that you & I may go in peace with freedom. 4 Group 1939 - 1945.
Location Heslington Hall, York, North Yorkshire
Country United Kingdom
Memorial Type Inscribed Metal Plaque
Memorial Text Heslington Hall 1941 - 1945, 4 Gp Headquarters Bomber Command. In remembrance of those Air & Ground personnel who made the supreme sacrifice that we all may walk in peace with freedom

Miscellaneous Information

Mentioned in Despatches October 1940

The National Archives

Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/379/31
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/379/31

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
Firth J A G (Sgt) Died
Hindle J N (Sgt) Died
Hood N H (Sgt) Died
Stanworth J T (Sgt) Died

Last Operation Information

Start Date 06-05-1942
End Date 07-05-1942
Takeoff Station Linton-on-Ouse
Day/Night Raid Night (56% moon)
Operation Stuttgart
Reason for Aircraft Loss Shot down by a night fighter and crashed at Libin, Luxembourg
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Casualty Pack

IBCC is delighted to introduce a unique facility to link the Losses Database to the relevant RAF Casualty Pack on the National Archives website. This project is the result of on-going collaboration between IBCC, the MOD Records Office and National Archives, Kew. This document describes what Casualty Packs are, when they were created, the process of making them available to the public and then goes on to describe the process by which you can view the contents of the packs. Casualty Packs (CPs) were created by the RAF whenever there was serious injury or loss of life associated with operational activity within the RAF. This includes operational flying losses, enemy action due to air raids, road accidents either on station or even off-station if they involved RAF vehicles. Deaths due to natural causes in service or accidents that did not involve RAF vehicles did not generally give rise to a CP.

CPs were originally given a unique reference number by the RAF. Each begins with the letter ‘P’ and is followed by six digits, then an oblique (forward slash) and the finally the year in which the incident took place- for example P396154/42.

The CPs are in the process of being made available to the general public as they are passed from the MOD Records Office, Portsmouth to National Archives, Kew. This process requires some rework to the files which is very time consuming, so the process of making them all available to National Archives will take several years. They are being made available in increasing date order.

Once CPs arrive at National Archives they are assigned a unique AIR81 number, so each CP has both a P-number and an AIR81 number. Both are searchable on the National Archives website under ‘Search the catalogue’ and both are included on the IBCC website.

The AIR81 reference on the IBCC website is a link to the file on the National Archives website. When you click on it, the relevant page will open in a new tab on your browser.

There is currently no plan to digitise AIR81 files, partly because they are fragile and partly because the information they contain can at times be sensitive, even harrowing, since they may contain exhumation reports and even photographs of corpses. Family members wishing to read the AIR81 files relating to their ancestors are advised to exercise caution and be guided by National Archives warnings where appropriate.

There are two means for accessing AIR81 files- to attend in person or to order a copy by post.

To attend in person, the attendee should first create a Reader’s Ticket. This can be done online by following this link: https://secure.nationalarchives.gov.uk/login/yourdetails. Then click on the AIR81 reference on the IBCC website and click Order in Advance. Enter your Reader’s Ticket number and state the date on which you intend to visit. National Archives will have the file ready for you when you arrive, saving you time. When you visit Kew, you must quote the Reader’s Ticket number and take along two forms of ID- one bearing your signature and one bearing your address. When you view the files, you are permitted to take photographs of each page, should you wish.

Alternatively, if you wish to order a copy by post, please be aware that there is a charge for this service based on the number of pages in the file. Click on the AIR81 reference on the IBCC website and then click Request a Copy. There is an £8.40 charge for National Archives staff to access the file and give you a quotation for the copying service. The process takes around 24 days to complete and can be expensive.

IBCC wishes to thank the staff at the MOD Records Office and National Archives for their engagement and assistance in making this facility available to our website users.