Buck, Kenneth Howard
Personal Information
Rank | F/S |
Forename(s) | Kenneth Howard |
Surname | Buck |
Gender | M |
Age | 20 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 05-05-1943 |
Next of Kin | Son of Martin Lavernev Buck and Janet Almira Buck (née Hopkins), of Manitoulin Sault St. Marie district, Ontario, Canada. Husband of Dorothy May Buck (née Watkins), whom he married on 27 March 1943. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax II |
Serial Number | HR667 |
Markings | DY-O |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Netherlands |
Burial/Memorial Place | Kollumerland (Westergeest) Protestant Churchyard |
Grave Reference | Plot SE. Row 2. Grave 2. |
Epitaph | FOR PEACE ON EARTH HE GAVE HIS LIFE |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 138 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | R/83572 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 4 |
Squadron | 102 (Ceylon) |
Trade | Air Gunner |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | St. Catherine's Church Barmby Moor, East Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Roll of Honour in wall mounted wooden case, Sqn Badge above |
Memorial Text | 102 (Ceylon) Sqn Roll of Honour and Sqn badge |
Location | Pocklington Gliding Club, Pocklington Airfield, Easy Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stylised Memorial with inscribed metal plaque |
Memorial Text | Memorial to 102 (Ceylon) Sqn RAF and 405 (Vancouver) Sqn RCAF which served at RAF Pocklington during WW2 |
Miscellaneous Information
Kenneth was born at Manitoulin Sault St. Marie district, Ontario on 5 October 1922. His father, who was deceased by the time of Keenth's enlistment, was born at Jervis, Ontario and had worked as an engineer. His mother was born at Lion’s Head, Ontario. and swas also deceased. Keneth had seven brothers and two sisters. The schools he attended were Victoria School 1928-1936; and Owen Sound Collegiate Vocational. School, 1936-1939. The sports he indulged in were hockey, rugby, and baseball as well as golf, which he played extensively. Kenneth worked as a leather finisher for Beardmore & Co. at Acton, Ontario, during 1940. |
He enlisted on 22 November 1940 and after training was posted to the U.K. He embarked from Canada on 3 November 1941, arriving at 3 PRC on 14 November 1941. He was then at RAF Cranwell, 9 December 1941, 12 OTU 17 March 1942, 1663 CU 6 April 1943 and 102 Squadron 1 May 1943. Sadly this young man was then to lose his life just days later on 5 May 1943 at the age of 20 years. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/809/10 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/809/9 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 04-05-1943 |
End Date | 05-05-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Pocklington |
Day/Night Raid | Night (1% moon) |
Operation | Dortmund. 596 aircraft,- the largest 'non-1000' raid of the war so far and the first major attack on Dortmund. 31 losses (5.2%) with a further 7 crashing due to bad weather at their bases, taking the total loss rate to 6.4%. PFF marking was accurate but backup marking was not. Also, decoy fires attracted many of the bombs. Severe damage was nevertheless caused to much of the central and northern areas of the city, including the Hoesch and Dortmunder Union steelworks. At least 693 people were killed, including 200 PoWs. |
Reason for Loss | Shot down by a night-fighter and crashed SE of Dokkum, Holland |