Croft, Kenneth Norman Joseph
Personal Information
Rank | F/O |
Forename(s) | Kenneth Norman Joseph |
Surname | Croft |
Gender | M |
Age | 22 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 03-05-1945 |
Next of Kin | Son of William George Croft and of Amy Croft (nee Jackson). Husband of Irene Ethel Croft (nee Benton), of Kingstanding, Birmingham. Married 8/12/1944 |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax III |
Serial Number | RG373 |
Markings | EX-T |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Kiel War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | 2. E. 14. |
Epitaph | MAY THE SUNSHINE YOU MISSED ON LIFE'S PATHWAY, BE FOUND IN GOD'S HAVEN OF REST |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 150 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 183376 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 100 |
Squadron | 199 |
Trade | Wireless Operator |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | Adjacent to former Technical Site, North Creake, Norfolk |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Sculpture, Inscribed Metal Panels & Info Boards |
Memorial Text | Remembering the Crew of Halifax bomber RG375, lost on 3rd May 1945 |
Location | Adjacent to former Technical Site, North Creake, Norfolk |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Sculpture, Inscribed Metal Panels & Info Boards |
Memorial Text | A memorial to those who served at RAF North Creake |
Miscellaneous Information
The rear gunner, P/O K N Crane, was the very last evader of the war. Also, Oblt. Brandt's report was the last Luftwaffe report of the war. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1172/60 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1172/59 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 02-05-1945 |
End Date | 03-05-1945 |
Takeoff Station | North Creake |
Day/Night Raid | Night (73% moon) |
Operation | Bomber Support- Mandrel screen duties over Kiel |
Reason for Loss | Attacked by a Ju88 flown by Oberleutnant Fritz Brandt of Nachtjagdgeschwader 3 and then collided with another 199 Sqn Halifax (RG375 EX-R) at the commencement of the bombing run. Both aircraft crashed at Meimsdorf, SSW of Kiel |