Davis, Kenneth Graham
Personal Information
Rank | S/L |
Forename(s) | Kenneth Graham |
Surname | Davis |
Gender | M |
Age | |
Decorations | MiD |
Date of Death | 20-02-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of Norman and Doris Davis, of Kingston upon Thames, Surrey; husband of Dorothy Helen Davis. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Avro Lancaster III |
Serial Number | JB468 |
Markings | MG-U |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | 14. K. 15. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 153 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 40369 |
Service | Royal Air Force |
Group | 8 |
Squadron | 7 |
Trade | Pilot |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | Hilton House Hotel, Hilton, Derbyshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Blue Plaque on external wall |
Memorial Text | Air Commodore Herbert Martin Massey CBE DSO MC 1898-1976 Senior British Officer at Stalag Luft III Sagan who authorised 'The Great Escape' was born here. Hilton and Marston History Group |
Location | All Saints Church, Longstanton, Cambridgeshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stained Glass Window and Roll of Honour Book |
Memorial Text | Remember here before God those of 7 Squadron who died in action in The Royal Flying Corps 1914-18 and The Royal Air Force 1939-45 |
Miscellaneous Information
Mentioned in Despatches January 1946 |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/101/4 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/101/3 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 19-02-1944 |
End Date | 20-02-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Oakington |
Day/Night Raid | Night (22% moon) |
Operation | Leipzig. 823 aircraft, 78 losses (9.5%). Excluding early returners, the Halifax loss rate was 14.9%. As a result, Halifax Mks II and V were permanently withdrawn from service over Germany. The Kiel mine laying diversion was successful in drawing off fighters, but the German controllers only sent half of the available aircraft. As soon as the bomber stream crossed the Dutch coast they were confronted by the remaining half of the fighters and, moreover, the ones sent to Kiel were returned to join the fray. As a consequence, the fighters steadily picked off bombers all the way to this distant target. The winds were strongly than had been predicted and many bombers arrived early and had to orbit the target awaiting the Pathfinders, further increasing the likelihood of being picked off, either by flak or fighters. Leipzig was cloud covered and sky-marking had to be used. Early bombing appeared to be concentrated but later bombing less so. There was no local report nor a reconnaissance flight the following day. An American raid the following day then made it impossible to judge the effectiveness of the raid. |
Reason for Loss | Attacked from below by a night-fighter over Wittenburg and partially abandoned |