Hargreaves, Kenneth
Personal Information
Rank | F/S |
Forename(s) | Kenneth |
Surname | Hargreaves |
Gender | M |
Age | 22 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 30-01-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of William James Hargreaves and Sybil H. Hargreaves (née Davis) of Detroit , Michigan USA. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax III |
Serial Number | LV797 |
Markings | BM-L |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Coll. grave 9. J. 14-19. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 177 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | R/161116 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 6 |
Squadron | 433 (Porcupine) |
Trade | Navigator |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Miscellaneous Information
Kenneth was born in Windsor, Ontario on 19 December 1921. Both parents were born in England and his father worked as a Maintenance man. His father was an American citizen and his mother, British and they lived in Monte Vista, Detroit. He had a brother James Christopher who was in the U.S Army. Another brother, William Edward had sadly died in 1932 aged only six months. He went to McKinly School in Detroit between 1930-1935 then Hutchins Intermediate, also Detroit, between 1935-1937. These were followed by Cooley High School between 1937-1940, and he attained grade XIII. His sport interests were swimming and sailing and he worked as a photo finisher for three years. Between 1940-1942 Kenneth worked for the Auto Club of Michigan as a Multilith Operator. |
After enlisting on 6 April 1942 at Hamilton, Ontario and initial training, he was posted to the U.K. and arrived at 3PRC on 18 March, 10 (0) AFU on 22 June 1943 and 61 Base 13 October 1943. After numerous other movements he was eventually posted to 433 Squadron on 22 December 1943. Kenneth was to lose his life from there on 30 January 1944. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 30-01-1944 |
End Date | 31-01-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Skipton on Swale |
Day/Night Raid | Night (36% moon) |
Operation | Berlin. 534 aircraft without diversionary raids. 33 aircraft Lost (6.2%). Initial German attempts to intercept with night-fighters failed and the bomber stream was well on the way to Berlin before they met with any resistance. Complete cloud-cover over Berlin but concentrated damage in the centre nonetheless with additional widely scattered bombs. At least 1000 deaths on the ground, 2 industrial premises completely destroyed and a further 15 seriously damaged. The Propaganda Ministry was hit, as was the railway infrastructure |
Reason for Loss | Crashed near Frankendorf, Germany |