Date of birth:

1914

Date of death:

November 17th, 1971

Service number:

745508/81351

Nationality:

British

Joe Kennedy joined the Royal Air Force in 1939. He eared the dubious honor ‘The lowest flier in the R.A.F, when on 16 July 1941 a tree top lodged in his aircraft during a low-level attack on the docks and shipping at Rotterdam.
Later, on 19 July 1942, Kennedy successfully bombed a large textile factory on the northern outskirts of Lille, and set course for base flying at treetop height. Near St. Pol he was caught in a withering cross-fire between two German flak emplacements. After the port engine was knocked out he was forced to fly under some high tension cables, or rather through them, sustaining further damage to his aircraft. He managed to bring back the plane and it's crew safely to base. A portion of high-tension cable was extracted from the port engine, during the ground examination. Part of the cable was fashioned into a napkin ring for the Kennedy’s daughter, Jane, and remains a treasured family possession.
A year later he added a bar to his D.F.C. for his leadership and courage in the laying of an effective smoke screen for the ill-fated Dieppe raid on the 19 August 1942. Considerable flak was encountered and Kennedy’s aircraft was continually hit. Reduced to flying on one engine, his air-gunner George Casey wounded in both thighs but maintaining fire regardless, his passenger Flight Lieutenant McWilliam, mortally wounded, he led his formation long enough to successfully lay the smoke screen before limping to Shoreham for a crash-landing.
In December 1942, Kennedy was send to Canada to as Armament Chief Instructor, No. 31 Bombing and Gunnery School, Picton, Ontario.
The remaining months of the war he was appointed C.O. Khartoum.
After the war, Kennedy commanded Turnhouse, Shepherd’s Grove and Bentwaters and was S.A.S.O. for 65 Group, before becoming Air Attaché, Bucharest, in April 1954. This near three year tour behind the Iron Curtain appears to have had more than its fair share of excitement.
It is now common knowledge that diplomats of all sides were given instructions to keep their ears and eyes open, at the very least, and as such were virtually espionage agents. It would appear that Kennedy’s appointment was no different. At one time the K.G.B. abducted him and caused him great discomfort but fortunately he managed to escape their clutches.
In April 1959, Kennedy was forced to retire from the R.A.F. on medical grounds, and on 17 November 1971 he died aged just 57.

Promotions:
June 29th, 1940: Pilot Officer (probation)
June 29th, 1941: Flying Officer (war sub)
October 23th, 1941: Flight Lieutenant (war sub)
September 10th, 1943: Squadron Leader (war sub)

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Acting Squadron Leader

Unit:

No. 226 Squadron, Royal Air Force

Awarded on:

September 23rd, 1941

‘This officer has completed twenty operational sorties in daylight with damaging results. In June, 1941, he carried out a very successful low-level attack on railway yards south of Olderburg causing great damage to rolling stock. Some time afterwards he participated in a raid on Nordeney.
After bombing he attacked gun emplacements on the coast with machine gun fire. In an attack on shipping in July, 1941, Squadron Leader Kennedy, flying at a height of only 50 feet, bombed and destroyed an 8,000 ton merchant vessel. In August 1941, he participated in an attack on enemy shipping off the Dutch coast. In the face of intense anti-aircraft fire, he pressed home his attack from a bout 50 feet and destroyed a 4,000 ton merchant vessel. Squadron LeaderKennedy has displayed great leadership, courage and devotion to duty.’

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Acting Squadron Leader

Unit:

No. 226 Squadron, Royal Air Force

Awarded on:

September 18th, 1942

Awarded for:

Operation Jubilee

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

with bar Air Crew Europe

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

March 6th, 1947

Received for services during World War Two.

• Photo 1: Chris Brooks
• - The London Gazette Issue 35283 published on the 23 September 1941
  - Second Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 35709 published on the 15 September 1942
  - Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 35729 published on the 2 October 1942
  - Morton and Eden