Service number:

566584

Nationality:

British

Kenneth Townsend joind the RAF before the war and was posted to No. 607 Squadron on completion of his traing. The unit was sent to France as part of the Advanced Air Striking Force and was involved in intensive air combats during the Battle for France. In two days he was credited with five aerial victories, two of them unconfirmed.
However, on May 12th, 1940 he was shot down in Hurricane P2616 and spent the rest of the war as PoW.
After the war he served again in the RAF, this time the RAF Volunteer Reserve.

Promotions:
June 26th, 1951: Pilot Officer RAFVR
October 31st, 1953: Flying Officer
February 23th, 1962: commission relinquished

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Sergeant

Unit:

No. 607 (County of Durham) Squadron, Royal Air Force

Awarded on:

June 4th, 1940

Citation:
"During two consecutive days in May, 1940, this pilot shot down three, and possibly another two, enemy aircraft. As he had just joined his squadron from an operational training -unit this was a particularly meritorious performance."

LG 34864/3353

• - SHORES, CH. & WILLIAMS, C., Aces High, Grub Street, London, 1994.
  - The London Gazette Issue 34864 published on the 4 June 1940
  - Second Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 39325 published on the 31 August 1951
  - Second Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 40042 published on the 11 December 1953
  - Fourth Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 42715 published on the 22 June 1962
  - Raf Commands 1939-1945