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WW2 pilot receives highest RSL medal - Local News - News - General - West Coast Sentinel

Daniel Kenny of Streaky Bay was honoured by the highest award the RSL can give on July 12.

The Meritorious Medal "For Merit" was handed to Mr Kenny by the national president of the RSL, Major General Bill Crews (Retd), supported by South Australian RSL president Jock Statton.

The ceremony was held in the RSL headquarters in Adelaide.

Mr Kenny was supported by several of his grandchildren.

Mr Kenny was born in Streaky Bay on August 1, 1925.

He enlisted to the Royal Australian Air Force on September 25, 1943 and completed his Initial Training School at Mt Breckan, Victor Harbor, where he was categorised as air crew and for further training as a pilot.

He then went on to Parafield No. 1 EFTS where he learned to fly aeroplanes in the form of the Tiger Moth, which enabled him to go to Uranquinty, NSW, No. 5 SFTS where he flew Wirraways. Dan was awarded his "wings".

Dan completed his Operational Training Unit (OTU) flying Kittyhawk aeroplanes at Mildura.

When the OTU course was completed he went north to the islands and arrived at Moratai (Indonesia) to join 77 Squadron which flew P40s or Kittyhawks on real operations and in other combat areas until the end of the World War II.

Dan had joined the RAAF with the low rank of AC1 and when discharged had received a commission and was a flying officer, which equates in rank with a captain in the AIF.

After Dan was discharged from the RAAF he re-enlisted and went to Japan with the Occupation Forces.

Dan Kenny has given meritorious service to the RSL sub-branches at Wirrulla, Elliston and Streaky Bay, and in fact the whole of Eyre Peninsula over a long period of years.

Dan has given good service as a legatee to the families of deceased ex-service personnel on the West Coast and Eyre Peninsula.

Dan has also given good service to the Legacy Club of Adelaide. When a Legacy community service (e.g. a golf day or a race day) is held in far western areas, Dan as a member of Legacy can stand in as the Legacy representative for the occasion, thus saving the Adelaide based club travelling expenses.

He has also given good service as a visitor to the local and other town hospitals and senior citizen homes over a good number of years.

Dan has also been active in checking the graves of ex-service personnel in cemeteries on the West Coast, thus keeping up a good standard for the relatives of the deceased.

He has a wealth of knowledge as to the operations of RSL headquarters and is a help to those who are unsure.

Dan was made a Life Member of the RSL on November 17, 1983.

He has also been a long time committee member of the Perlubie Sports and Race Club, which has a long history of community days on New Year's Day.

In years gone by he was for a long period the steward at the Streaky Bay Racing Club, and has for many years supported wholeheartedly the cricket club and the football club of Piednippie, and has been a committee member of both clubs, as well as being very active in the matter of maintaining the famous Piednippie Hall.