Thread: Sgt. Ken Fenton, 139 Squadron Blenheim.

Originally Posted by NickFenton

Just came over from some of those other forums to say hi and recognise a number of you chaps already.

I am researching my Father's war history, Sgt. Kenneth Fenton, a member of 139 Squadron, shot down on 1st July 1941 in Blenheim V6258 XD-L for Leather with his crew, Alan Fuller and Robert McDonald, captured along with the crew of HSL 108 which was sent to rescue them, and spent time in Dulag Luft, Stalag IXc (Bad Sulza), Stalag Luft 3 and 6 (Sagan and HeyderKrug) and 357 (Thorn and Fallenbostal) before being liberated in 1945.

Found out a lot with much help from many and always willing to help the others with their research.

Regards,

Nick

Greetings Nick, good to see you.

Originally Posted by NickFenton

Just came over from some of those other forums to say hi and recognise a number of you chaps already.

I am researching my Father's war history, Sgt. Kenneth Fenton, a member of 139 Squadron, shot down on 1st July 1941 in Blenheim V6258 XD-L for Leather with his crew, Alan Fuller and Robert McDonald, captured along with the crew of HSL 108 which was sent to rescue them, and spent time in Dulag Luft, Stalag IXc (Bad Sulza), Stalag Luft 3 and 6 (Sagan and HeyderKrug) and 357 (Thorn and Fallenbostal) before being liberated in 1945.

Found out a lot with much help from many and always willing to help the others with their research.

Regards,

Nick

Welcome to the forum Nick.

Your father certainly had a testing time being transferred to all of those prison camps.

From my records we had 8 RAAF lads killed with 139sq. First was an Australian in the RAF William George McCracken on 30/10/1939. Another was killed on 3/7/1941, just a couple of days after your father's aircraft was shot down. (Not sure whether it was KIA or accidental)

Cheers

Geoff

Welcome to Chat Nick - good to see you over here.

Spidge, I take it your man is James Archer Cormack. He was killed in action when Blenheim V6452 was lost to flak on a mission to Hazebrouck. Also killed were Sgt A M Smith and Sgt J A G Forsyth.

Originally Posted by Kyt

Welcome to Chat Nick - good to see you over here.

Spidge, I take it your man is James Archer Cormack. He was killed in action when Blenheim V6452 was lost to flak on a mission to Hazebrouck. Also killed were Sgt A M Smith and Sgt J A G Forsyth.

Thanks Kyt,

Spot on again.

Cheers

Geoff

Thanks Fella's.

Of those on the raid on 30th June to Pony-a-Vendin, 8 crews from 139 squadron took part including Cormack and crew. I have yet to find out the fate of 3 of them but of the others, 5 were shot down in July 1941, only 2 of these crews survived. My Fathers and Eric Sydney-Smith's crew, although his crew membership had changed at that time.

Of interest to note, this raid was part of Circus 27 supported by the Tangmere Wing, lead by Barder with Sgt. James McCairns in support. McCairns was shot down on 6th July 1941 and was put in the same cell as my Father on 11th July at Dulag Luft. These two escaped from Stalag IXc, Bad Sulza, on 20th November 1941 but were soon recaptured. McCairns subsequently made a home run and became a successful Lysander pilot.

This is where you really find out what these guys went through.

Regards,

Nick

James Atterby McCairns did indeed become a very special Lysander pilot. He was awarded the Military Medal for escaping, and then subsquently earned a DFC and two bars for his time with 161 Squadron. Sadly he was killed in a flying accident on 13th June 1948.

Military Medal. 14 August 1942
754718 Flight Sergeant James Atterby McCAIRNS. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.

Distinguished Flying Cross. 13 April 1943
Flying Officer James Atterby McCAIRNs, M.M. (125754), Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve,
No. 161 Squadron.
This officer has completed many sorties, most of them of a. hazardous nature. He is a courageous and determined pilot, who has set an example worthy of the highest praise.

Bar to Distinguished Flying Cross. 10 August 1943
Flying Officer James Atterby MCCAIRNS, D.F.C., M.M. (125754), Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, No. 161 Squadron.
This officer has completed numerous sorties, displaying a high degree of skill and determination throughout.

Second Bar to Distinguished Flying Cross. 11 January 1944
Acting Flight Lieutenant James Atterby McCAIRNS, D.F.C., M.M. (125754), Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, No. 161 Squadron.
Since being awarded a Bar to the Distinguished Flying Cross, Flight Lieutenant McCairns has participated in a large number of successful operational missions. He is a model of efficiency and his example of determination and devotion to duty has won great praise.

Interesting to read about his escape:

Translated version of http://www.cometeline.org/fiche016.html

Some mistakes in the article though. He was killed in 1948, not 1946, when Mosquito NT423's engine cut, and aircraft control lost at low altitude - dived into ground near Finningley. The passenger was AC2 Edward Shaw

McCAIRNS JAMES ATTERBY | Roll of honour | Armed forces memorial
SHAW EDWARD | Roll of honour | Armed forces memorial

Originally Posted by NickFenton

Thanks Fella's.

Of those on the raid on 30th July to Pony-a-Vendin, 8 crews from 139 squadron took part including Cormack and crew. I have yet to find out the fate of 3 of them but of the others, 5 were shot down in July 1941, only 2 of these crews survived. My Fathers and Eric Sydney-Smith,s crew, althogh his crew membership had changed at that time.

Of interest to note, this raid was part of Circus 27 supported by the Tangmere Wing, lead by Barder with Sgt. James McCairns in support. McCairns was shot down on 6th July 1941 and was put in the same cell as my Father on 11th July at Dulag Luft. These two escaped from Stalag IXc, Bad Sulza, on 20th November 1941 but were soon recapturedMcCairns subsequently made a home run and became a successful Lysander pilot.

This is where you really find out what these guys went through.

Regards,

Nick

Hi Nick,

Did you come across anything on this lad during your research? He was an Aussie in the RAF.

McCRACKEN, WILLIAM GEORGE
Pilot Officer
36157
139sq RAF
30/10/1939
21
Royal Air Force
UK
Spec. Memorial.
REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY

Hi Nick and Welcome,
glancing through my records I have come across Flt.Lt. Sniders who made an E & E Report in 1945. Looks as though he was on the loose in Germany.