Archive Report: Allied Forces

Compiled from official National Archive and Service sources, contemporary press reports, personal logbooks, diaries and correspondence, reference books, other sources, and interviews.

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14.07.1944 No. 132 Squadron Spitfire B.IX Sq/Ldr. Kenneth Charney DFC Bar

Operation: Cannon test run.

Date: 14th July 1944 (Friday)

Unit: No. 132 Squadron (2nd Tactical Air Force)

Type: Spitfire B.IX

Base: RAF Amblie B14 ALG

Location: Lisieux, France

Pilot: Sq/Ldr. Kenneth Langley Charney DFC and Bar 112709 RAFVR Age 24. Survived

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A full report on the career of Sq/Ldr. Kenneth Charney is published by Aircrew Remembered here including the repatriation of his remains to Argentina in 2015. With many thanks to Claudio Meunier for his wonderful research and efforts to enable this to take place.

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Combat Report:

Taking off at 14:17 hrs from the advanced landing ground B14 Amblie. 

Above: Pierre Clostermann (another ace) congratulating Sq/Ldr. Charney DFC on one of his recent 'kills' They were best of friends during this period. (courtesy Claudio Meunier)

His combat report reads:

“I was flying Black 3 to W/Cdr. Page on a cannon test when 12 x 190s were sighted above cloud at 6,000 ft. in the Lisieux area. The enemy aircraft dived below cloud when our section followed and engaged. I attacked a Fw190 in a climbing turn towards cloud base, angle of approx 40 degrees, range 150-200 yards. Time of action: 14:35hrs.

I saw strikes around the tail unit and fuselage on the starboard side just as the the enemy aircraft pulled into the cloud. He re-appeared immediately inverted and started spinning at 2,000 ft. I watched him go straight into the ground where he blew up. No parachute was seen, cine gun used. I claim this enemy aircraft destroyed.”
Landed at 14:52 hrs.

Above: short video of 132 squadron at RAF Amblie B14 ALG in 1944

Burial details:

None - survived this operation and the war.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to Claudio Meunier, Christopher Shores and Clive Williams - Aces High Volumes 1 and 2 and other sources quoted below.

Right: Argentinian aviation artist, Pablo Patricio Albornoz, sent us this painting that he has done for the ceremony of the repatriation of the remains of W/Cdr. Charney in May 2015.

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