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OBITUARY

F/O. Kenneth Orpwood RCAF Wireless Operator / Air Gunner

Flying Officer Kenneth N. Orpwood J/45206 RCAF - Died 01st April 1984

Kenneth Orpwood RCAF was born in Toronto, Ontario to a family of five.

Enlisted in 1942 earning the nicknamed “Pops” by the crew, he was the oldest member.

Qualified as a Wireless Operator on the 24th March 1944 at No. 4 Wireless School, Guelph, Ontario, Canada. As an air gunner in May 1944 at No. 6 Bombing and Gunnery School, Mountain View, Ontario.

Flying Officer Orpwood attended 86 OTU, Gameston, 27 OTU at Lichfield, Church Broughton and No: 1666 Heavy Conversion Unit at Wombleton, Yorkshire.

Joined 431 'Iroquois' Squadron at Croft, Yorkshire, England,

A Wireless Operator on Lancaster KB868 SE-O with Flying Officer D. Browne on the 16th April 1945 over Schwandorf and again on the 22nd April 1945 with Flying Officer Browne over Bremen in Lancaster KB837 SE-X, before being de-mobbed in 1946.

The Crew:

Pilot - Flying Officer D.M. Browne J/35159 RCAF
Flight Engineer - Pilot Officer W.D. Ingle J/49265 RCAF
Navigator - Flying Officer D.A. McDougall J/42661 RCAF
Air Bomber - Flying Officer K.W. Colquhoun J/43947 RCAF
Wireless Operator - Flying Officer Kenneth N. Orpwood J/45206 RCAF
Mid upper gunner - Flying Officer J. Sullivan J/46187 RCAF
Rear Gunner - Sergeant R.A. Dykstra R/270990 RCAF
All of whom survived the war.

Right: Kenneth with his wife Dorothy.

After the war he retuned to Toronto and he and his wife, Dorothy raised three daughters. Sadly he died of cancer on the 1st April 1984 (the Birth date of the RCAF) after a valiant fight which he faced with the same courage and humour with which he faced his war years.

Page researched by Linda Ibrom - July 2017. With photoraphs supplied by D. Orpwood (sister) and Kathy Calleja (née Orpwood, daughter)


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• Last Modified: 10 July 2017, 18:45 •