Archive Report: Allied Forces

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13/14.11.1940 No. 10 Squadron Whitley V T4230 ZA-R W/Cdr. Kenneth F. Ferguson

Operation: Merseburg - Oil plant

Date: 13/14th November 1940 (Wednesday/Thursday)

Unit: No. 10 Squadron

Type: Whitley V

Serial: T4230

Code: ZA-R

Base: RAF Leeming, Yorkshire

Location: North Sea - lost without trace.

Pilot: W/Cdr. Kenneth Francis Ferguson 32099 RAF Age 29. Missing

Obs: Sgt. Charles Stanley Rogers 741897 RAF Age? Missing

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. Walter Fraser 747914 RAFVR Age 29. Missing

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. Alexander Watson 551877 RAF Age ? Missing

Air/Gnr: Sgt. Kenneth Frederick Weston 903273 RAFVR Age 20. Missing

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off at 21:46 hrs and last heard of at 01:55 hrs. Believed to have been lost over the North Sea. 72 aircraft detailed to bomb 5 various targets in Germany, only 15 aircraft bombed the primary targets.

Whitley V, with right, pilot W/Cdr. Kenneth Francis Ferguson (courtesy Sherborne School archives - see credits)

On the 14/15th September 1940 Sq/Ldr. Ferguson (with two of this crew, Sgt. Charles Stanley Rogers and Sgt. Walter Fraser abandoned the aircraft after engine failure and took to the dingy with 3 other crew. They were rescued some four hours later by a fishing trawler off Spurn Head. All five crew survived.

Then, on the 14/15th October 1940 with the same crew, after eleven hours flying on an operation to Stettin - abandoned the aircraft, when low on fuel and flying into a blanket of low cloud. All the crew landed safely.

Note: Serial Range T4200 - T4239. 40 x Whitley Mk.V. Delivered by Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft between 30th August 1940 and 2nd October 1940. Contract No.38599/39. 

Above - Runnymede Memorial - from the inside (Archives)

Sherborne School, Dorset - Any further information that you are able to assist them with fallen former pupils from all wars, we would be pleased to pass onto them. 

Burial details:

W/Cdr. Kenneth Francis Ferguson. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 3. Further information courtesy Sherborne School Archives: Born 7th June 1911, son of Capt. C. A. Ferguson and Lady Edith Ferguson, Swindon. Attended The Wells House school, Malvern Wells. Attended Sherborne School (Lyon House) May 1925-December 1929; 1st XI cricket team, 1929; 1st XV rugby football team 1929. Borneo Company, 1930-1931. Royal Air Force, 1931.

Obituary in 'The Shirburnian', December 1944: 'Kenneth Francis Ferguson was in the Cricket XI and the Football XV and Squash Racquets team. He could play all games well and represented the Army in Egypt and elsewhere, but he had far more in him than mere games ability, a modesty which was delightful and an outlook which was never unkind or over-critical. After a time with the Air Ministry he was allowed to fly again to his great delight. After a number of successful raids he went over Germany again and the last that was heard of him was a wireless message which stopped suddenly. He was the best type of Officer.'

Sgt. Charles Stanley Rogers. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 19. Next of kin details unavailable, are you able to assist?

Sgt. Walter Fraser. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 14. Son of Mr. and Mrs. T. K. Fraser, of Kinghorn, Fife, Scotland. Solicitor.

Sgt. Alexander Watson. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 20. Next of kin details unavailable, are you able to assist?

Sgt. Kenneth Frederick Weston. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 20. Son of Frederick and Sarah Ann Weston, of West Wickham, Kent, Englandq.

With thanks to Sherborne School Archives for additional information. For further details our thanks to the following sources shown below.

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