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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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132 Squadron Crest
14.07.1944 132 Squadron Spitfire LF.IX NH481 Sqn Ldr. Kenneth Charney DFC & Bar

Operation: Cannon test run.

Date: 14th July 1944 (Friday)

Unit No: 132 (City of Bombay) Squadron, 2nd Tactical Air Force

Type: Spitfire LF.IX

Serial: NH481

Code: FF:B

Base: ALG B.14, Amble, France

Location: Lisieux, France

Pilot: Sqn Ldr. Kenneth Langley Charney DFC & Bar 112709 RAFVR Age 24. Survived


A full report on the career of Sqn 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.


Combat Report:

Taking off at 14:17 hrs from the Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) B.14, Amble, France

Above: Pierre Clostermann (another ace) congratulating Sqn Ldr. Charney DFC & Bar 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 Wg Cdr. Page on a cannon test when 12 x Fw190s 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: 14:35 hrs.
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 ALG B.14 in 1944

Above: Argentinian aviation artist, Pablo Patricio Albornoz, sent us this painting that he has done for the ceremony of the repatriation of the remains of Wg Cdr. Charney DFC & Bar in May 2015.

His DFC was awarded as an acting Flt Lt. whilst with 185 Sqn, London Gazette 5th February 1943;

His Bar to the DFC was awarded as a Flt Lt. whilst with 602 Sqn. London Gazette 19th September 1944.

Citation reads: "Flight Lieutenant Charney is a brave and resourceful fighter. He has taken part in a very large number of sorties, involving- a variety of operational missions. In air fighting he has destroyed 6 enemy aircraft".

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. Updated with new information for the aircraft and his DFC & Bar awards. (Oct 2022)

Other sources quoted below.

RS 26.10.2022 - Update to aircraft details and inclusion of awards information

Pages of Outstanding Interest
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CWGC: Your Relative's Grave Explained •  USA Flygirls •  Axis Awards Descriptions •  'Lack Of Moral Fibre'
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RAAF Bomb Aimer Evades with Maquis •  SOE Heroine Nancy Wake •  Fane: Motor Racing PRU Legend
Acknowledgements
Sources used by us in compiling Archive Reports include: Bill Chorley - 'Bomber Command Losses Vols. 1-9, plus ongoing revisions', Dr. Theo E.W. Boiten and Mr. Roderick J. Mackenzie - 'Nightfighter War Diaries Vols. 1 and 2', Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt - 'Bomber Command War Diaries', Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Tom Kracker - Kracker Luftwaffe Archives, Michel Beckers, Major Fred Paradie (RCAF) and MWO François Dutil (RCAF) - Paradie Archive (on this site), Jean Schadskaje, Major Jack O'Connor USAF (Retd.), Robert Gretzyngier, Wojtek Matusiak, Waldemar Wójcik and Józef Zieliński - 'Ku Czci Połeglyçh Lotnikow 1939-1945', Archiwum - Polish Air Force Archive (on this site), Anna Krzystek, Tadeusz Krzystek - 'Polskie Siły Powietrzne w Wielkiej Brytanii', Franek Grabowski, Norman L.R. Franks 'Fighter Command Losses', Stan D. Bishop, John A. Hey MBE, Gerrie Franken and Maco Cillessen - Losses of the US 8th and 9th Air Forces, Vols 1-6, Dr. Theo E.W. Boiton - Nachtjagd Combat Archives, Vols 1-13. Aircrew Remembered Databases and our own archives. We are grateful for the support and encouragement of CWGC, UK Imperial War Museum, Australian War Memorial, Australian National Archives, New Zealand National Archives, UK National Archives and Fold3 and countless dedicated friends and researchers across the world.
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Last Modified: 26 October 2022, 10:24

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