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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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139 Squadron Crest
06/07.08.1944 139 Squadron Mosquito XX KB202 Flt.Lt. Kenny DFC & Bar, RAF Upwood

Operation: Castrop-Rauxel Dortmund

Date: 6/7th August 1944 (Sunday/Monday)

Unit: 139 Squadron

Type: Mosquito XX

Serial: KB202

Code: XD:?

Base: RAF Upwood, Huntingdonshire

Location: At base airfield.

Pilot: Flt.Lt. John Henry Kenny DFC and Bar 67700 RAFVR Age 30. Killed

Nav: Fg.Off. Martin Henry Ove Levin DFC. 147010 RAFVR Age 22. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off at 22:15 hrs from RAF Upwood, Huntingdonshire to bomb the synthetic oil production works at Castrop-Rauxel, near Dortmund. 40 Mosquitoes taking part on this operation.

After returning from the operation whilst attempting to land in heavy fog at their home base they overshot, crashing into a house with the aircraft catching fire. Tragically two other crew members from 156 squadron, who had also just returned from an operation, also lost their lives (see burial details below)

Another Mosquito KB118 from this squadron was lost during the operation. Flown by Fg.Off. Bobbie Hooke 133562 RAFVR.


Burial details:

Flt.Lt. John Henry Kenny DFC and Bar. Southampton (Hollybrook) Cemetery. Section K.3.Grave 178. Son of George Frederick Ernest and Frances Charlotte Kenny of Eastbourne, Sussex, England. Grave inscription reads: “Dearly Loved Only Son Of George And Francis Kenny. God’s Gift - Remembrance.”

DFC awarded whilst with 1663 Conversion Unit, gazetted 11th June 1943. Bar to DFC awarded whilst with 139 Sqn, gazetted 13th October 1944.

Fg.Off. Martin Henry Ove Levin DFC. Bury Cemetery, Huntingdonshire. Row D.Grave 24. Son of Ove Hubert and Christine Mary Levin Of Cromer, Norfolk, England. Grave inscription reads: “He Hath Made Everything Beautiful In His Time.”

DFC awarded whilst with 139 Sqn, gazetted 13th October 1944.

Other fatalities:

Flt.Sgt. Allan Lawson Rookes 1479035 RAFVR. York Cemetery. Section D. Grave 37.11965. Son of Charles and Jessie Rookes, of York, England.

Flt.Sgt. David Winlow 1503797 RAFVR. Murton Cemetery. Sec G. Row. K. Grave 6. Son of Adam and Margaret Winlow of Murton, County Durham, England.

Researched by Aircrew Remembered, researcher and specialist genealogist Linda Ibrom for relatives of this crew. Updated by Aircrew Remembered (Dec 2020). Further sources as quoted below.

RS 18.12.2020 - Narrative updated

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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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