Operation: Patrol

Date: 24th July 1944 (Monday)

Unit: No. 453 Squadron (RAAF)

Type: Spitfire IX

Serial: PL206

Code: FU-?

Base: Advanced Landing Ground B.11 Longues-sur-Mer, France

Location: South West of Bayeux, France

Pilot: P/O. Kenneth Charles Kinross AUS/409147 RAAF Age 22. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

During a patrol in the morning Spitfire PL206 was intercepted and accidentally shot down by a USAAF P-47 Thunderbolt, South West of Bayeux.

No further details on this. See further details here on earlier incident.

On the same day Spitfire MK618 FU-F Flown by 27 year old, Fl/Sgt. James Holburn Lynch AUS/423776 RAAF was hit by flak and crash landed at Villers Bocage South West of Caen - pilot escaped injury. Just 10 days later on the 04th August he was shot down, again by flak over France in Spitfire NH555 FU-B, wounded, but survived.

Above: 453 Squadron pilots with their mascot ‘Sprog’ L-R: W/O. ‘Clarrie’ Clarence Alfred Seeney AUS/414519 RAAF, F/O. Roger Bush AUS/15326 RAAF (2), Fl/Sgt. Kenneth Charles Kinross AUS/409147 RAAF (3), Fl/Sgt. Herbert Frank Watts AUS/413296 RAAF (4), Fl/Sgt. Roderick Lyall AUS/409160 RAAF (5), W/O. Jock Young (6), F/O. F.J. Catchpole (7), Fl/Lt. Henry Walter Ritchie Sharp AUS/261892 (8). (courtesy Australian Archives)

(1) Some publications have the aircraft serial number listed as PL227.

(2) 25 year old, F/O. Roger Bush - Engineer Officer. Born 01st September 1918 in Kent, England. Married to Maisie. Prior to service worked as a cabinet maker. Survived the war - no further details.

(3) 22 years old, Pilot - Fl/Sgt. Kenneth Charles Kinross from Essendon, Victoria, Australia. Flying Spitfire IX sadly blue on blue accident - shot down by USAAF P-47 South-West Bayeux and killed. Buried at Bayeux War Cemetery. Grave IV.E.10.

(4) 22 years old, Pilot - Fl/Sgt. Herbert Frank Watts. Born 10th September 1922 in Taree, New South Wales, Australia. A farmhand previous to service, which he left in December 1945 as a F/O. 514 flying hours logged. Injured during an attack on the Squadron airfield, Hottet-Les-Bogues, Normandy France on the 13/14th August 1944 when 20 year old, W/O. Mervyn John Watson AUS/421610 RAAF of Murwillumbah, New South Wales, Australia, was killed, W/O. Ronald Francis Cross AUS/413366 RAAF seriously injured, W/O. Joseph Armstrong Boulton AUS/420544 RAAF seriously injured, others include: P/O. R.F. Cross 413366, Sgt. Coates 14921, LAC W. Marchant 1699424 RAF.

(5) Fl/Sgt. Roderick Lyall 12th July 1944 - Flying Spitfire IX NH274 FU-V Hit by flak, captured by the SS, escaped and evaded capture returning back to his base on the 15th August 1944. From Newton, Geelong, Australia.

(6) ‘Jock’ Young RAF Radio Officer - no further details.

(7) F/O. F.J. Catchpole RAF Intelligence Officer - no further details.

(8) 35 year old, Fl/Lt. Henry Walter Ritchie Sharp - Medical Officer - no further details.

Burial details:

P/O. Kenneth Charles Kinross. Bayeux War Cemetery. Grave IV.E.10. Born on the 25th September 1921 at Essendon, Victoria the son of Charles Osborne Kinross and Maggie Kinross, of 108 Queen Street, Essendon, Victoria, Australia. Prior to service worked as a clerk. Enlisted 19th July 1941 - trained in Rhodesia, South Africa, 06th January 1942 - 14th November 1942. Commissioned 21st April 1944. Joined 453 Squadron 10th August 1943.

Other 453 Squadron Pilot details:

Fl/Sgt. James Holburn Lynch AUS/423776 RAAF Born on the 25th May 1917 at Taree New South Wales, Australia - married to Sheila - lived at 112 Byng Street, Orange New South Wales. Parents lived at 148 Francis Street, Richmond NSW. Prior to service worked as a Station Hand. Enlisted on the 18th July 1942 in Sydney, Australia. Joined 453 Squadron on the 29th June 1944. Left the service on the 18th October, 1945. Survived the war, but died at Coffs Harbour in January 1997 age 80, after a prolonged illness.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to sources as quoted below:

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