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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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504 crest

Operation: Interception Patrol

Date: 07th September 1940 (Saturday)

Unit: No. 504 Squadron (motto: Vindicat in Vetis - 'It avenges in the wind) 11 Group

Type: Hurricane I

Serial: L1615

Code: TM-?

Base: RAF Hendon, Middlesex

Location: Sandbanks Farm, Graveney, near Faversham

Pilot: F/O. Kenneth Victor Wendel 40651 RAF Age 24. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Leadinghis section took off at 16:20 hrs. on a patrol over the Thames estuary and Margate area. They were bounced by five or six Me109’s.

The Hurricane was seen to go down out of control and crashing at location shown.

It is unknown if he had abandoned or was still in the aircraft. He died from his buns injuries later that afternoon.

Burial an personal details:

F/O. Kenneth Victor Wendel. Faversham Borough Cemetery. Grave 20. Born on the 08th May 1916 at Takapuna. Worked as a clerk for A.K. Voyce, public accountants prior to service. After serving 6 months in the territorial army joined the RNZAF on the 01st October 1934 as a clerk. Awarded his 'A' licence on the 25th March 1937. Selected for RAF short service commission 30th November 1937. Awarded his pilots badge on the 29th October 1938. Joined 504 squadron on the 23rd January 1940Also served in 222 squadron flying Blenheims. Son of Christie Victor and Christina Mabel Wendel (nee Humme), of New Zealand. A pioneer member and pupil of the Auckland Flying Corps. Grave inscription: 'One Of The Few" Treasured Memories Of Our Gallant And Devoted Son Passed To Greater Peace. Killed In Air Operations'. A Battle of Britain pilot.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to Ian Banks, Jenifer Lemaire and to the extensive research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, Auckland Library Heritage Collection, AWMM, Weekly News of New Zealand, other sources as quoted below:

KTY 25-03-2021

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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 Captain 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', Andrew Mielnik: Archiwum - Polish Air Force Archive (on this site), Anna Krzystek, Tadeusz Krzystek - 'Polskie Siły Powietrzne w Wielkiej Brytanii', Franek Grabowski, Polish graves: https://niebieskaeskadra.pl/, PoW Museum Żagań, 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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