35/Kornegay Crew: Grantham, Kenneth
Name/Title
35/Kornegay Crew: Grantham, KennethEntry/Object ID
2023.1001Description
Kenneth Grantham, wireless operator, 35 Squadron, Kornegay crewPhotograph Details
Type of Photograph
DigitalContext
There is a detailed and fascinating contemporary account, by Kenneth Grantham, of the enemy attack on the Marsden crew's aircraft, also of 35 Squadron. DIARY OF KENNETH GRANTHAM, W/OP, 35 SQUADRON 1944 "JUNE 23rd - Trip 20. We didn’t fly in the morning but spent the time looking up dope for the PFF board. In the afternoon I was examined in gunnery which I found a little stiff, and in bomb aiming about which I knew very little. We were then stood by for a daylight operation of about 5 hours. Then, at 5.30, we got orders to go to briefing but it was cancelled at the last moment. At 11.30 we briefed again this time for a flying bomb deposit in France. For us it was an uneventful trip, but the crew of ‘F’ were not so lucky. They mixed it with a fighter and were badly bashed about. So much so that on return their aircraft was towed to the graveyard for disposal. The mid-upper gunner lost an eye, and the rear gunner an arm. Their turrets were just twisted metal. Those 20 mm cannons sure can make a mess of a kite! JUNE 24th - Trip 21. I went down to the graveyard and had a look at ‘F’ for Freddy. What a mess! It’s a wonder they lived at all. The gunner’s turrets are completely smashed up and twisted. The fuselage is peppered with holes big enough to get my arm through. The starboard wing was hit in the petrol tank with incendiary bullets which set it on fire. We went to briefing at 9.30 and were told to attack another flying bomb depot at Middle Straete in France. Got back at 3 am. Uneventful." in the conclusion to the diary, Grantham writes of his short postwar posting to India: "I joined the aircraft at Delhi airport and found that the pilot was an officer who was serving on 35 Squadron at Graveley when I was there and with whom I had flown as a spare crew member when his wireless op had wanted to visit his gunner in hospital, F/O Marsden." For this incident, see Cat No: 2023.2017 and Harry Rolls Collection. ABOUT THE PHOTOGRAPH: by John Grantham "That portrait was taken in Brazil and hand coloured. He was there on leave and had taken his uniform with him to show his mother. As it happened, the British community there had arranged a service of thanksgiving for the end of the war, to be held in the Anglican cathedral, so Dad donned his uniform and accompanied his very proud mother. She then arranged for the photo to be taken." Photograph and diary text courtesy of Alison Lee.Collection
35 Squadron, YY: RPA DIGITAL ITEMS, YROL: HARRY ROLLS COLLECTIONCategory
QAR: Unpublished memoirs, translations, manuscripts, notes