LEST WE FORGET
Flight Lieutenant Kenneth MUNRO DFC & Bar
Service No: 408168
Born: Auckland, New Zealand, 21 June 1915
Enlisted in the RAAF: 31 January 1941 (at Hobart TAS)
Unit: No. 3 Flying Instructors School (RAF), RAF Station Hullavington, Wiltshire
Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), 15 December 1942
Awarded the Bar to the Distinguished Flying Cross (Bar), 11 June 1943
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 3 Flying Instructors School Oxford aircraft X6858), Wiltshire, 1 July 1943, Aged 28 Years
Buried: Bath (Haycombe) Cemetery, Somerset
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Keith and Agnes Nancy Munro, of Burnie, Tasmania, Australia. A.M.I.A.A.
Roll of Honour: Hobart TAS
Remembered: Panel 127, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
DFC Citation (serving with No. 10 Squadron (RAF)): “As Captain of aircraft this officer has displayed exceptional determination. He has participated in several sorties and in spite of hazards and difficulties, has always attempted to complete his allotted task. On a recent occasion, when returning from Genoa, he skilfully overcame a difficult situation and landed his aircraft safely. In
November during a flight to Turin, one engine in his aircraft failed whilst still some distance from the target. With admirable resolution he continued his mission, bombed his target, and eventually accomplished the return journey safely. Throughout his operational career, this officer has displayed indomitable courage and unswerving devotion to duty. (London Gazette 15 December 1942, Page 5458)
Bar to DFC Citation (serving with No. 10 Squadron (RAF)): “Since being awarded the DFC in November 1942, this officer has completed a number of operational sorties. At all times he has displayed unswerving determination to complete his tasks regardless of adverse weather or enemy opposition. On one occasion, his aircraft was attacked simultaneously by a FockeWulf 190 and a Messerschmitt 110. The Messerschmitt 110 was shot down, and by skilful evasive action the attack of the Focke Wulf 190 was frustrated. Throughout his operational career, Flight Lieutenant Munro has shown courage and devotion to duty of the highest order. (London Gazette 11 June 1943,
Page 2678)
On 24 March 1942, Flight Lieutenant Munro survived the crash of Whitley N1437 in which Sergeant Colin Campbell Scott (400988) was killed.
On 1 July 1943, Oxford X6858 took off from Hullavington on a non-operational day instructional flight. The aircraft crashed on the edge of a wood in the low flying area having struck the tops of trees and the crew members were killed. The Pilot had been ordered not to fly below the minimum height of 250 feet.
The crew members of X6858 were:
Flight Lieutenant William Wilson Colledge DFC (J/8207) (RCAF) (Pilot under instruction)
Flight Lieutenant Kenneth Munro DFC & Bar (408168) (Instructor Pilot)
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records (RAAF Casualty Information compiled by Alan Storr (409804))
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 163/45/148