LEST WE FORGET
Pilot Officer Kenneth Royce RUSSELL
From Australia serving in the Royal New Zealand Air Force
Service No: 415023 (RNZAF)
Born: Ulverstone TAS, 26 November 1919
Enlisted in the RNZAF: 7 September 1940
Unit: No. 464 Squadron
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 464 Squadron Mosquito aircraft LR259), Oxfordshire, 6 January 1944, Aged 24 Years
Buried: Oxford (Botley) Cemetery, Oxfordshire
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Frank Russell and of Hinda M. Russell (nee Bramich), of Herne Bay, Auckland City, New Zealand
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Mosquito LR259 took off from RAF Hunsdon on 6 January 1944 to carry out a day non operational training flight. When low flying over Chipping Warden airfield the aircraft touched the ground, hit a hangar and crashed at 1445 hours about 10 kms north east of Banbury. In a subsequent report on the crash it was recorded “this is a case of gross disobedience of flying orders resulting in the loss of 2 lives, an aircraft and damage to service property. All pilots are aware of the penalties following low flying accidents.”
The crew members of LR259 were:
Warrant Officer Ernest Royce Lumsdaine (402372) (Navigator Bomb Aimer)
Pilot Officer Kenneth Royce Russell (415023) (RNZAF) (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
Bibliography:
Vincent, D. (David) Mosquito Monograph: A history of Mosquitoes in Australia and RAAF operations, David Vincent Highbury SA 5089, 1982