324

G.M. KENNEDY.
2. (centre aligned)
conclusion of the course he converted to Lancaster bomber aircraft at No. 17 O.T.U.'s Conversion Flight at Upwood, Huntingdonshire. On the 7th January, 1944, he was posted to No. 83 Squadron, Wyton, also in Huntingdonshire, from which base he flew on thirteen operational flights, the targets including Berlin, Frankfurt, Nuremburg, Stuttgart, and Essen, in Germany; Mailly le Chappelle, and Nantes, in France; and Borge, in Norway.

On the 7th June, 1944, F/Lt. Kennedy was captain of a Lancaster bomber aircraft which took off on air operations for the target of Caen, France. The aircraft failed to return to its base and all members of the crew, including F/Lt. Kennedy, were reported missing. Later, information received from Air Ministry revealed that an R.A.A.F. member of the crew F/Sgt. C. George, was safe in the United Kingdom. Additional information received from Air Ministry stated that (redacted Sgt.) F/Lieutenant Kennedy was buried in the Churchyard at Fleury-sur-Orne, France. In consequence of this he was reclassified as missing, believed killed in action. Subsequently his death was officially presumed.

In January, 1945, the text of a report from the only survivor of the crew of the aircraft, F/Sgt. George, received from Air Ministry, indicated that and enemy fighter attacked the aircraft, which shortly afterwards caught fire and crashed in a field close to the river Orne about three miles South of Caen, France.

In March, 1946, further information received from Air Ministry through the Missing Research and Enquiries Service revealed that the remains of F/Lt. Kennedy and the six unaccounted for members of the aircraft were disinterred from the original burial place at Fleury-sur-Orne and reinterred in the Bonneville British Cemetery, Bonneville, France.

Find a Grave link with a photo of F/Lt. Kennedy: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56103394/george_mervyn-kennedy

5/2/8152 AS2
1048 hrs. as pilot.

Mrs. M.V. Kennedy (M) (right aligned)
53 Sackville Street (right aligned)
Grey Lynn, AUCKLAND (right aligned & city underlined)