Hi folks
Back in the 80s I joined the ATC as a Cadet and at that time we had a civvy instructor there who claimed to be a WW2 Mosquito pilot. He passed away about 30 years ago now, but I have always wondered where he flew from and on what squadrons etc… I should have asked him at the time but… who is it that said ‘youth is wasted on the young’?!!
The only details I have for him :
Name:Kenneth William Clarke
Birth Date: 21 April 1922
I think he died in 1988 – I remember attending the ATC guard of honour etc.
Any details or pointers would be appreciated.
Many thanks
Nick
By: NickB1 - 1st April 2020 at 17:45
Andrew – received & replied.
Many thanks
Nick
By: andrewclark - 1st April 2020 at 11:07
Nick, I’ve sent you a PM. Cheers, Andrew
By: NickB1 - 1st April 2020 at 10:14
@Baz – thanks. O have joined the RAFCommands forum, so will see if that yields anything.
@andrewclark – thanks also. This might be a stupid question, but where did you get those service numbers & years from?
The Ken Clarke I’m looking for definitely stated he served in wartime and was probably de-mobbed in 1945 (but I’m not certain of that). He lived in Cornwall near Falmouth up until his death – now whether he was a Cornishman from birth or moved to the area later in life, I have no idea. Perhaps he had been based at either Predannack, Portreath or one of the other bases and liked what he saw, I don’t know. So many questions I wished I asked, but I was only 13 at the time!
By: bazv - 1st April 2020 at 09:57
Nick
There is a Sgt KW Clarke listed on the crew of Lancaster ME758 ‘NAN’ on 7/8th March 1945.
His name is listed just below the Skipper (F/O Mabee) which suggests he may have been either the Flight Engineer or perhaps a Pilot acting as Flight Engineer.
There was a glut of pilots towards the end of the war and some pilots ended up doing more mundane duties – some became flight engineers – some ‘volunteered’ to be glider pilots etc.
Please note I am not suggesting this is your man,it is more difficult ID’ing aircrew if (say) if they were not commissioned,commissioned pilots can often be traced through entries in the London Gazette.
By: andrewclark - 1st April 2020 at 09:53
Hi Nick
You might also like to do a google search on the following Kenneth William Clarkes who all apparently served in the RAF around the years stated below:
Service No. Year
2505230 1950
1602946 1941
2476529 1950
1376493 1940
2321436 1946
1236636 1940
2274690 1945
1142049 1940
Hope you succeed in finding him.
Andrew
By: bazv - 31st March 2020 at 20:33
Hi Nick
If no answers on here you could register on RAF Commands and ask on the General Category Forum.
Some of the members are excellent at identifying RAF personnel.
http://www.rafcommands.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?1-General-Category
rgds baz
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March 31, 2020 at 2:47 pm