No.1380281, Sergeant (Pilot), Eric George KENDALL
Aged 22
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Eric George Kendall was born on 5th November 1920 in Steeple Bumpstead (Risbridge Q4-1920 4A:1635), the son of Herbert Henry and Alice KENDALL (née PIPER) of Birdbrook.
In 1939 his parents were at The Stores, Birdbrook with his brother Donald F.[15] scholar (later to join 6th Airborne Division and survive the war). He had been a member of the 1st Haverhill Scout Group. |
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Initially flying Wellington bombers (as in the photos of Eric here), the squadron converted to Handley Page Halifax MkII and later still the Mk III.
The squadron was based at East Moor only from June to November 1942 158 Squadron Halifax MkII - ser.no.W7753- c/sign NP-T took off from RAF East Moor (7 mile N of York) at 0005 hours on the night of 13/14th July 1942, target Duisburg, Germany. Nothing was heard from the aircraft after take off and it crashed into the rear garden of a house in the Brauch und Middelicherstrasse, Resse in the suburbs of Gelsenkirchen. The crew were : P/O Bradbury, L E, Captain (Pilot) RAFVR - Sgt E G Kendall, (Pilot) RAFVR - Sgt P Roy, (Flight Engineer) RAF - Sgt A J Fromings, (Observer) RAFVR - F/Sgt W J Smart, (Wireless Air Gunner) R.C.A.F. - Sgt R W Brindley, (Wireless Air Gunner) R.A.A.F - Sgt W Walton, (Wireless Air Gunner) RAFVR and P/O Petherbridge, R A (Air Gunner) RAFVR All the crew were killed and they were buried in Gelsenkirchen Huellen Cemetery and then moved to Reichswald Forest War Cemetery on 8th May 1947
HalifaX Mk II (suitably re-lettered) His memorial stall in Birdbrook church photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
