Drumm, Kenneth Wesley
Personal Information
Rank | P/O |
Forename(s) | Kenneth Wesley |
Surname | Drumm |
Gender | M |
Age | 22 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 13-05-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of John Walter Drumm and Sue Drumm (née Smith) of Galt, Ontario, Canada. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax III |
Serial Number | LK883 |
Markings | OW-E |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Belgium |
Burial/Memorial Place | Brussels Town Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Coll. grave X. 19. 6-8. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 157 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | J/94303 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 6 |
Squadron | 426 (Thunderbird) |
Trade | Air Gunner |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | Bergkapelstraat 1840, Londerzeel, Vlaams-Brabant Province |
Country | Belgium |
Memorial Type | Inscribed marble tablet |
Memorial Text | 426 Squadron Halifax LK 883. Opgestegen van de Britse basis te Linton-on-Ouse en neergestort te Londerzeel op 13 mei 1944. Er waren 4 overlevenden. Vier werden begraven in Evere |
Location | Adjacent to Village Hall, Dishforth, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Memorial Stone with Inscribed Metal Plaque & Maple Tree |
Memorial Text | In memory of the Canadian aircrew of 425 and 426 Sqns RCAF who served at RAF Dishforth, 1942-1945 |
Location | Outside Village Hall, Linton on Ouse, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Memorial Stone with inscribed Slate Tablet |
Memorial Text | In memory of Canadian personnel who served at RAF Linton on Ouse during WW2, including 408 and 426 Sqns RCAF |
Miscellaneous Information
Of the four survivors, three evaded capture but the pilot became a PoW. F/O R H Doubt was assisted by Mdme Anne Brusselmans, famed for her bravery in assisting evaders |
Kenneth was born on 5 January 1922 at Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA. Both parents were born in Lancaster, USA, and his father worked as a Weaving Superintendent. All shown as Canadian citizens. He had two brothers, Russell John and Warren Clarence and also two sisters Lola and Mary. He attended the Central Public School at Galt 1928-1937 followed by Galt Collegiate Institute 1937-1940 (Industrial). The sports he took part in were swimming, skating and basketball. Kenneth worked at H. McCormick, Riverside Silk Mill as a Loom Mechanic between 1940 and 1942 when he enlisted on 7 November 1942 at Brantford. |
After training, he was posted to the U.K. and embarked from New York on 8 October 1943, arriving at 3 PRC on 17 October 1943. From there he went to 22 OTU 16 November 1943, 61 Base 24 February 1944 and 426 Squadron 15 April 1944. Sadly the following month, Kenneth lost his life on 13 May 1944. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1842/10 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1842/9 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 12-05-1944 |
End Date | 13-05-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Linton-on-Ouse |
Day/Night Raid | Night (77% moon) |
Operation | Leuven/ Louvain- to bomb railway yards. 120 aircraft, 5 losses (4.2%). A more accurate bombing raid than the previous night with considerable damage to the yards. According to the local report, repairs were still being carried out some six months later. Civilian casualties were heavy with 160 deaths and 208 injured. Part of the local University, 8 factories, 4 convents and a church were also damaged |
Reason for Loss | Crashed close to Londerzeel, Belgium |