User:Pullin' Billies/sandbox/Edward Kenway

Edward William "Eddie" Kenway

Assigned to 609 Sqn. Flew defensive flights over North England during early months of war as a young Pilot Officer.

Entered combat for first time during Operation Dynamo in May 1940 (Dunkirk Evacuations). Here he killed a Bf 109.

- As many original pilots shot down during and after dunkirk evac, Ed Kenway was promoted to Flying Officer in June 1940.

10th July 1940 - Shot down a Bf 109 and Ju 87 as well as sharing another Ju 87 with his wingman during large engagement during transit flight moving 609 Sqn from RAF Northolt to RAF Lympne.

12th July 1940 - Shot down Bf 109 during intercept sortie over portland.

15th July 1940 - Shot down by a BF109 over the isle of wight during a routine CAP protecting the Ventanor Chain Home RDF. Crash landed at the closed Sandown aerodrome.

19th July 1940 - Made second emergency landing in a week on the Isle of wright in field just short of Sandown Aerodrome after taking a stray round from He111 rear gunner to Radiator Hose while on patrol for as flight lead of 3 aircraft.

23rd July 1940 - During a bomber escort mission to Cherbourg, France, he shot down a Bf109 and got a probable kill on another Bf109. Officially an Ace.

16th August 1940 - Shot down a Ju 88 Bomber during a fighter intercept mission over Bournemouth.

18th August 1940 ('Hardest Day') - Was damaged during a dogfight above Southampton, subsequently crashed his aircraft upon returning to RAF Worthy Down, receiving a concussion and stopping Kenway from being involved in the slaughter of 1/3 of 609 Sqn during the evening.

22nd August 1940 - Promoted to Flight Lieutenant and section leader.

9th September 1940 - Shot down over Worthing by a Bf 109, bailing from his aircraft at 7000ft, landing safely in a small neighbourhood west of Worthing.

11th September 1940 - Shot down a Bf 110 and Bf 109 within minutes of each other during an accidental intercept of a small section of lost fighters.

13th September 1940 - Shot down a He 111 during an intercept on the South Coast near Brighton.

15th September 1940 (Battle of Britain Day) - In the AM, during a scramble patrol over Kenley, shot down a Bf 109. In the PM, shot down a Bf 110 and sharing a victory over a Do 17 over The Needles.

16th September 1940 - Shot down a Do 17 lost over Bournemouth.

18th September 1940 - Rotated off active frontline duty. Only surviving pilot of the original 609 Sqn. at the beginning of the BoB. (SQNLDR. McEwan of 609 technically survived but left the Sqn. at end of August after being promoted to Wing Commander.)

20th September 1940 - Awarded the DFC. (13 1/2 kills at end of BoB)

After a break from flying 609 Sqn continued flying defensive patrols from November 1940 to February 1941

February 1940 - Transferred to 53 OTU to train future fighter pilots on the Spitfire.

September 1941 - Posted to No. 112 Squadron flying the new P-40 Kittyhawks in Egypt, North Africa, second in command to Clive Caldwell.

December 1941 - Over North Egypt, he shot down a Bf 109.

January 1942 - Shot down another Bf 109.

February 1942 - Promoted to SQNLDR and transferred to 5 OTU as chief flying instructor.

August 1942 - Made Commanding Officer of No. 616 Sqn, flying the MkVI Spitfire, based in south east Britain, conducting high altitude bomber escort and defensive patrols of Britain.

January 1943 - Shot down a Fw190 over Western France

Feburary 1943 - Shoots down He 111 over France.

23rd Feb 1943 - Is shot down north of Dordrecht, Netherlands at 17:00, during a return flight to England after covering bombers enroute to Germany. Jumped by a Fw 190. Bailed out safely onto the ground in Holland. After hiding chute and flying gear, he ran through the woodlands and fields and stumbled upon a barn. He hid there for half the night, waiting for the Germans to move or increase their search area. He stole clothes from the local farm house and dressed like a lowly worker. Due to his early experiences of speaking Spanish and living in Barcelona, he arrived in Rotterdam, and communicated with innkeepers and at one point even a German soldier, with Spanish, leading them to believe he was a travelling Spanish labourer and averting suspicion. He made contact with a Dutch resistance member in Amsterdam, whom organised for Kenway to be smuggled to neutral Sweden and then back to Britain. Kenway arrived back in the UK on the 2nd of March 1943.

12th March 1943 - Receives Bar on DFC

30th March 1943 - Appointed as WNGCDR and returned to 5 OTU as chief instructor.

21st March 1944 - Given command of No. 66 Sqn and responsible for getting it ready for allied invasion of occupied France. Operating the MkIX Spitfire.

6th June 1944 - D Day, approaching and on the day, 66 Sqn successfully provided air cover for invading forces.

18th June 1944 - Shoots down a Fw190. Probable Bf109 kill

11th August 1944 - Shoots down two Bf 109's and a shared Fw190 kill

13th August 1944 - Shoots down Ju 88

September 1944 - Sqn moves to France, assists in Operation market garden, eventually settling in Netherlands and operating sorties into Germany from there.

22nd October 1944 - Shoots down another Fw190, Bails out in field East of Holland after mid air collision with a Bf 109.

1st January 1945 - Numerous aircraft of 66 Sqn are destroyed by suprise europe wide bombing attack by Luftwaffe.

2nd January 1945 - Kenway along with remains of 66 Sqn link up with 2nd Tactical Air Force (TAF) and USAAF and assault numerous Luftwaffe airfields, resulting in huge losses for Germans. Shoots down a scrambling Bf 109.

12th January, Receives second Bar on DFC for actions on 1-2nd Jan 1945.

4th February 1945 - Kenway engages in dogfight with several German fighters fleeing, here he destroys a Fw190. The last aerial victory of the war for Kenway.

22nd February 1945 - Kenway and 66 Sqn assist in Operation Clarion, destroy numerous bridges, ports, railways and transportation of German Wehrmacht.

28th February 1945 - Promoted to GPCAPT and receives DSO.

30th April 1945 - After numerous operations in Germany, No. 66 Sqn is disbanded.

- Total Kills at 24 3/4

- oldest brother of kenway brothers

- 609 sqn raf

Oldest to Youngest:

GPCPT. Edward Kenway RAF (Alive and in action during whole war) /known as most prominent kenway, very confident, brash and arrogant. [23 in 1939] (Born 31st January 1916)

LTCDR. James Kenway NAVY (alive whole war) /the seemingly smartest kenway, educated at university and quite articulate in critical thinking and analysis [22 in 1939] (Born 11th November 1917)

CPL. Liam Kenway ARMY (conscripted - KIA) /the hands on, working class type kenway. Very mechanical, exceeds in automotive and manual labour. Often disappear for hours exploring when younger [20 in 1939] (Born 11th July 1919)

FLOFF. George Kenway RAF (Active early war, captured pow in 1941) /the most 'average' kenway so to speak, very modest, kind and hard working. [18 in 1939] (Born 1st October 1921)