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975594 61 Squadron Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Kenneth was born around 1918. He was the eldest son of Marcel George and Mabel Mary Fillmore. His father was the stationmaster and the family lived at 17 Queen’s Road, Sudbury. He attended North Street and Sudbury Council Schools. On leaving school Kenneth was employed at the International Stores on Market Hill, Sudbury. He went on to serve at various company branches before volunteering for the Royal Air Force in 1939 at Frinton, Essex.
Kenneth served as an air gunner. His squadron’s motto was ‘Per Purum Tonantes’ – ‘Thundering through the clear air’. In 1941 his squadron were flying Handley Page twin-engine Hampdens. On board were a crew of 4, the pilot, observer, wireless operator/gunner and air gunner. They took off at 2318 hours from North Luffenham on 31st July 1941; their bombing mission was Cologne. On return it was very foggy conditions and the plane crash landed at RAF Upwood, Huntingdonshire at 0450 hours the next morning.
Kenneth is recorded as having died aged 23 on 31st July 1941. He lies buried in Sudbury Cemetery and shares a grave with his brother Eric, who lost his life serving as a pilot with the Royal Air Force, and is also remembered on the Sudbury War Memorial.
Kenneth is also remembered on the Trinity Congregational Church Memorial, now in the United Reformed Church, School Street, Sudbury.
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