A friends Dad who trained with Sqn 4A in Levin Course 20 pilots 1941- Kenneth Herbert Doherty NZ 414255, has passed on and left no records of what he did save being in Ely convalescent Home in UK 1942-43 for two years after crash landing and badly damaging his legs.
Any info on his service is most welcome thanks.
-- Edited by Lemonm on Thursday 13th of March 2014 03:01:16 AM
I have just looked in Errol Martyn's book 'For Your Tomorrow' Volume 3 and found a Doherty, K. H. was one of 12 Pilots to leave Auckland aboard the Port Fairy bound for Liverpool via Panama Canal on 24 January 1942.
The ship arrived in Liverpool on 8 March 1942. Of the 12 Pilots, two were killed, the other 10 survived.
That's all I have been able to find so far.
I hope someone can help further with what happened to your friend's father, possibly a training accident?
Thanks Wayne, Ken did return with a permanent limp, and like so many others didn't talk about his experiences- e died approx. 12yrs ago in Ranfurly War Vets home in Auckland, NZ in his 80s. His daughter will be very grateful for whatever anyone has to contribute.
Hi there,
From W R Chorley,volume 7,page 138;
27 July 1942 11 0.T.U. Wellington 1C DV813.
Sgt.K H Doherty RNZAF Inj.
Sgt.T J Sherborne RNZAF Inj.
Sgt.F J Wade Inj.
'Taxied into two of the unit's Wellingtons parked on Bassingbourn airfield.The impact was sufficiently severe to render Sgt.Doherty very seriously injured and he was taken to RAF Hospital Ely with compound fractures to the left tibia and fibula.His two companions were less seriously hurt and both soon returned to duty.'
Regards,Mark Simpson.
That's all she could tell me too, that his injury happened on the ground she remembered him mentioning years ago- so the detail of the books edition is excellent as not even sure she's aware of the publication, and knowing her involvement in Genealogy research I believe she'll look it up.
