Kenneth Campbell
Flying Officer, 22 Squadron Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
- Register No.
- 181 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Flying Officer all Flying Officers →
- Unit
- 22 Squadron Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (register: No. 22 Squadron RAF) all No. 22 Squadron RAF VCs →
- Date of action
- 6 April 1941 on this day → all of 1941 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Second World War
- London Gazette
- 13th March 1942 on this day → all of 1942 →
- Born
- 21st April 1917 at Saltcoats, Ayr, Scotland
- Died
- 6th April 1941 at Brest, France. (Killed in action)
- Award
- Posthumous all posthumous VCs →
- Memorial / grave
- Brest (Kerfautras) Cemetery, Lambezellec France
Digest of citation
On 6th April, 1941 over Brest harbour, Flying Officer Campbell attacked the German battle cruiser Gneisenau. He ran the gauntlet of concentrated anti-aircraft fire and launched a torpedo at point blank range. The ship was severely damaged below the waterline and was obliged to return to the dock whence she had come only the day before. Flying Officer Campbell's aircraft then met a withering wall of flak and crashed into the harbour
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
CAMPBELL, Kenneth. (reg No. 181).
Flying Officer 22 Squadron Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
London Gazetted on 13th March 1942.
Born on 21st April 1917 at Saltcoats, Ayr, Scotland.
Died on 6th April 1941 at Brest, France. (Killed in action).
Memorial at Brest (Kerfautras) Cemetery, Lambezellec France.
Digest of Citation reads: On 6th April, 1941 over Brest harbour, Flying Officer Campbell attacked the German battle cruiser Gneisenau. He ran the gauntlet of concentrated anti-aircraft fire and launched a torpedo at point blank range. The ship was severely damaged below the waterline and was obliged to return to the dock whence she had come only the day before. Flying Officer Campbell's aircraft then met a withering wall of flak and crashed into the harbour.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: Brest (Kerfautras) Cemetery, Lambezellec France
Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.
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