Sergeant Kenneth Stoddart Preston was an observer (navigator) with 150 squadron operating from Snaith in Yorkshire. The squadron was flying Wellington bombers at the time.

On 6 June 1942, Sgt Preston and his crew took off at 23.50 from Snaith on a mission to Emden. The crew consisted of:

F/O Malcolm James Larke Blunt RAAF
Sgt Leonard Thomas Baker
Sgt Kenneth Stoddart Preston
Sgt Gwilym Thomas Edwards
Sgt William Jackson
Sgt Stanley James Morgan

150 Squadron

Sgt Baker was transferred from the Army, where he was with the 6th Battalion Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey) and was mentioned in dispatches once, to the Royal Air Force.

The crew took off in Wellington X3279 JN-M. They were shot down by a night-fighter flown by Oblt Ludwig Becker, of 6.NJG2, and crashed 00.47  in the Waddenzee.

The bodies of FO Blunt, Sgt Baker and Sgt Morgan were washed onto Ameland where they are buried in Nes General Cemetery. Sgt Jacksopn is buried at Jonkerbos Cemetery.

 Sgt Edwards has no known grave and is commemorated at the Runnymede Memorial.

Sgt Preston is buried in Killumerland (Kollum) General Cemetery.

 

(picture by Wim Bastiaanse)

Kollum, The Netherlands

 

Acknowledgements:
RAF Squadron crest © Crown Copyright is reproduced with the permission of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office

Directions to Kollum General Cemetery

If you have any suggestions, comments or additional information, please contact me.

This website is dedicated to the men and women who died and/or are buried in The Netherlands during World War II.

 

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