Blincoe Kenneth Howard 1909

Kenneth Howard Blincoe [9781]

1909-1943

Father Nm: Francis Harold Blincoe 1867–1947. BIRTH 1896 • Nelson, New Zealand. DEATH 5 OCTOBER 1947 • Nelson, New Zealand

Mother Nm: Ruth Mary Packer 1870-

Marriage Dt:

K comments: WW1 Brother Leslie Clarence served with 1st Canterbury Regt. and brother Harold Francis served with Royal New Zealand Artillery.

Spouse comments: Ida Annie White, 1914, Murchison, New Zealand

(Research): Ancestry

Oldest Known Ancestor: Francis Blincoe Abt 1838 – 9 Oct 1883.

Children:

Birth

3 November 1909, Nelson.

Before the War

Attended Nelson College.

On leaving school was Lineman for NZ Post and Telegraph at Ohura Depot.

1928-1931

Volunteered and completed two years in NZ Territorial Army

WW2

Flight Sergeant, Pilot Officer Kenneth Howard, DFC., NZ412194

1941

13 April. Joined RNZAF Levin/ITW as Airman Pilot in training.
Mates under training course 19 Pilots July 1941 L to R, John Buckley, Pere Morgan, Johnny Rothwell, ? Roseman, Bill Simpson All flew with RAF Bomber Command, Pere Morgan being killed in January 1945

Billets at RNAZ Levin
24 May. Attended 2 Elementary Training School, Ashburton.
5 July. Attended 2 Flight Training School, Woodburne located 8 km west of Blenheim.
16 August Awarded his Pilot Badge
27 September. promoted to Flight Sergeant.
10 october confirmation of Appointment.
25 October. Attached to RAF and embarked for UK.
November. On arrival in Uk attends the #3 Personnel Reception Centre. Based at Bournemouth.

1942

25 February. Attended the No. 2 Service Flying Training School at Brize Norton in Oxfordshire.
23 March Attended 11 Operational Training Unit at Bassingbourn where trained on Wellington Bombers.

New Wellingtons near completion at the Vickers Weybridge factory, NZ 302 second-closest to the camera. ”Flight”, July 6 1939 issue.

15th August. Transferred to No.75(NZ) Sqn (where he flew 17 operational flights in Wellington Bombers, and 5 operational flights in Stirling Bombers.) Note: No. 75 (NZ) SQUADRON RAF has the distinction of being the first Commonwealth squadron created by the RAF during the Second World War.

The Blincoe crew L to R back row, Desmond Hayward, Kenneth Blincoe, Frank Boese, Harold Lowe, front row, Edward McDermott, Desmond Clearwater and George Cook image supplied by Kevin King. Click to enlarge.

Kenneth was to complete 21 missions as a Pilot and one that the last that resulted in the plane failing to return. A detailed page of those missions is here. Here is the summary of the missions

20/08/1942 – Gardening Off St. Nazaire.
Five aircraft were detailed to carry out the above. Kenneth flew Wellington Mk.III BJ.584 AA-C.

Group of Pilots at a briefing for a bombing mission 1943
27 August. Attack Against Targets at Kassel.
Twelve aircraft were detailed to carry out the above attack. He crossed the sea still losing height and belly landed at R.A.F. Wattisham on return. The weather was fine, navigation was excellent. Wellington BJ.708 captained by F/Lt Osbourn failed to return. Sgt. Kenneth Howard Blincoe, RNZAF NZ412194 – Pilot of Wellington Mk.III X.3954 AA-?
28 August – Attack Against Targets at Nuremberg.
Ten aircraft were detailed to attack the above target. Sgt. Kenneth Howard Blincoe, RNZAF NZ412194 – Pilot of Wellington Mk.III X.3954 AA-?
1 September – Operations. Attack Against Targets At Saarbrucken
Eleven aircraft were detailed to attack the above target. Sgt. Kenneth Howard Blincoe, RNZAF NZ412194 – Pilot of Wellington Mk.III BJ.790 AA-?
2 September– Operations. Attack Against Targets At Karlsruhe
Six aircraft were detailed to attack the above target. Kenneth Howard Blincoe, RNZAF NZ412194 – Pilot of Wellington Mk.III BJ.790 AA-?
4 September – Operations. Attack Against Targets At Bremen
Twelve aircraft were detailed to attack the above target. Kenneth Howard Blincoe, RNZAF NZ412194 – Pilot of Wellington Mk.III BJ.790 AA-?
6 September – Operations. Attack Against Targets At Duisburg
Fifteen aircraft were detailed to carry out the above attacks. Kenneth Howard Blincoe, RNZAF NZ412194 – Pilot of Wellington Mk.III BJ.790 AA-?
8 September– Operations. Attack Against Targets At Frankfurt. Nine aircraft were detailed to carry out the above attack. Kenneth Howard Blincoe, RNZAF NZ412194 – Pilot of Wellington Mk.III BJ.790 AA-?
10 September – Operations. Attack Against Targets At Dusseldorf
Thirteen aircraft were detailed to attack the above target. Kenneth Howard Blincoe, RNZAF NZ412194 – Pilot of Wellington Mk.III BJ.790 AA-?
13 September – Operations. Attack Against Targets At Bremen
Eight aircraft were detailed to attack the above target. Kenneth Howard Blincoe, RNZAF NZ412194 – Pilot of Wellington Mk.III BJ.837 AA-F.
14 September – Operations. Attack Against Targets At Wilhelmshaven. Six aircraft were detailed to carry out the above attack. Kenneth Howard Blincoe, RNZAF NZ412194 – Pilot of Wellington Mk.III BJ.790 AA-?
16 September – Operations. Attack Against Targets At Essen
Eight aircraft were detailed to attack the above target. Kenneth Howard Blincoe, RNZAF NZ412194 – Pilot of Wellington Mk.III BJ.790 AA-? Plane damaged by enemy flak but landed safely on return.

Note this attack on Essen was the subject of a newspaper article in the OTAKI MAIL, 18 JANUARY 1943 it tells how Kenneth steered is badly damaged Stirling to safety.

“NEW ZEALANDER’S FLY STIRLINGS ON BIG RAIDS

EXCITING EXPERIENCES OVER EUROPE. LONDON, Jan. 12. The New Zealand bomber squadron flew Stirlings heavy four-engined bombers —operationally in the Turin raid and took part in several raids before Christmas against Italian cities. One crew in which there were several New Zealanders actually flew over Turin for one hour of which half an hour was spent at 1000 feet. Their bomhs started the destruction of an important arms factory whereafter they watched other bombers completing the havoc. The crew included FlyingOfficers L. G. Trott (Otorohanga), W. J. R. Scollay (Wellington), D. L. Popplewell (Gore), Sergeants M. Manawaiti (Taumarunui) and H. R. Hamerton (Patea). Two other crews recently encountered German night-fighters. Pilot-Officer J. McCullough (Christchurch), with Flight-Sergeants A. G. Tolley (Wellington), W. E. Gibbs (Auckland), Sergeants U. J. S. Smith (Wellington) and T. Murphy (Dannevirke), was attacked by a Messerschmitt-109 when approaching the target hut the English reargunner got in a hurst and saw the Gerban begin a long dive. It was claimed that the enemy was probably destroyed. Approaching the target, which wa: an important factory, the Stirling ran into heavy rain and so descended to 600 feet and released its bombs. When over the Dutch coast while returning to England another Messerschmitt was encountered. It attacked and while the Stirling was diving to escape it was picked up by searchlights and was hit by flak. Then the fighter came in for another attack flying so close that the crew heard his guns. However, the Stirling dived to sea level and finally regained its base safely. Pilot-Officer K. H. Blincoe (Murchison), Sergeants W. J. 11. Berriman (New Plymouth) and D. Clearwater (Auckland) were in a Stirling which attacked Essen. When they were five minutes from the target they ran into the nightmare of all bomber crews—predicted flak and searchlights. The sky was filled with shellhursts one pf which hurst in the starboard of the mainplane between the fuselage and engine, setting fire to the fabric whereafter the Stirling dived several thousand feet out of control.

When control was regained it was found that the power of the dive had put out the flames and the aircraft escarped the attention of the flak and searchlights and was thus able to continue its trip. It bombed the target but damage to the controls was caused Dy shell bursts. Pilot-Officer Blincoe, who was captain, had to hold the stick hard over to left and use the full opposite rudder to maintain course.

It was Impossible to turn to port and in the bright moonlight the Stirling was a night-fighter’s dream. The crew flew on tentatively looking out sharply and just as they were passing over the Dutch coast a German announced his arrival by firing from below, the stream of bullets nearly cutting off the rear turret. It returned for a second attack starting a small fire which the English navigator put out but it wounded the English radio officer who insisted on carrying on his job. Fortunately the Stirling found cloud cover and escaped safely but had to crash land when it reached base.

In addition to those mentioned others In Seventy-five Squadron include Flight-Lieutenant F. J. Chunn, D.F.C. (Te Awamutu), Flying-Officer C. F. Ormerod (Gisborne), Pilot-Officer R. R. Aynex (Taradale), Flight-Sergeant H. W. Hindmaxsh (Dunedin), Sergeants J. P. Buck (Wanganui), W. A. M. Haray (Wanganui), C. R. Davey (Dargaville), M. Lord (Putaruru), H. J. Dalzell (North Canterbury), K. F. Debenham (Oxford), S. N. Cross (Balclutha), J. A. E. Walsh (Auckland), D. Wellington (Auckland), J. C. Fabian (Seddpn), B. J. Hosie (Manaia), E. H. Gray (Wellington), R. A. Hodge (Wellington), L. W. Kennedy (Palmerston North), D. W. Findlay Napier), H. Higgins (Wangakurau), Harding Smith (Nelson), also G. K. Samson and J. M. Bailey. Plight Lieutenant T. Ness (Dunedin), who was formerly adjutant to the Second New Zealand Fighter Squadron, is now adjutant to Seventyfive Squadron.”

2 October – Operations. Attack Against Targets At Krefeld
Thirteen aircraft were detailed to attack the above target. Kenneth Howard Blincoe, RNZAF NZ412194 – Pilot of Wellington Mk.III X.3747 AA-?
5 October – Operations. Attack Against Targets At Aachen
Fifteen aircraft were detailed to attack the above target. Kenneth Howard Blincoe, RNZAF NZ412194 – Pilot of Wellington Mk.III Z.1652 AA-?
6 October – Operations. Attack Against Targets At Osnabruck
Fourteen aircraft were detailed to attack the above target. Kenneth Howard Blincoe, RNZAF NZ412194 – Pilot of Wellington Mk.III Z.1652 AA-?
9 October – Operations. Gardening off East Frisian Islands
Seven aircraft were detailed to carry out the above operation. Kenneth Howard Blincoe, RNZAF NZ412194 – Pilot of Wellington Mk.III BK.341 AA-?
13 October– Operations. Attack Against Targets At Kiel
Thirteen aircraft were detailed to attack the above target. Kenneth Howard Blincoe, RNZAF NZ412194 – Pilot of Wellington Mk.III Z.1652 AA-?
28 November – Operations. Attack Against Targets At Turin. Four aircraft were detailed to attack the above target. Kenneth Howard Blincoe, RNZAF NZ412194 – Pilot of Stirling Mk.I BK.608 AA-T
9 December – Operations. Attack Against Targets At Turin
Five aircraft were detailed to attack the above target.Kenneth Howard Blincoe, RNZAF NZ412194 – Pilot of Stirling Mk.I BK.608 AA-T.

NZAF Stirling Bomber of the kind that Kenneth flew from December 1942 until his death.
16 December– Operations. Gardening off Bordeaux
Nine aircraft were detailed to carry out the above operation with 1500lb. vegetables. Kenneth Howard Blincoe, RNZAF NZ412194 – Pilot of Stirling Mk.I R.9250 AA-C.

1943

2 January– Attack Against Targets at Lorient. Nine aircraft were detailed to attack the above target.Kenneth Howard Blincoe, RNZAF NZ412194 – Pilot of Stirling Mk.I R9250 AA-C.
3 February – Attack Against Targets at Hamburg
Nine aircraft were detailed to attack the above target with 4 lb. incendiaries. Two aircraft failed to return, they were Stirling 1 BK604 captained by P/O J McCullough and Stirling 1 R9280 captained by P/O K.H. Blincoe. This was a sad loss as they were two of the oldest captains in the Squadron, with them was also lost Sergt. Scott and P/O Henderson, two new captains gaining experience as the second pilot. This left us with two headless crews.Crew P/O Kenneth Howard Blincoe, RNZAF NZ412194 – Pilot.
Sgt. Andrew James Newell ‘Dougal’ Scott RNZAF NZ414685 – 2nd Pilot.
Sgt. Frank Arthur Boese, RAFVR 1293282 – Navigator.
Sgt. George Wood Cook, RNZAF NZ412514 – Air Bomber.
P/O Harold Lowe, RAFVR 905609/ 115129 – Wireless Operator.
Sgt. Desmond David Hayward, RAFVR 651764 – Flight Engineer.
Sgt. Edward. McDermott, RCAF R.96960 – Mid Upper Gunner.
Sgt. Desmond Clearwater, RNZAF NZ412314 – Rear Gunner.R.9280 was attacked by a German night-fighter over the Netherlands while returning to base. The aircraft crashed at 20.00hrs in the vicinity of Ingen, 6miles NNE of Tiel, Holland. All on board were killed. They were buried in Amersfoort (Oud Leusden) General Cemetery.