Isaac Kennedy

Flight Sergeant Isaac Kennedy (403012) served in the Royal New Zealand Air Force during the Second World War. He was the son of farmer Robert Kennedy and Margaret Anne Kennedy (née McNeilly) of Limnaharry, Ahoghill, Co. Antrim.

Isaac undertook training on Course 1, Class 3/K at R.C.A.F. No. 2 Wireless School in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, graduating on 17th April 1941. He then trained at No. 2 Bombing and Gunnery School at Mossbank, Saskatchewan, Canada, and R.C.A.F. 1 Manning Depot at Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He joined R.A.F. 142 Squadron on 13th May 1942. He was a recipient of the Distinguished Flying Medal.

Flight Sergeant Kennedy died on 9th November 1942 aged 23 years old while serving in R.A.F. 142 Squadron. He was a wireless operator / air gunner on Vickers Wellington BJ711 QT-Z. The crew took off from R.A.F. Grimsby, Lincolnshire, England bound for Hamburg, Germany.

On 9th December 1942, one month after the attack, The Evening Post issue 139 reported a reclassification in Kennedy’s status. First reported as missing, he was now missing believed killed. The Auckland Star issue 292 carried the same notice the following day. So too did Issue 25095 of Air Force List and Issue 23817 of C.Z.E.F. Casualty List on 10th December 1942.

Several months later, on 16th August 1943, issue 24027 of Air Casualties declared Kennedy’s death presumed. The Evening Post of the same date carried the notice. It is worth noting that all lists and local press still referred to the Flight Sergeant as hailing from Northern Ireland.

Kennedy’s grave is in Section 8A, Row C, Collective Grave 1-15 of Hamburg Cemetery, Hamburg, Germany. His name is on the town war memorial in Ballymena, Co. Antrim.