Portraits of WWII Air force men

[Georgia Mitch]

I really do not know where to post this, so I hope this is the right place.

My Grandad, Arthur Cecil Kennett (1922 – 1983) was a navigator flying Lancaster’s during WWII. My father has his old log books and other documents from his training days and amongst all of the paper I found 15 portraits. One of them wasn't completed and so doesn't have a name but the 14 others do. I would dearly love to send these images to any family members/descendants of these men. If any of these sound familiar please respond here or private message me so I can send a copy of the image to you.

Grandad wrote small notes on the backs of some of the images, so i'll add what he's written.

Flight Officer T. Meaker. Rear Gunner.
Portrait completed 26 June, 1944

Flight Officer A Hutchinson Pilot
D.F.M

Flight Lieutenant D. Monk Pilot
Portrait completed 21 May, 1944

Flight Office Risherwood/ R. Isherwood Air Gunner
Portrait completed May 1944
D.F.M
Pathfinder Force #8 Group

Flight Officer R. T. Cann Navigator
Portrait completed 16 June, 1944

Pilot Office D. Doyle Navigator
I managed to find Mr Doyle in some records
Douglas Robert Doyle.
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Killed in service on the 19th of April, 1944
Age at death: 25 (Born c. 1923)
Service number: 154086
Father: Edwin Doyle. Died 6 April, 1935
Mother: Olive Frances. Died 17 Jan, 1977
Brother: Eric Edwin. Died 25 October 1998 Age 83.
Portrait completed March 1944

Flight Officer E. Standing Bomb Aimer
Portrait completed 3 July, 1944

Sergeant P. Charnock Navigator
Portrait completed 26 May, 1944

Sergeant J. Sanderman Rear Gunner
Portrait completed 2 July, 1944

Flight Officer J. Griffith Observer
300 Squadron
Portrait completed 3 July, 1944

Sergeant D. Ross Air Gunner. Mid upper Gunner
Portrait completed 25 May, 1944

Sergeant R. Barker Signalman
Completed 25 May, 1944
Note: “W/OP”

Sergeant T. Daniels Engineer
300 Squadron.
Far East Service Medal
Portrait completed 28 July, 1944

Pilot Office N. Loads.
57 Squadron

I will attach the in-complete portrait with the hope that someone may be able to identify him. From the sketch, his half-wings read “AG” or Air Gunner.

I hope this helps someone.

Unidentified:

[Treetotal]

What a lovely thing to have...you could try here:

http://www.forcesreunited.org.uk/

Carol

[Georgia Mitch]

After having a four-hour chat with my Dad last night and going through my Grandad's logbook which I had never seen before, I learnt that D Monk is one Adrian Derek Monk and that he is possibly still alive.

I found a video of him from August last year http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pufT1jqnXE where he mentions his naviagtor (my grandad) got a DFC as well as him.

If anyone knows either him, his whereabouts or someone that he knows or is related to could you please get in contact with me either here or through the PM system. He knew my Grandad extremely well and as I never got to know him, I would dearly love to find out anything else I can.

Georgia

[Georgia Mitch]

Also.. I have two group photos which feature a couple of the men mentioned in my first post.


The first image Left to Right is:
F/O Griffith A/B
F/LT Monk (Pilot)
F/S Ross [Mid/G]
F/SGT Sanderman R/Gun (P.o.w)
Sgt Barker W/OP
F/O Kennett (Nav)
Sgt Daniels (ENG)

Notes afterwords are what was written on the back of the photograph

Second picture: L - R:
P/O Hutchinson DFM
F/O Howden
F/LT Monk DFC
F/O Standing
F/O Kennett DFC

The first photograph was taken in 1944 sometime and the second after the 17th of April 1945, as that is when Grandad was awarded his D.F.C

[caroline2208]

Hello, I have just found this website and your enquiry, my father is Derek Monk and at 90 (last July) is still very much alive and well and often talks about your Grandfather.  Dad also has a copy of the photo's you put on the site.  He has told me what a good artist your Grandfather was and I think he has some drawings.  The clip on Youtube was taken in July 2010 when my husband and I took my father to East Kirkby in Lincolnshire to see the Lancaster "Just Jane" which is able to taxi, so he had a wonderful day.  My father spends the day with me on a Tuesday so I will show him your information and hopefully we can get in touch.

Regards
Caroline

[Georgia Mitch]

Hi Caroline!

Wow I am speechless!!! I will send my email through the PM system on here, I would dearly love to get in touch - as would my father I'm sure, I'm just about to ring him and let him know

Georgia

[Ruskie]

I was just browsing and came across this thread. What a wonderful success story. It's so nice of you to try to contact these men or their descendants Georgia.
 
I just want to tell Caroline that you need to make three posts before Georgia can send you a PM. So just reply here a couple more times.  ... and welcome to rootschat! 

[Georgia Mitch]

I have just got off the phone with Dad, and sent an email to my aunt and uncle who are both still living in England. Dad sounds very excited (unusual for him  ) and would love to see Derek again, the one time he met him having been 30 odd years ago I believe.

I'll be heading to the UK a bit later this year, and would love to meet him - it would be a real honour.

Kind regards,
Georgia

[Georgia Mitch]

I was just browsing and came across this thread. What a wonderful success story. It's so nice of you to try to contact these men or their descendants Georgia.

Hi Ruskie,

It would be wonderful to talk to all these people and hear their stories . Also, I know that I love having even a drawing of my Grandad, I thought it would be nice for other people to have a part of their family members history too.