Kenneth was a World War II Victoria Cross Recipient.
Born in Saltcoats, Scotland, he served as a Flying Officer in the 22nd Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
On 6 April 1941, Flying Officer Campbell was a pilot of a Beaufort aircraft which was detailed to attack the German battle cruiser Gneisenau at Brest Harbour, France.
The battle cruiser was secured alongside the wall on the north shore of the harbour protected by a stone mole, batteries of guns and three heavily armed anti-aircraft ships. Knowing the heavy odds, Kenneth ran the gauntlet of the defences, coming in at almost sea level, passed the anti-aircraft ships under extreme fire and launched a torpedo at point-blank range as the battle cruiser was trying to leave dock.
The battle cruiser was severely damaged below the water-line and had to return to the dock out of action. Because of rising ground surrounding the harbour, Flying Officer Campbell was forced into a steep banking turn, was met by heavy enemy anti-aircraft flak and crashed into the harbour, killing him and his other three crew mates.
For valour of the highest order, he was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross on 13 March 1942.
You can view the Burial here: Burial
Born in Saltcoats, Scotland, he served as a Flying Officer in the 22nd Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
On 6 April 1941, Flying Officer Campbell was a pilot of a Beaufort aircraft which was detailed to attack the German battle cruiser Gneisenau at Brest Harbour, France.
The battle cruiser was secured alongside the wall on the north shore of the harbour protected by a stone mole, batteries of guns and three heavily armed anti-aircraft ships. Knowing the heavy odds, Kenneth ran the gauntlet of the defences, coming in at almost sea level, passed the anti-aircraft ships under extreme fire and launched a torpedo at point-blank range as the battle cruiser was trying to leave dock.
The battle cruiser was severely damaged below the water-line and had to return to the dock out of action. Because of rising ground surrounding the harbour, Flying Officer Campbell was forced into a steep banking turn, was met by heavy enemy anti-aircraft flak and crashed into the harbour, killing him and his other three crew mates.
For valour of the highest order, he was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross on 13 March 1942.
You can view the Burial here: Burial
Kenneth was a World War II Victoria Cross Recipient.
Born in Saltcoats, Scotland, he served as a Flying Officer in the 22nd Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
On 6 April 1941, Flying Officer Campbell was a pilot of a Beaufort aircraft which was detailed to attack the German battle cruiser Gneisenau at Brest Harbour, France.
The battle cruiser was secured alongside the wall on the north shore of the harbour protected by a stone mole, batteries of guns and three heavily armed anti-aircraft ships. Knowing the heavy odds, Kenneth ran the gauntlet of the defences, coming in at almost sea level, passed the anti-aircraft ships under extreme fire and launched a torpedo at point-blank range as the battle cruiser was trying to leave dock.
The battle cruiser was severely damaged below the water-line and had to return to the dock out of action. Because of rising ground surrounding the harbour, Flying Officer Campbell was forced into a steep banking turn, was met by heavy enemy anti-aircraft flak and crashed into the harbour, killing him and his other three crew mates.
For valour of the highest order, he was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross on 13 March 1942.
You can view the Burial here: Burial
Born in Saltcoats, Scotland, he served as a Flying Officer in the 22nd Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
On 6 April 1941, Flying Officer Campbell was a pilot of a Beaufort aircraft which was detailed to attack the German battle cruiser Gneisenau at Brest Harbour, France.
The battle cruiser was secured alongside the wall on the north shore of the harbour protected by a stone mole, batteries of guns and three heavily armed anti-aircraft ships. Knowing the heavy odds, Kenneth ran the gauntlet of the defences, coming in at almost sea level, passed the anti-aircraft ships under extreme fire and launched a torpedo at point-blank range as the battle cruiser was trying to leave dock.
The battle cruiser was severely damaged below the water-line and had to return to the dock out of action. Because of rising ground surrounding the harbour, Flying Officer Campbell was forced into a steep banking turn, was met by heavy enemy anti-aircraft flak and crashed into the harbour, killing him and his other three crew mates.
For valour of the highest order, he was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross on 13 March 1942.
You can view the Burial here: Burial
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