The Airmen's Stories - P/O K C Gundry

Kenneth Cradock Gundry, of Plymouth, was born on 23rd June 1916, the son of William Leonard Deighton Gundry (1873-1942) and Eliza Gundry (nee Cradock 1876-1948).

His father was from New Zealand and had served as a Captain in the Royal Engineers in WW1.

KC Gundry was employed as a Draughtsman when he joined the RAFVR in November 1938 as an Airman u/t Pilot.

He was called up on 1st September 1939 and completed his training at 5 FTS Sealand.

Gundry was commissioned and sent to 6 OTU Sutton Bridge on 6th July 1940.

He was commissioned and arrived at 6 OTU Sutton Bridge on 6th July and after converting to Hurricanes joined 257 Squadron at Northolt on 3rd August.

He destroyed a Me109 on the 8th, damaged a Me110 on the 31st and damaged a Me109 on 3rd September.

Gundry was slightly wounded in the legs and thigh by shell splinters on 12th October and made a forced-landing at Detling in Hurricane R4195, with damage sustained in combat over Deal.

He joined 312 Squadron at Speke from 257 on 10th December 1940.

By early 1942 he was a Flying Officer serving with 112 Squadron, then based at Gambut in Egypt.

On 22nd May 1942 Gundry was shot down and killed 20km E of Derna in Kittyhawk AK787.

He was 25 years old and is remembered on the Alamein Memorial.

Photographs courtesy of Colonel C R Romberg RA, British Embassy Cairo