The Airmen's Stories - P/O A H E Kahn

Arthur Harold Evans Kahn, of Sutton, Surrey, was born on 6th May 1919 in Mossel Bay, Western Cape, South Africa, the son of Joseph Henry Kahn (1873-1946) and Mai Kahn (nee Evans 1882-1976).

He was the youngest of three brothers, they all attended Dulwich College but Arthur lost attendance through illness and completed his education at Epsom College.

In 1936 he joined the Marine Branch of the Switzerland General Insurance Company.

Kahn joined the RAFVR about May 1939 as an Airman u/t Pilot but later remustered to Airman u/t Observer. Called up on 1st September he completed his training, was commissioned and joined 248 Squadron on 29th September 1940.

In May 1941 he was posted as an instructor to a flying school in Nova Scotia, returning in August 1943.

Kahn married Helen Margaret Morice in July 1943 in Surrey.

He was killed on 15th June 1944 as a Flight Lieutenant with 172 Squadron, aged 25, when Wellington XIV HF446 from Chivenor went missing on an anti-submarine operation in the Bay of Biscay.

Also lost were W/Cdr. K Petrie, CO of 172 Squadron, F/Lt. D Wallace, F/O GR Manley-Tucker, F/O SE Rotheram and Sgt. GS Holland.

Kahn is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial, Panel 202.

(Above image courtesy of Dean Sumner)