The Airmen's Stories - P/O K J Marston

Kenneth John Marston was born in Coventry on 26th October 1918, the son of Kenneth and Sarah Winifred Marston of Coventry.

He was educated at Bablake School there and was apprenticed to the Coventry City Transport Department. He joined the RAFVR in June 1939 as an Airman u/t Pilot.

Called up at the outbreak of war, Marston did his flying training at 6 EFTS Sywell and then at 8 FTS Montrose on No. 18 Course, which ran from 9th April to 26th July 1940.

Marston was commissioned and joined 56 Squadron at North Weald on 27th July direct from 8 FTS. He made his first flight on the 27th and this is believed to have been his first flight in a Hurricane.

He did Hurricane training with the North Weald Sector Training Flight until 4th August and was made operational the next day, flying to Rochford on forward readiness.

Marston claimed a Me109 destroyed on 24th August, two more on the 26th and he destroyed a Me110 and damaged another on 27th September.

He was shot down during combat with Me109s and Me110s over Bournemouth on 30th September. He crashed at East Knighton in Hurricane P2866 with shrapnel wounds and abrasions.

His next flight was on 14th October, an air test, made on the day he rejoined the squadron.

On 12th December 1940 P/O Z Nosowicz overshot while landing at Middle Wallop and as he climbed away his propellor hit the tail of Marston’s Hurricane V7510 as he was circling to land.

Marston baled out but was too low for his parachute to open and he was killed. His Hurricane crashed one mile NW of Middle Wallop aerodrome.

Marston is buried in St. James churchyard, Stivichall, Coventry.

Unfortunately (2016) the inscription is barely legible.