The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. K Massey

Kenneth Massey was born on 3rd May 1918 in Stoke-on-Trent and employed as a Surveyors Clerk when he joined the RAFVR about March 1939 as an Airman u/t Pilot.

He carried out his pre-war ground school and flying training with 28 E&RFTS at Mere in Staffordshire.

Called up in September 1939 he completed his basic service training at 3 ITW Hastings between September and December before going on to elementary flying training with 11 EFTS at Perth between December 1939 and April 1940.

Above: aloft from 6 SFTS, Little Rissington, on 9th May 1940.

Massey then started Basic and Intermediate flying training at RAF Little Rissington with 6 SFTS where he was instructed on the Harvard between April and August 1940. He was awarded his 'Flying Badge' on 17th June 1940.

He then spent a month at No.1 (Coastal) OTU, RAF Siloth in Cumbria carrying out conversion training onto the Bristol Blenheim MkIVf for the long range fighter and shipping reconnaissance role.

He was posted to 248 Squadron Sumburgh on 25th September 1940 and flew his very first operational sortie on 28th September in Blenheim L9453 (WR-Z) during which he was intercepted by a Dornier 18 flying boat and was forced to take evasive action.

Above: on promotion to Flight Sergeant in 1941.

With his tour completed in July 1941 he carried out an Air Navigation course at 2 ANS Cranage before being posted to 9 Air Observer School, Penrhos as an Instructor for twelve months until August 1942.

He was granted a commission from Flight Sergeant on January 1st 1942 and was posted out to South Africa as a flying instructor in September 1942, instructing at both 48 and 41 Air Schools, East London until October 1943.

He was then posted to 45 Air School at Oudtshoorn and remained there until July 1945, mainly instructing on Avro Ansons.

After returning to the UK, Massey joined 4 Radio School at Madley where he was a Staff Pilot flying Percival Proctor aircraft between September and December 1946.

He was released from the RAF as a Flight Lieutenant in early 1946.

In June 1948 he rejoined the RAFVR as a Flying Officer at 45 Reserve Centre and then served as an Instructor on DH Tiger Moths at 28 E&RFTS at Wolverhampton until making his last ever service flight on 24th February 1949.

Massey died in October 1999 in Cheshire.

All data and images courtesy of Robert Massey (son).