The Airmen's Stories - P/O H K Wakefield

Herbert Kenneth Wakefield was born on 4th June 1914 in Bristol. His father was a carpenter who became a builder.

HK Wakefield attended North Bristol School and then studied at the Royal West of England Academy. On graduating he was apprenticed to E, S & A Robinson as a commercial artist. He was employed at their Bristol Bridge Office before being transferred to London.

He later joined Thomas Hedley & Co. before enlisting in the RAFVR about July 1939, as an Airman u/t Observer.

Called to full-time service at the outbreak of war, Wakefield was posted to 7 ANS Perth in October 1939 and moved on to 4 B&GS at West Freugh in February 1940.

He joined 235 Squadron at North Coates on 1st April 1940. Wakefield generally flew with F/O RJ Peacock, whose victories, all achieved in 1940, made him the first and only Coastal Command pilot to achieve ‘ace’ status in a Blenheim Mark IV Fighter..

On 27th June they shot down a Me109 and damaged another, on 11th August they shared another and on the 18th they destroyed a Ju87.

Wakefield was awarded the DFC (gazetted 22nd October 1940). He was on a sortie on 25th October when he engaged four He111s.

Wakefield's flight was posted to RAF Aldergrove on 19th November 1940 where it combined with a flight from 236 Squadron to reform 272 Squadron on the 21st. Wakefield flew his first sortie with 272 on the 23rd.

His subsequent service is currently undocumented until he was released from the RAF in 1946 as a Flight Lieutenant.

Wakefield died on 30th September 2005 in Sefton, Merseyside.