Wakefield, Kevin

Kevin Wakefield

Flying Officer

36094

Born at Sealake in Victoria on 26/1/1919.

After moving to Tottenham in NSW an enlistment train came to town and he went down and was interviewed. Eight weeks later he was called up on 17/4/1941.

I was then called up for aircrew service in early 1943. I was posted to Benalla in June and began flying . I completed the course in August and was posted to Canada with the Empire Training Scheme.

In October I began service flying in Canada and that was completed at the end of February 1944. We were trained on North American Harvards as fighter pilots before I was shipped off to England. Trained at Dunnville near Ontario in Canada and graduated as a pilot Number 6 Service Flying School.

He was 23 at the time and wrote poetry between late 1943 and early 1944. Homesickness as well as a talent in this area led to his talent as a bard.

In his time he flew about 11 different types of aircraft (a lot after the War) including Spitfires.

He discharged from the RAAF on 21/12/1945 serving at the time with No 5 Advanced Flying Unit.

Edited information provided by Shanrah Wakefield FLGOFF Kevin Wakefield's granddaughter.