John A. Kent
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Group Captain John Alexander Kent DFC AFC Virtuti Militari, nicknamed "Johnny Kentowski" (June 23, 1914 - October 7, 1985) was a Canadian fighter ace in World War II.
John Alexander Kent was born in Winnipeg, Canada where he learned to fly and obtained his licence in 1931. He got a commercial licence in 1933 after working for the Northwest Aero Marine Company and became the youngest to achieve this in Canada
In 1935, Kent joined the RAF and was posted to 5 FTS (Flight Training School) on March 15th before joining 19 Squadron at Duxford in February 1936 where he remained until October 1937 when he moved to the RAE Royal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough. For his research work during which he deliberately made over 300 airborne collisions with various types of barrage balloon, Kent was awarded a well deserved Air Force Cross (AFC) on February 1st, 1939
Kent was posted to the PDU (Photographic Development Unit) in May 1940 and by early July had converted to Hurricanes while on a posting at Hawarden.
On August 2nd, 1940 Kent joined a newly formed squadron as a Flight Commander containing Polish pilots. This was 303 Squadron which was based at Northolt throughout the Battle of Britain.
His first combat victories came on September 9th when he shot down a Bf110 and a Ju88. On September 23rd he destroyed a Bf109 and damaged an Fw58 reconnaissance aircraft while intercepting a raid over Dungeness. He shot down a Ju88 after a raid over London on September 27th.
During a dogfight over the south coast on October 1st, Kent found himself alone with nearly forty Bf109’s. During the ensuing engagement he shot down one of the Bf109’s and made hits into another.
Kent was awarded the DFC on October 25th, 1940 and the following day he was posted to Biggin Hill to take command of another highly successful group of pilots, 92 Squadron. Kent's strict discipline initially proved unpopular with the laid back attitude the 92 squadron pilots had at the time.
On November 1st, Kent shot down a Bf109 and two more the following day. On December 24th 1940 Kent was awarded the Polish Virtuti Militari decoration for his achievements with 303 Squadron
He was then posted back to Northolt as a Wing Leader in June to lead the Polish Wing of four squadrons. On June 21st during an operation escorting Blenheim bombers against enemy positions at St. Omer, France, Kent shot down a Bf109. On June 27th during another raid over northern France he destroyed a Bf109 on the ground.
As the raids over France continued from Fighter Command during the summer of 1941, Kent continued with a destroyed Bf109 on July 3rd, another Bf109 on July 20th before he was then moved again as Wing Leader to command and lead the Kenley Wing in August 1941. His first few operations over northern France with his new squadrons proved successful, claiming Bf109’s on August 7th and 16th.
Kent remained with the Kenley Wing until October 1941, when he was posted back to 53 OTU at Heston and then Llandow before he was sent on a lecture tour of Canada and America late that year.
Kent was awarded a Bar to his DFC on October 21st 1941.
In June 1942 Kent was Station Commander of RAF Church Stanton where he remained until October of that year when he was posted to Fighter Command HQ as a Wing Commander of Training. Two months later Kent was posted to the Middle East and took command of 17 Sector in Benghazi, Libya where on January 25th 1943 he damaged a Ju88 during an engagement near the airfield at Benina.
After a posting to Air HQ as a Command Training Inspector at Air Defences East Mediterranean, he returned to the UK during March 1944 for an instructor’s course at the Central Flying School, Upavon.
Kent was then posted to Air HQ, British Forces of Occupation and in late 1946 he became the Personal Staff Officer to Sholto Douglas, the Commander-in-Chief, and Military Governor of the British Zone of occupied Germany
Kent returned to flying duties as Chief Test Pilot at Farnborough in 1948 and was involved until 1952 with many developments of military aviation. In August 1952 he assumed command of the RAF Station at Odiham, a fighter base operating Gloster Meteors. Subsequently he was posted as Station Commander at RAF Tangmere, and in early 1956 accepted his final posting to RAF Newton as Station Commander.
On December 1st 1956 Kent retired from the RAF service with the rank of Group Captain
Johnny Kent died on October 7th 1985 at the age of 71 years
[edit] Quotes
I cannot say how proud I am to have been privileged to help form and lead No. 303 squadron and later to lead such a magnificent fighting force as the Polish Wing. There formed within me in those days an admiration, respect and genuine affection for these really remarkable men which I have never lost. I formed friendship that are as firm as they were those twenty-five years ago and this I find most gratifying. We who were privileged to fly and fight with them will never forget and Britain must never forget how much she owes to the loyalty indomitable spirit and sacrifice of those Polish fliers. They were our staunchest Allies in our darkest days; may they always be remembered as such!
