John A. Kent
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Group Captain John Alexander Kent DFC & Bar AFC nicknamed "Johnny Kentowski" (23 June 1914 - 7 October 1985) was a Canadian fighter ace in the Second World War.
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[edit] Early years
John Alexander Kent was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada where he learned to fly and obtained his licence in 1931. He obtained 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 1 February 1939
[edit] Second World War
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 2 August 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 9 September when he shot down a Bf 110 and a Ju 88. On 23 September, he destroyed a Bf 109 and damaged an Fw 58 reconnaissance aircraft while intercepting a raid over Dungeness. He shot down a Ju 88 after a raid over London on 27 September.
During a dogfight over the south coast on October 1st, Kent found himself alone with nearly 40 Bf 109s. During the ensuing engagement, he shot down two of the Bf 109s and scored hits on another.
Kent was awarded the DFC on 25 October 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 1 November, Kent shot down a Bf 109 and two more the following day. On 24 December 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 21 June during an operation escorting Blenheim bombers against enemy positions at St. Omer, France, Kent shot down a Bf 109. On 27 June 27 during another raid over northern France he destroyed a Bf 109 on the ground.
As the raids over France continued from Fighter Command during summer 1941, Kent continued with a destroyed Bf 109 on 3 July, another Bf 109 on 20 July 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 Bf 109s on 7 August and 16 August.
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 21 October 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 25 January 1943, he damaged a Ju 88 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.
[edit] Postwar
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 1 December 1956, Kent retired from the RAF service with the rank of Group Captain
Johnny Kent died on 7 October 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!
[edit] Awards
[edit] References
[edit] Bibliography
- Bell, Kelly. "The Forgotten Few." Aviation History, May 2007.
- Fiedler, Arkady.Dywizjon 303. London, Roy, 1942. Squadron 303: The Polish Fighter Squadron with the R.A.F. (English translation). New York: Roy, Publishers, 1943.
- Gretzyngier, Robert. Poles in Defence of Britain: A Day-by-Day Chronology of Polish Day and Night Fighter Operations, July 1940 - June 1941. London: Grub Street, 2001. ISBN 1-902304-54-3.
