Gardiner, Kenneth Alfred (Flight Lieutenant, b.1917 - d.1987)

Collection relating to the Second World War service of 404291 Flight Lieutenant Kenneth Alfred Gardiner, 45 Squadron, 60 Squadron and 37 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, Australia, Kenya, Middle East, India, and Burma, 1940-1960.

Wallet 1 of 1 – Consists of three folders of material relating to Flight Lieutenant Kenneth Alfred Gardiner.

Folder 1 of 3 contains one flying log book of Flight Lieutenant Gardiner, containing entries dated between 4 January 1941 and 21 August 1945. It covers the period of his wireless operator and air gunner training in Australia, operational training in Kenya, and service with 45, 60 and 37 Squadrons. The entries record details such as dates and times of flights, aircraft types and numbers, pilots, purposes of flights, and additional notes. Some of the purposes of flights include training, gunnery practice, cross country flights, bombing practice, raids on enemy infrastructure and transport, searches for missing aircraft, reconnaissance, internal security patrols, anti-shipping strikes, bombing operations, and aircraft conversions.

Folder 2 of 3 consists of four documents relating to the service of Flight Lieutenant Gardiner.
This folder contains:
1x Royal Australian Air Force Wireless Air Gunner’s Training Card, Australia, 1940-1941
1x Image of the crest of 45 Squadron, Royal Air Force
1x Photograph of crew of Blenheim 5991 after attack by enemy aircraft, [c 22 November 1941]
1x Letter from Gavin Long, Official War Historian, to Kenneth Albert Gardiner, Canberra, 15 September 1960, [includes envelope]. This letter is a request for details for inclusion in the official history.

Folder 3 of 3 contains one copy of 'Wings' magazine, Volume 3, Number 2, 25 April 1944. Page 20 includes an article featuring Flight Lieutenant Gardiner and his service in the Middle East and Burma.

Flight Lieutenant Kenneth Alfred Gardiner enlisted to the Royal Australian Air Force on 19 July 1940. He underwent wireless operator and air gunner training in Australia, and completed his operational training in Kenya. Flight Lieutenant Gardiner went on to serve with 45 Squadron in Egypt, Libya, India and Burma, participating in numerous raids on enemy positions and air battles. He then served with 60 Squadron in India and Burma, and 37 Squadron in Australia and the Netherlands East Indies. Flight Lieutenant Gardiner was discharged on 4 September 1945.