Cadd, Kenneth Francis (Sergeant, b.1921 - d.1942)

Collection relating to the Second World War service of 415114 Sergeant Kenneth Francis Cadd, Royal Australian Air Force, Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom, 1942.

Wallet 1 of 1 – Consists of on diary of Sergeant Kenneth Francis Cadd, containing entries dated between 1 January and 22 September 1942. It covers the period of Sergeant Cadd’s pilot training in Australia and the United Kingdom. In his diary, Sergeant Cadd writes about attending training lectures, cross country flying, digging trenches for aerodrome defence, going to see films and concerts, local weather conditions, visiting friends, practicing various aspects of flying, receiving letters from family members, doing exams, visiting Melbourne and Adelaide while on leave, receiving his pilot’s qualification, being very cold while flying at high altitudes, going home to Perth for pre-embarkation leave, preparing for embarkation in Sydney, and seeing a Japanese midget submarine raised from Sydney Harbour. Sergeant Cadd then goes on to write about embarkation, having leave in New Zealand, doing typing work, daily routines, recreational activities on the ship, his first impressions of England, sightseeing in London, attending dances, being posted to an operational training unit, and practicing flying in challenging weather conditions.

Sergeant Kenneth Francis Cadd enlisted to the Royal Australian Air Force on 21 July 1941, at the age of 19. He completed his elementary and service flying training in Australia, and embarked for the United Kingdom on 6 June 1942. Sergeant Cadd then commenced operational training with 15 Operational Training Unit, Royal Air Force. On 24 September 1942, Sergeant Cadd lost his life as a result of an aircraft accident. He is buried at Leconfield (St Catherine) Churchyard, Leconfield, Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom.