Feeney, Kenneth George (Pilot Officer, b.1917-d.1944)

Collection relating to The Second World War service of 411690 Pilot Officer Kenneth George Feeney, No. 467 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, Australia and United Kingdom, 1941-1944.

Folder 1: Consists of the flying log book of Pilot Officer Feeney, containing entries dated between 19 September 1941 and 20 April 1944. The log book records details such as locations, dates and times of flights, types of aircraft flown, crewmembers, and purposes of the flights. Some of those purposes include: training in various flying skills, practice bombing runs, conversion courses, and bombing operations over Axis-occupied Europe. Also contained within the log book are certificates for courses completed by Pilot Officer Feeney. The final entry was made on 20 April 1944, when Pilot Officer Feeney failed to return from a bombing operation on La Chappelle, France. It was determined after the war that Feeney and his crew had died on 21 April 1944, after their aircraft was hit by flak over the target and crashed.

Folder 2: Consists of seven airgraph letters and one airgraph envelope from Pilot Officer Feeney to members of his family, and one letter from the Wing Commander of 467 Squadron to Pilot Officer Feeney’s mother.

In his letters to his family, dated between August 1943 and April 1944, Feeney sends his love and hopes for the future and responds to news from home. He shares small details of his service, including having an all-Australian crew, attending a dance at the Sergeants Mess, expecting to receive a month of leave, receiving mail from home, looking forward to being on operations, still practicing his Catholic religion despite not being able to attend mass, having several days leave over Christmas, having a cold, a successful interview regarding his commission, walking around in snow for weeks, celebrating his 27th birthday, and his enjoyment of life in service.

The letter from the Wing Commander of 467 Squadron to Pilot Officer Feeney’s mother is dated 22 April 1944. In his letter, the Wing Commander expresses his regret to confirm that Pilot Officer Feeney was missing after failing to return from a mission. He goes on to say that his loss was felt among the squadron, and that on behalf of all members of the squadron he offered sincere sympathy.