Slade-Betts Kenneth, Pilot Officer

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P/O Kenneth Gordon Slade-Betts was born in London in 1923. He flew Tempests with No. 3 Squadron during 1944. He was receiving a DFC, gazetted on 22 September 1944. 

On 29 December 1944 Slade-Betts became involved in a fight with Bf109Gs of IV/JG 27. During this engagement his Tempest (JF- D JN803) was shot down north of Rheine and he was presumed killed.

But in early 1947 a Military Court was held in Osnabrück, Germany. Slade-Betts should have survived, been taken PoW and two German nationals were now accused of commiting a war crime when killing Slade-Betts with a shot in the head. (Read more in the link below.)

 

Kenneth Slade-Betts is buried at the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery 24.B.18.

 

 

  

 

 

 

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Photo taken at Newchurch on 23 June 1944. Left to right: F/Sgt Rose, F/O Barckley, P/O Dryland and P/O Slade-Betts.

 

Slade-Betts' victories in Tempest

Date of Claim Type Claimed Aircraft Serial No. Location of Claim Unit Note
31 May 1944 1/5 of 2xJu188s     3 Sqn On ground
31 May 1944 1/5 of 2xJu188s     3 Sqn Damaged on ground
18 June 1944 1/2 x V-1 JN755 in sea 3 Sqn  
18 June 1944 V-1 JN812 N Bexhill 3 Sqn  
20 June 1944 V-1 JN705 6m N Eastbourne 3 Sqn  
22 June 1944 V-1     3 Sqn  
23 June 1944 V-1     3 Sqn  
28 June 1944 2 x V-1s     3 Sqn  
29 June 1944 V-1     3 Sqn  
30 June 1944 V-1 JN753 4m S Maidstone 3 Sqn  
3 July 1944 V-1 EJ504 15m N Hastings 3 Sqn  
3 July 1944 V-1 EJ504 6m S Hastings 3 Sqn  
4 July 1944 V-1 JN817 4m S Eastbourne 3 Sqn  
8 July 1944 2 x V-1s     3 Sqn  
9 July 1944 V-1     3 Sqn  
12 July 1944 V-1     3 Sqn  
13 July 1944 V-1     3 Sqn  
21 July 1944 V-1 JN817 14m N Beachy Head 3 Sqn  
21 July 1944 V-1 JN817 15m S Hastings 3 Sqn  
21 July 1944 V-1 JN817      

 

- F/O Kenneth G. Slade-Betts DFC -- Aircrew Remembered

 

Sources:
Aces High Vol. 2 by Christopher Shores
Typhoon and Tempest Aces of World War 2 by Chris Thomas
Aircrew Remembered

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