Blevins, Kenneth James (Flight Lieutenant)

Killed in Flying Accident 1945-October-11

Flight Lieutenant Kenneth James Blevins RCAF

Birth Date: unkown date

Born:

Parents: Son of James A. and Beulah B. Blevins.

Spouse: Husband of Asta Margret Blevins, of Winnipeg, MB.

Home:

Enlistment:

Enlistment Date: unkown date

Service

RCAF

Unit

436 (T) Sqn- Squadron
Onus Portamus We carry the load

Base

RAF Ampney Down

Rank

Flight Lieutenant

Position

Pilot

Service Numbers

J/11762

Confirmed CVWM. Son of James A. and Beulah B. Blevins. Husband of Asta Margret Blevins, of Winnipeg, MB. The R.C.A.F. Overseas - the Sixth Year', page 486: [I]"At Down Ampney, after a period of training, the Elephants [436 Sqn] carried their first cargoes to Paris and Auxerre on October 9th. Two days later fog rolled in over the aerodrome and an aircraft captained by Flight Lieutenant K. J. Blevins crashed on landing, killing the pilot and copilot, Flight Lieutenant W. E. Hopkins; the wireless operator and the navigator, F/Os E. H. Neufeld and R. R. Harrison, both subsequently died of injuries."

Canada Source Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Canada Primary Source Library and Archives Canada Service Files (may not exist)

Unit Desciption

436 (T) Sqn Onus Portamus ("Elephant")

History of the Squadron during World War II (Aircraft: Dakota III, IV)

No 436 was the 33rd RCAF squadron formed overseas in WWII. It was the 2nd transport squadron and the first formed in India. It was inaugurated on August 20, 1944 at Gujrat, Punjab, India . It flew Dakota aircraft in support of the British 14th Army in northern Burma, and was known as “Canucks Unlimited”. After cessation of hostilities in the Far East, the squadron relocated to Down Ampney, Gloucstershire, England , where it provided transport services in Britain and Europe for Canadian units. It was finally disbanded at Odiham, Hampshire on June 22, 1946.

Overall, in Burma the squadron flew 1906 sorties, airlifted 29,000 tons of freight and supplies, 15,000 troops, passengers and casualties. Casualties were 3 aircraft, 4 aircrew killed. An additional 6983 operational hours were flown in England. Awards gained by the squadron were 1 DSO, 26 DFCs, 1 AFM, 3 BEMs and 11 MiD. Battle Honours: Burma 1945.Wikipedia, Kostenuk and Griffin

Maps for Movements of 436 Squadron 1944-46

MAP 1: 436 Squadron Movements 1944-46 (right-click on image to display enlarged in new tab)
MAP 2: 436 Squadron Movements in India and Burma 1945 (detail of Map 1)

436 Squadron History Summary 1944-46

Vimeo Voices from the Past: Burma Memories 25:39

History of the Squadron Post-WWII (Aircraft: Boxcar, Hercules)

The squadron was re-formed at RCAF Station Dorval on 1 April 1949, flying Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar transport aircraft. In 1955 it helped move No. 1 Fighter Wing from England to France, and also carried out emergency airlifts of supplies to No.1 Air Division in Europe. It moved to RCAF Station Downsview on 1 July 1956, RCAF Station Uplands in August 1964. The squadron replaced its Boxcars with Lockheed C-130E Hercules in 1965: these were later replaced by CC-130J Super Hercules aircraft which are currently operated by the squadron. Its final move was to CFB Trenton on 11 August 1971.

436 Transport Squadron now provides tactical and strategic airlift capabilities for the Canadian Armed Forces. The unit has operated aircraft from Afghanistan, sent aircraft and personnel to support Operation MOBILE during the 2011 military intervention in Libya and deployed its Hercules assets in support of Operation IMPACT.