Kenneth Rayment
Kenneth Rayment | |
|---|---|
| Born | Kenneth Gordon Rayment 11 March 1921 |
| Died | 15 March 1958 (aged 37) |
| Known for | Co-Pilot during the Munich air disaster |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
| Years of service | 1940–1945 |
| Rank | Flight Lieutenant |
| Service number | 126970 (other ranks) 108000 (officer) |
| Unit | No. 153 Squadron RAF No. 264 Squadron RAF |
| Battles / wars | Second World War |
| Awards | Mentioned in Despatches Distinguished Flying Cross |
Kenneth Gordon "Ken" Rayment, DFC (11 March 1921 – 15 March 1958) was a British pilot and decorated Second World War flying ace. On 6 February 1958, he was the co-pilot of BEA flight 609 that was to carry the Manchester United football team and journalists from West Germany to England but which crashed on take-off; this became known as the Munich air disaster. Rayment survived the crash but died six weeks later of injuries received.[1]
Early life and education
Rayment was born on 11 March 1921 in Wanstead, Essex, England. He was brought up in Woodford Green. In 1937, after leaving school, he joined the Merchant Navy. He served as a deck officer on a route between England and Argentina.[2]
Military service
On 15 October 1940, Rayment joined the ranks of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (RAFVR).[2] In March 1941, he started his pilot training with 17 Elementary Flying Training School.[2] He was then promoted to sergeant and sent to Canada to continue his training at 37 Service Flying Training School.[2]
On 1 September 1941, Rayment was commissioned into the RAFVR as a pilot officer (on probation).[3] After spending three months at 56 Operational Training Unit based at RAF Sutton Bridge, in December 1941 he was assigned to No. 153 Squadron RAF.[2] After a few days, he was sent to 62 Operational Training Unit to train as a night fighter pilot.[2] He rejoined 153 Squadron in February 1942, and flew Bristol Beaufighters.[2] Between May and August 1942, he was once more training with 62 Operational Training Unit.[2] He then rejoined 153 Squadron after leaving the OTU.[2] His commission was confirmed on 1 September 1942.[4]
In December 1942, Rayment was posted to North Africa with his squadron.[2] He was promoted to war substantive flying officer in May 1943.[5] On 2 June 1943, it was announced that he had been mentioned in despatches.[6] On 27 July 1943, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC).[7] Between July and September 1943, having left 153 Squadron, he was stationed in Reghaïa, Algeria.[2]
In September 1943, Rayment returned to England from North Africa.[2] He was promoted to flight lieutenant (war substantive) on 1 September 1943.[8] From September 1943 to April 1944, he was an instructor with 51 Operational Training Unit based at RAF Cranfield.[2] He then joined No. 264 Squadron RAF, a squadron flying De Havilland Mosquitos.[2] He was posted to France with his squadron in August 1944.[2] His last operational flight in a Mosquito occurred on 20 September 1944, but he remained in France until November 1944.[2] He was then seconded to the British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC), and flew Lockheed Model 18 Lodestars until the end of the war in 1945.[2]
By the end of World War II, Rayment had become a flying ace; he had shot down five German fighters, one Italian plane, and a V-1 flying bomb.[2]
Civilian career
In 1945, Rayment joined British European Airways (BEA) as a pilot. In his early career with BEA, he flew Airspeed Consuls, Dakotas, and Vickers Vikings. In 1953, he started flying Airspeed Ambassadors and Vickers Viscounts as a senior captain.[2] By 1958, he was considering retiring from flying and becoming a farmer.[2]
Munich air disaster
On 6 February 1958, Rayment was the second pilot of a charted flight that was to bring the Manchester United football team, supporters and journalists from Germany back to England. BEA flight 609 crashed on its third attempt to take-off from a slush-covered runway at Munich-Riem Airport, West Germany.[2]
Rayment was knocked unconscious during the crash, and was found to have a broken leg plus head injuries.[2] Having been rescued from the wreckage, he was taken to Rechts der Isar Hospital in Munich.[2] On 10 February, he received deep freeze treatment to lower his body temperature in an attempt to stabilise him.[9] By 12 February, he was being kept in an oxygen tent.[10] By 17 February, he had not regained consciousness and remained in the oxygen tent.[11] Having never regained consciousness, he died of his injuries on 15 March 1958, aged 37.[2] His body was flown back to England on 18 March.[12]
References
- ^ "Pilot's daughter pays tribute". Manchester Evening News. 12 January 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x Shores, Christopher (1999). "RAYMENT Kenneth Gordon". Aces High: A Further Tribute to the Most Notable Fighter Pilots of the British and Commonwealth Air Forces in WWII, Volume II. London: Grub Street. p. 163. ISBN 978-1902304038.
- ^ "No. 35343". The London Gazette. 11 November 1941.
- ^ "No. 35747". The London Gazette (invalid
|supp=(help)). 13 October 1942. - ^ "No. 36033". The London Gazette (invalid
|supp=(help)). 2 June 1943. - ^ "No. 36033". The London Gazette (invalid
|supp=(help)). 28 May 1943. - ^ "No. 36108". The London Gazette (invalid
|supp=(help)). 23 July 1943. - ^ "No. 36165". The London Gazette (invalid
|supp=(help)). 7 September 1943. - ^ Ames, Kenneth; Russell, Anthony (10 February 1958). "Deep freeze for Busby Babe". The Daily Mail. No. 19224. p. 1.
- ^ "Parents flying to injured player". The Times. No. 54074. 13 February 1958. p. 6.
- ^ "Co-Pilot is Still Unconscious". The Daily Mail. No. 19231. 18 February 1958. p. 10.
- ^ "Flown home". The Daily Mail. No. 19255. 18 March 1958. p. 1.