Irving Farmer Kennedy
Encyclopedia
Irving Farmer Kennedy DFC
(February 4, 1922 - January 6, 2011) was a Canadian
fighter pilot
in the RCAF during World War II
. He was one of Canada’s highest scoring aces of the war.
Born in Cumberland
, Ontario
in 1922 to Eva Farmer and Robert James Kennedy (a veteran of WWI
, injured in 1917 at Vimy Ridge), he grew up a strait-laced young man who believed it was his duty to serve.
After flight training in Dauphin
, Manitoba
in 1941 he flew the Westland Whirlwind until transferring to RCAF Spitfire
squadron No. 421. He then shipped out to Malta
, where he became an ace, with twelve official victories.
Kennedy’s brothers, Robert and Carleton, also served. Carleton died when his Halifax
Mk III bomber crashed.
Kennedy is retired from family medicine, which he practised for 35 years after the war, and living in Cumberland.
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
(February 4, 1922 - January 6, 2011) was a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
fighter pilot
Aviator
An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
in the RCAF during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He was one of Canada’s highest scoring aces of the war.
Born in Cumberland
Cumberland, Ontario
Cumberland was a township in eastern Ontario, Canada, that existed from 1800 to 1999, when it was incorporated as the City of Cumberland. It ceased to be a separate municipality in 2001, when it was amalgamated into the city of Ottawa.-History:...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
in 1922 to Eva Farmer and Robert James Kennedy (a veteran of WWI
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, injured in 1917 at Vimy Ridge), he grew up a strait-laced young man who believed it was his duty to serve.
After flight training in Dauphin
Dauphin, Manitoba
Dauphin is a small city in Manitoba, Canada, with a population of 7,906 as of 2006. The nearby lake was given the name "Dauphin" by the explorer Pierre Gaultier de Varennes, sieur de La Vérendrye in 1741 in honour of the heir to the French throne...
, Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
in 1941 he flew the Westland Whirlwind until transferring to RCAF Spitfire
Supermarine Spitfire
The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...
squadron No. 421. He then shipped out to Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
, where he became an ace, with twelve official victories.
Kennedy’s brothers, Robert and Carleton, also served. Carleton died when his Halifax
Handley Page Halifax
The Handley Page Halifax was one of the British front-line, four-engined heavy bombers of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. A contemporary of the famous Avro Lancaster, the Halifax remained in service until the end of the war, performing a variety of duties in addition to bombing...
Mk III bomber crashed.
Kennedy is retired from family medicine, which he practised for 35 years after the war, and living in Cumberland.
Decorations and Medals
- DFCDistinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
and Bar - Awarded French Legion of HonourLégion d'honneurThe Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
in 2004