Kenneth Tait

Kenneth William Tait, (19 November 1918 – 4 August 1941) was a New Zealand flying ace of the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the Second World War. He is credited with destroying five enemy aircraft, a share in another aircraft destroyed and eight damaged.

Born in Wellington, Tait joined the RAF in 1937. After completing flight training he was posted to No. 87 Squadron. Sent to France shortly after the outbreak of the Second World War, he shot down at least three enemy aircraft once the Germans invaded the Low Countries in May 1940. He destroyed another three enemy aircraft during the Battle of Britain. He was subsequently awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and this was followed by a mention in despatches. After a period of instructing duties, in July 1941 he was posted to No. 257 Squadron and went missing in action the following month.

Early life Born on 19 November 1918 in Wellington, New Zealand, Kenneth William Tait was the son of William John and his wife Helen Tait. He was educated at Rongotai College and the Wellington College, where he played in the school's senior rugby team. After completing his schooling, he studied bookkeeping at the local technical college and was employed as a clerk. Now under the command of Squadron Leader Terrence Lovell-Gregg, a fellow New Zealander, the squadron was one of several scrambled in the afternoon of 15 August to intercept a large raid mounted on Portland by around 30 Ju 87s with a fighter escort numbering 100 aircraft. Tait destroyed a Bf 110 and damaged two others. Lovell-Gregg was killed during the engagement and Tait formed part of the burial party for the interment at Warmwell. He destroyed two German aircraft to the west of Portland on 25 August, a Bf 110 and Bf 109.

Early in December 1940, Tait was taken off operational duties and sent to No. 56 Operational Training Unit as an instructor. In February the following year, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. The next month, he was mentioned in despatches. Promoted to flight lieutenant in May 1941, Tait returned to operational flying in July. He was posted to No. 257 Squadron, which operated from Coltishall and carried out patrols and reconnaissance flights over the North Sea. On 4 August, he failed to return from a sortie attacking E-boats. Initially reported as missing in action, he was subsequently presumed to have been shot down and killed.

Tait is commemorated on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's Air Forces Memorial near Egham in Surrey, England. He is credited with the confirmed destruction of five German aircraft, a share in another destroyed and eight damaged.