Light, Kevin W

Name: Kevin William LIGHT

Born 29 January 1921

Birthplace: Sydney, Australia

Age at arrival in Buchenwald: 23

Died 19 July 2008 in Gerringong, New South Wales, age 87

Service: Royal Australian Air Force

Service ID: A402447

Service Rank: Flight Officer

Duties: Gunner

Air Group: 5 Group, 9 Squadron

Airbase: Bardney, Lincolnshire UK

Aircraft: Lancaster bomber LM571

Date shot down: 18 April 1944

Fate of crew: 4 KIA, 3 evaded, 1 of those recaptured (Light)

Evasion summary:

Date captured: 7 July 1944

Capture summary: Picked up at La Prélude, Picadilly Hotel, Paris, by Desoubrie, captured with E JACKSON, HANSON, and CHALOT.

Boxcar Transport: 15-20 August 1944, in boxcar #1 or #2

Buchenwald ID: 78381

Notes on Buchenwald internment:

Transferred from Buchenwald to: Stalag Luft III, East Compound

Kriege ID: 8057

Notes on SLIII internment:

Subsequent transfer to: Marlag und Milag, Nord

Notes on internment: Approximately 3000 POWs were marched out by the SS in early April 1945, headed to Lubek. The column was attacked repeatedly by Allied aircraft. Light is not on the list of POWs at Lubek, but it is not comprehensive (only around 200 names). 

Liberation: POWs on the march to Lubek were freed by the British Guards Armored Division on 27 April 1945. Those remaining at Marlag-Milag were liberated by the British 2nd Army on 2 May 1945. 

Repatriation from ETO: Arrived in the UK on 8 May 1945. Embarked on ship 9 August 1945.9 September 1945 in Sydney

Discharged: 25 October 1945

VA status:

Notes on Post-War period: