Kenneth Stoddart

Who was Kenneth Stoddart?

Wing Commander Sir Kenneth Maxwell Stoddart KCVO, KStJ, AE, JP, LLD was a distinguished Battle of Britain Pilot.

Kenneth Stoddart was born in Cressington Park, Liverpool on 26 May 1914. He was educated at Sedbergh School and Clare College, Cambridge. After obtaining his degree he joined the family businesses, Cearns and Brown Ltd and the United Mersey Supply Company, both of which were chandlers and ships’ suppliers in the Port of Liverpool.

Stoddart was commissioned as a Pilot Officer in the Auxiliary Air Force with No. 611 Squadron at Speke on 18 December 1936. He learned to fly in Avro Tutors then graduated to Hawker Harts and later Hinds before converting to the Spitfire Mk I in May 1939. He was at summer camp at RAF Duxford Cambridgeshire when war was declared. By January 1940 he was a Flight Lieutenant and Commanded 'B' Flight at Digby.

He took part in operations over the Dunkirk evacuation in June 1940. Stoddart was flying Spitfire I N3058 when he was hit by a cannon shell in the fuselage just behind his seat, which tore a large hole in the side of the fuselage and blew the canopy off. The armour plating was hit and control cables were almost severed. However, F/L Stoddart managed to force land at Martlesham Heath.