Air Gunner's Brevet

Well I would not have noticed that! Someone has eyes like a hawk (he types squinting through his glasses).

Kenneth Mangos

Wow what a coincidence to see this thread. I am the owner of Kenneth Mangos’ Logbook, (Ken Bingham’s captain that night in Lancaster ME299)
Kenneth’s body was never found, he went down with the aircraft.
3 bodys were recovered and 2 men were taken POW.
If anyone wants any info from the logbook just let me know.
I have a few photos of Mangos here too.

Rob (NZ)

Hi Rob, I was wondering if you know Peter Mangos of Christchurch (Kenneth’s brother). He would like to make contact with you and if possible see the photos and logbook. My connection to Peter Mangos is through Fr. Peter Conaghan. The two Peters are my late father’s cousins. Dympna (Manawatu)

Rob,

Check your PM’s please.

Moggy

Wow what a coincidence to see this thread. I am the owner of Kenneth Mangos’ Logbook, (Ken Bingham’s captain that night in Lancaster ME299)
Kenneth’s body was never found, he went down with the aircraft.
3 bodys were recovered and 2 men were taken POW.
If anyone wants any info from the logbook just let me know.
I have a few photos of Mangos here too.

Rob (NZ)

Surprised he’s not badged up as a WOP/AG rather than a ‘straight’ AG

Kev, Don. Thank you as ever.

Moggy

Moggy.

Interesting thread.

Not a great deal to add but if he was with 40 Squadron they would be on Wellington Ic’s and III’s. Typical itinerant existence back and to across the Western Desert. They initially operated from Malta (Luqa) from the 31/10/41 until May 42 then from Abu Sueir, Shallufa, Kabrit, LG222a, LG104, Luqa, LG237, Gabardia East and Gabardia South by March of 43. I suspect his tour ended sometime before the Gazetting of his DFC as it took some time for the London Gazette to catch up.

Interestingly, I understood a tour in the Middle East to be 40 Operations. However, trips lasting over 9 hours (if I remember correctly) counted as a double. It is also possible of course that he had completed some of his trips while 40 Squadron was with Bomber Command before coming out to Malta and the Middle East.

On the night of his death, 8/9 February 1945, Lancaster III ME299 was coded KM-E and just for completeness the remaining members of the crew were Sgt T S Fitzpatrick and Flight Sergeant J N Sheehan, RAAF, who were both made Prisoner of War.

An interesting tale and probably worth a great deal of research. I suspect the 40 and 44 Squadron ORB’s would make very interesting reading.

Regards,

kev35

Indeed

If he’d already done 32 ops by mid-1943 and was still flying combat in early 1945 you certainly could say that he ‘did his bit’, and then some.

Moggy

Thank you Moggy. That gave me a very interesting 10 minutes this morning considering life within bomber command.

KENNETH RICHARD BINGHAM,
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Flight Lieutenant
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Unit Text: 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron.
Date of Death: 08/02/1945
Service No: 120950
Awards: D F C
Additional information: Son of Thomas and Alice Ann Bingham; husband of Lilian Mary Bingham, of Sutton Coldfield, Warwickshire.

London Gazette, 9 April 1943 wrote:

Flying Officer Kenneth Richard BINGHAM (120950),
Royal Air Force ‘Volunteer Reserve, No. 40
Squadron.

As wireless operator, this officer has completed
32 operational missions. An extremely efficient
member of aircraft crew; Flying Officer Bingham
has rendered valuable service. In February,
1943. during an operation in bad, .weather, his
skill was largely responsible for the safe return
of his aircraft. By effecting repairs to his damaged
wireless apparatus he succeeded in obtaining
bearings which enabled his pilot to fly the aircraft
safely home after it had been hopelessly
off its course. Three nights later, when returning
from Gabes, the aircraft in which he was flying
was brought down on to the sea owing to engine
trouble. After drifting for 82 hours in the dinghy,
Flying Officer Bingham, with the other members of
the crew, succeeded in getting ashore near Zuara.
This officer has displayed great determination and
devotion to duty.

___
On 8/2/45 He was flying with F/L K Mangos (a New Zealander), P/O Finlayson, Sgt James, & Sgt Jones in Lancaster ME299 on a raid to Politz.

The five men died and are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.

The Politz raid consisted of 475 Lancasters and 7 Mosquitoes of 1, 5 and 8 groups. 12 Lancasters lost, 1 of them coming down in Sweden.

The attack took place in 2 waves, the first being marked and carried out entirely by the 5 group method and the second being marked by the Pathfinders of 8 group.

The weather conditions were clear and the bombing of both waves was extremely accurate. Severe damage was caused to this important synthetic-oil plant. It produced no further oil during the war. Speer mentioned this raid, in his post-war interrogations, as being another setback to Germany’s war effort.

Moggy

From various sources.

and what is this gentleman’s story and ultimate fate?

There is indeed a Rhodesian connection.

Though British, he was a W/Op on Lancasters with 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron

Moggy

Could there possibly be a Rhodesian connection?

The lion looks very similar in design to that which was included in the Rhodesian Air Force roundel in, I think, the early 70s.