I was sorting through a load of old papers, photographs and other bits and bobs which I have acquired over the years when I came across some newspaper cuttings and photographs which I hadn’t properly looked at. Most are from the Express & Star for late 1943 and concern Horsa gliders. However, my interest was piqued as the reverse of one of the cuttings contains a piece about a local(ish) man who had just been awarded the DFC. My interest was further piqued when I found a studio portrait photograph of what I believe to be the same man. A few hours of idle Googling revealed the following about Squadron Leader Kynaston, starting with the news item.
Norman Arthur Kynaston was born in Hereford on the 19th of December 1914. He was the son of Norman and Edith Mary Kynaston. As the article states, his Father worked for Seisdon Council. Obviously developing an interest in flying, Norman Kynaston was awarded Royal Aero Club Aviator’s Certificate no. 17423 at the Midland Aero Club at Elmdon on the 19th of March 1939. The aircraft was described as Moth Major 130. He was living at Gravel Hill House in Wombourne and was working as a Rating and Valuation Assistant.
Norman joined the RAF with the Service Number of 969134 which indicates that he joined in September of 1939 at Padgate. Norman was commissioned from the rank of Leading Aircraftsman to become 89810 Pilot Officer Kynaston on the 28th december 1940, the promotion appearing in the London Gazette of 4th February 1941. He was further promoted to Flying Officer and Flight Lieutenant in January 1942 and 1943 respectively.
He joined 91 Squadron in November 1942 becoming ‘A’ Flight Commander and was given command of the Squadron in August 1943. The citation for his DFC which appeared in the London Gazette of 5th November 1943 states, in part….
This Officer has taken part in a large number of sorties and has displayed great skill and dash. Squadron Leader Kynaston is a first class leader whose keenness to inflict loss on the enemy has been highly commendable. In combat he4 has destroyed three and assisted in the destruction of another enemy aircraft.
During the evening of the 15th of August 1944, Squadron Leader Kynaston was leading the Squadron on a sweep in the St. Trond are in Spitfire IX, MK909. His aircraft was hit by flak and although seen to bale out, his body was never recovered. At the time of his death he had made successful claims for four and one shared destroyed, one probable and one damaged, all of them being FW190’s. He had also destroyed 17 V-1 flying bombs.
The London Gazette of 26th September 1944 records the citation for the Bar to his DFC…
Squadron Leader Kynaston has been in command of his Squadron since August 1943. He has completed a large number of sorties and his excellent leadership and fine fighting spirit have contributed in no small way to the exceptional record of his Squadron. He has destroyed 17 flying bombs.
If anybody can add anything further to this, such as where he trained and and operational postings (if any) prior to 91 Squadron, I would be most grateful.
Regards,
kev35
By: davidmake - 9th October 2012 at 19:04
Norrie Kynaston
Norrie was my uncle and he died on my birth date, 7 years before I was born. I have recently had his logbook microfiched at the RAF Museum, along with my dad’s Sqdrn Ldr TH Makepeace who was on Pathfinders as a nav.
Both log books are now at the Battle of Briatain Museum at Hawkinge.
I can tell you that Norrie downed 22 V1s not 17 in addtion to his kills. There is one page in the log where I think there are five downed!
Hope you can track down the info from looking at the log book at the RAF Museum.
Regards
David Makepeace
By: kev35 - 5th February 2011 at 15:03
Dan.
Those really are good to see. I might try a post over on RAF Commands see if anyone can come up with more on his career prior to 91 Squadron.
With the Squadron from November 1942 until his death in August 1944, does that constitute an exceptionally long operational tour in Fighter Command? Or was he rested at some point of which I am yet unaware?
Regards,
kev35
By: Dan Johnson - 5th February 2011 at 06:18
Hope these help a bit
This is what I have in my stuff from the 91 Squadron Spit XII era. The first one is also in Peter Hall’s book. I imagine he got a copy from a former Squadron pilot like I did.
April 43 just prior to the changeover to the XII. Kynaston is behind S/L Ray Harries left shoulder.
A nice shot taken I believe in October 43 about the same time as the Tangmere Wing group photo as there are similar photos of Ray Harries and “Pinky” Glenn of 41 Squadron next to that 41 Squadron XII. I believe Kynaston had just gotten his DFC
Blow up of the Wing photo showing Kynaston again on Harrie’s left. Harries was the WingCo at that time and Kynaston CO of 91 Squadron. 41 Squadron CO Bernard Ingham is on Harrie’s right. F/L Ian Matthew of 91 is on the propeller. He later was CO of 41 Squadron. Pinky Glenn also later CO of 41 is two to the right of Ingham.
Taken at the DFC award ceremony for Free French Pilot Jacques Andrieux on May 9, 1944. There are a lot of photos from this event. Another appears in Peter Hall’s book as well. This one was in the logbook of a former 41 and 91 Squadron Spit XII pilot that I am lucky enough to have.
By: kev35 - 4th February 2011 at 22:58
Thanks for that. I would definitely like to see some more photo’s of Kyn. I don’t know whether the portrait photo I got came from a member of the family or not. It came with some bits and bobs I was given by a friend who is an antique dealer in Wolverhampton. I may pop over to Wombourne this weekend and do a little bit of scouting about.
Regards,
kev35
By: Dan Johnson - 4th February 2011 at 18:35
I have a fair amount of stuff on Kynaston from his Spit XII days. The Op where they claimed 9 was the Tangmere Spit XII Wing on October 20, 1943. From everything I’ve been able to find, there were no overclaims that day either. They did get 9 for no loss.
I’ll get the scanner going later and post some of the Kyn photos I have.
By: Arabella-Cox - 4th February 2011 at 16:37
Kev
A fascinating story!
Wish I could add something of substance – especially in view of your frequent assistance with my requests.
However, and whilst I appreciate that you are after pre-91 Sqn stuff, you are presumably aware of the Osprey 91 Sqn book? The author, Peter Hall, had masses of 91 Sqn related material although I think he has moved to the West Indies and everyone seems to have lost contact with him.
On another matter…look out for the postman, Kev.
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February 4, 2011 at 4:32 pm