Brian Kingcome frequently led the squadron on a temporary basis before receiving full command early in 1941.
25 Facts About Brian Kingcome
1.
2.
Brian Kingcome was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in 1940, a Bar to the DFC in 1941, and the Distinguished Service Order in 1942.
3.
Brian Kingcome was born in Calcutta, India, on 31 May 1917 and educated at Bedford School.
4.
Brian Kingcome entered the Royal Air Force College Cranwell, Cranwell in 1936.
5.
At the outbreak of the Second World War, Brian Kingcome was based at Hornchurch Airfield serving with No 65 Squadron RAF.
6.
Brian Kingcome took part in the battle of France and the battle of Dunkirk; scoring no victories.
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Brian Kingcome was then posted to No 92 Squadron, RAF Tangmere in May 1940, where he assumed temporary command over No 92 Squadron after the loss of their Squadron leader Roger Bushell over the skies of Calais on 23 May 1940.
8.
In early 1941, after Squadron Leader John A Kent was transferred, Kingcome received full command.
9.
Brian Kingcome then became Wing Leader at Kenley in June 1942, and late in the year posted to the Fighter Leader's School at RAF Charmy Down.
10.
On completion, Brian Kingcome was appointed Senior Air Staff Officer in No 205 Group, which comprised all of the RAF heavy bomber squadrons in the theatre.
11.
In spite of his staff position, Brian Kingcome flew several missions as a waist-gunner in a B-24 Liberator over northern Yugoslavia.
12.
Brian Kingcome remained in Italy after the war as CO of No 324 Wing, again on fighters.
13.
Brian Kingcome flew Spitfires in combat continually until the end of 1944, his tally finishing at eight and three shared destroyed, plus a score of probables and damaged.
14.
One of the prewar Cranwell elite, Brian Kingcome was to become one of the Second World War's great fighter leaders, alongside Douglas Bader, Robert Stanford Tuck and Johnnie Johnson.
15.
In May 1940, Brian Kingcome was posted to No 92 Squadron as flight commander.
16.
Brian Kingcome shot down a Bf 109 on the 23rd he shot down Ofw.
17.
On 16 June 1941 Brian Kingcome probably destroyed a Bf 109, and on 24 July shot one down.
18.
Brian Kingcome received a Bar to his DFC, having brought his score to 10 confirmed kills.
19.
Brian Kingcome was promoted to lead the Kenley wing, and on 15 April 1942 damaged a Fw 190.
20.
In 1943 Brian Kingcome was posted to North Africa to lead 244 Wing, and lead this for 18 months, becoming a group captain after the invasion of Italy.
21.
The Second World War had taken a toll on his health and, after being treated for tuberculosis, Brian Kingcome was invalided from the service in 1954.
22.
In civilian life, Brian Kingcome engaged successfully in a London garage and car hire business with his Battle of Britain comrade Paddy Barthropp.
23.
Brian Kingcome wrote an autobiography called "A Willingness to Die" about his experiences during the Second World War.
24.
Brian Kingcome's memoirs were written shortly before his death in 1994.
25.
Brian Kingcome appeared on screen in an uncredited speaking role of "Fighter Pilot" in the opening and closing scenes of the 1942 film "The First Of The Few" To mark the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, the BBC commissioned a one-off drama for TV called First Light, based on Geoffrey Wellum's book of the same name, in which Brian Kingcome was portrayed by actor Ben Aldridge.