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Author Topic: Leonard Nevill King, RAF  (Read 372 times)

Offline HughC

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Leonard Nevill King, RAF
« on: Saturday 27 May 23 19:21 BST (UK) »
Leonard King (born 1907) lost his life in an aircraft accident in Westphalia on 28 July 1955.

I'm trying to establish what rank he had, and perhaps even the dates of promotion through the ranks.
I googled up something from the London Gazette that said he was commissioned as a temporary Flying Officer on 24 Nov. 1954.  It seems a lowly rank for someone in his 40s with a university degree and several professional qualifications -- I rather assumed he had served in the RAF in the second world war and would have risen higher by then.

I could find nothing on the National Archives web site, where I just seemed to be going round in circles (not for the first time).  Can anyone help?
Bagwell of Kilmore & Lisronagh, Co. Tipperary;  Beatty from Enniskillen;  Brown from Preston, Lancs.;  Burke of Ballydugan, Co. Galway;  Casement in the IoM and Co. Antrim;  Davison of Knockboy, Broughshane;  Frobisher;  Guillemard;  Harrison in Co. Antrim and Dublin;  Jones around Burton Pedwardine, Lincs.;  Lindesay of Loughry;  Newcomen of Camlagh, Co. Roscommon;  Shield;  Watson from Kidderminster;  Wilkinson from Leeds

Offline tonepad

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Re: Leonard Nevill King, RAF
« Reply #1 on: Saturday 27 May 23 20:18 BST (UK) »
He was appointed as a Squadron Leader on 12th Oct 1945.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37393/supplement/6150


Tony
Aucock/Aukett~Kent/Sussex, Broadway~Oxfordshire, Danks~Warwickshire, Fenn~Kent/Norfolk, Goatham~Kent, Hunt~Kent, Parker~Middlesex, Perry~Kent, Sellers~Kent/Yorkshire, Sladden~Kent, Wright~Kent/Essex

Offline Daisypetal

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Re: Leonard Nevill King, RAF
« Reply #2 on: Saturday 27 May 23 20:25 BST (UK) »
Hi,

He was a Wing Commander when he died,

Aberdeen Evening Express 29 July 1955

All Census Data included in this post is Crown Copyright (see: www.nationalarchives.gov.uk)

Offline HughC

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Re: Leonard Nevill King, RAF
« Reply #3 on: Saturday 27 May 23 20:38 BST (UK) »
Thank you both.

I suppose the Flying Officer could have been a nephew or young cousin with the same names.
Bagwell of Kilmore & Lisronagh, Co. Tipperary;  Beatty from Enniskillen;  Brown from Preston, Lancs.;  Burke of Ballydugan, Co. Galway;  Casement in the IoM and Co. Antrim;  Davison of Knockboy, Broughshane;  Frobisher;  Guillemard;  Harrison in Co. Antrim and Dublin;  Jones around Burton Pedwardine, Lincs.;  Lindesay of Loughry;  Newcomen of Camlagh, Co. Roscommon;  Shield;  Watson from Kidderminster;  Wilkinson from Leeds

Offline tonepad

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Re: Leonard Nevill King, RAF
« Reply #4 on: Saturday 27 May 23 20:42 BST (UK) »
The incident:

ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 26304

https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/26304


Tony
Aucock/Aukett~Kent/Sussex, Broadway~Oxfordshire, Danks~Warwickshire, Fenn~Kent/Norfolk, Goatham~Kent, Hunt~Kent, Parker~Middlesex, Perry~Kent, Sellers~Kent/Yorkshire, Sladden~Kent, Wright~Kent/Essex

Offline tonepad

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Re: Leonard Nevill King, RAF
« Reply #5 on: Sunday 28 May 23 06:20 BST (UK) »
He was promoted from Flying Officer to Wing Commander on 24th Nov 1954 and his commission as a Squadron Leader was relinquished on 25th Oct 1948.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/40451/supplement/2147

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/38467/supplement/6232


Tony
Aucock/Aukett~Kent/Sussex, Broadway~Oxfordshire, Danks~Warwickshire, Fenn~Kent/Norfolk, Goatham~Kent, Hunt~Kent, Parker~Middlesex, Perry~Kent, Sellers~Kent/Yorkshire, Sladden~Kent, Wright~Kent/Essex

Offline tonepad

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Re: Leonard Nevill King, RAF
« Reply #6 on: Sunday 28 May 23 06:32 BST (UK) »
Details of the crash:

"Circumstances: While cruising in poor weather conditions, the twin engine aircraft was too low, hit tree and crashed in a wooded area located on a hilly terrain in Nachrodt-Wiblingwerde. The aircraft was destroyed and all five occupants were killed, among them one civilian."

https://www.baaa-acro.com/crash/crash-avro-652-anson-c12-nachrodt-wiblingwerde-5-killed


Tony
Aucock/Aukett~Kent/Sussex, Broadway~Oxfordshire, Danks~Warwickshire, Fenn~Kent/Norfolk, Goatham~Kent, Hunt~Kent, Parker~Middlesex, Perry~Kent, Sellers~Kent/Yorkshire, Sladden~Kent, Wright~Kent/Essex

Offline HughC

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Re: Leonard Nevill King, RAF
« Reply #7 on: Sunday 28 May 23 07:25 BST (UK) »
Thank you, Tony.
I'd never heard of Nachrodt-Wiblingwerde, but see it's close to Altena,
altitude from about 400 to nearly 500 m.

The Avro Anson doesn't seem to have had a good safety record.
Google shows up dozens of crashes.
Bagwell of Kilmore & Lisronagh, Co. Tipperary;  Beatty from Enniskillen;  Brown from Preston, Lancs.;  Burke of Ballydugan, Co. Galway;  Casement in the IoM and Co. Antrim;  Davison of Knockboy, Broughshane;  Frobisher;  Guillemard;  Harrison in Co. Antrim and Dublin;  Jones around Burton Pedwardine, Lincs.;  Lindesay of Loughry;  Newcomen of Camlagh, Co. Roscommon;  Shield;  Watson from Kidderminster;  Wilkinson from Leeds

Offline ShaunJ

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Re: Leonard Nevill King, RAF
« Reply #8 on: Sunday 28 May 23 10:00 BST (UK) »
You can apply for a copy of his service records

https://www.apply-deceased-military-record.service.gov.uk/
UK Census info. Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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