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Don Kingaby was born in
Holloway, North London, on 7 January 1920, the son of a vicar.
He joined the R.A.F.V.R. in April 1939 whilst working for an
insurance company, and was called up in September 1939,
completing his training at 5 OTU, and being posted in June
1940 to 266 (Rhodesia) Squadron as a Sergeant. In late
September he was transferred to 92 (East India) Squadron where
he was to achieve great success during late 1940 and 1941,
gaining for himself the nickname ‘The 109 Specialist’. He was
awarded a DFM on 6 December 1940, a Bar to this on 29 July
1941 and a second Bar on 11 November 1941 – the only man to
receive two Bars to the DFM. At the time of the latter award
he was posted to 58 OTU as an Instructor and was commissioned.
He commenced a second tour in March 1942 with a posting to 111
Squadron, but a month later moved to 64 Squadron as a flight
commander. Early in August he was posted to 122 (Bombay)
Squadron becoming commanding officer of this unit in November.
Awarded a DSO in March 1943, he was promoted to lead the
Hornchurch Wing in May, where he remained until September. He
then went on the Staff of HQ Fighter Command, although
managing to fly a few sorties during the invasion of Normandy,
when he claimed his last success. In July he went to the
Advanced Gunnery School at Catfoss, where he remained for the
rest of the war, receiving a Croix de Guerre from the Belgian
Government in October and a US DFC in May 1945. Granted a
Permanent Commission at the end of the war, he was to command
72 Squadron on Vampires from February 1949 until April 1952,
receiving an AFC on leaving the unit. He then undertook a
staff post with the Air Ministry, retiring from the service in
September 1958. Many years later he and his wife moved to the
United States to join their two daughters there, and it was in
Westfield, Massachusetts, that he died on 31 December 1990
following a long illness.
(Information courtesy of
Aces High by Christopher Shores and Clive
Williams) |
