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{{Infobox military person
|name= Charles Brian Fabris Kingcome
|image= Wing Commander Charles Kingcome, CO of No. 92 Squadron RAF at Biggin Hill, Kent, 14 June 1942. CH3553.jpg
|image_size=
|alt=
|caption= Wing Commander Kingcome, Commanding Officer of No. 92 Squadron, at Biggin Hill, Kent, in June 1942
|nickname=
|birth_date= {{Birth date|1917|05|31|df=y}}
|birth_place= [[Calcutta]], [[Bengal Presidency]], [[British Raj]] (now Kolkata, [[West Bengal]], India)
|death_date= {{death date and age |1994|2|14 |1917|5|31 |df=yes}}
|death_place=
|placeofburial=
|allegiance= United Kingdom
|branch= [[Royal Air Force]]
|serviceyears= 1936–1954
|rank= [[Group Captain]]
|servicenumber=
|unit=
|commands= [[No. 324 Wing RAF]] [[No. 244 Wing RAF]] [[No. 72 Squadron RAF]] [[No. 92 Squadron RAF]]
|battles= Second World War
* [[Battle of France]]
* [[Battle of Dunkirk]]
* [[Battle of Britain]]
* [[North African Campaign]]
* [[Italian Campaign (World War II)|Italian Campaign]]
|awards= [[Distinguished Service Order]] [[Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)|Distinguished Flying Cross]] & [[Medal bar|Bar]] [[Mentioned in Despatches]]
|relations=
|laterwork=
}}
[[Group Captain]] '''Charles Brian Fabris Kingcome''' {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100%|sep=,|DSO|DFC*}} (31 May 1917 – 14 February 1994) was a British [[flying ace]] of the [[Second World War]], most notable for serving with [[No. 92 Squadron RAF|No. 92 Squadron]] in 1940 during the [[Battle of Britain]].<ref name='BBM'>{{cite web | url = http://www.bbm.org.uk/Kingcome.htm | title = F/Lt. C B F Kingcome | accessdate = 19 September 2010 | publisher = [[Battle of Britain Monument in London]] | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20101005052614/http://www.bbm.org.uk/Kingcome.htm | archivedate = 5 October 2010 | df = dmy-all }}</ref> He frequently led the squadron on a temporary basis before receiving full command early in 1941.

Kingcome later served in [[North Africa]], [[Sicily]], [[Italy]] and over [[Yugoslavia]] with the RAF, [[Royal Canadian Air Force]] and [[South African Air Force]] [[Supermarine Spitfire]] and heavy bomber units. His total personal score stood at eight enemy aircraft destroyed, three shared, five probable and 13 damaged.<ref>{{cite book | last1 = Price | first1 = Alfred | title = Spitfire Mark V Aces 1941–45 | url = https://archive.org/details/spitfiremarkvace00libg_550 | url-access = limited | publisher = Osprey | year = 1997 | location = London | page = [https://archive.org/details/spitfiremarkvace00libg_550/page/n34 9] | isbn = 978-1-85532-635-4}}</ref> Kingcome was awarded the [[Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)|Distinguished Flying Cross]] (DFC) in 1940, a [[Medal bar|Bar]] to the DFC in 1941, and the [[Distinguished Service Order]] in 1942.

==Early life==
Kingcome was born in [[Calcutta]], [[British India|India]], on 31 May 1917 and educated at [[Bedford School]].

==RAF career==
Kingcome entered the [[Royal Air Force College Cranwell]], [[Cranwell]] in 1936.<ref name='BBM' />
At the outbreak of the Second World War, Kingcome was based at [[Hornchurch Airfield]] serving with [[No. 65 Squadron RAF]]. He took part in the [[battle of France]] and the [[battle of Dunkirk]]; scoring no victories.<ref name='MPC'>{{cite web | url = http://www.military-art.com/mall/squadroninfo.php?SquadronID=49 | title = No.92 Sqn RAF | accessdate = 19 September 2010 | publisher = Military Print Company}}</ref> He was then posted to [[No. 92 Squadron RAF|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.<ref name='AL'>{{cite web | url = http://www.luftwaffe.cz/specht.html | title = Günther Specht | accessdate = 19 September 2010 | publisher = Aces of the Luftwaffe}}</ref>

During his time at No. 92 Squadron, Kingcome became acquainted with [[Geoffrey Wellum]]. Wellum, who flew as wingman to Flight Lieutenant Brian Kingcome, 92 Squadron's acting CO (the Squadron lost 2 new COs within days of their arrival and Brian Kingcome led the Squadron temporarily in the absence of a squadron commander) later recorded his experiences in the book [[First Light (Wellum book)|First Light]].<ref name='BBMF'>{{cite web|url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/bbmf/theaircraft/92sqngeoffwellum.cfm |title=Battle of Britain Memorial Flight: 92 Squadron – Geoffrey Wellum |accessdate=19 September 2010 |publisher=[[Royal Air Force]]; [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)]] |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090302084417/http://www.raf.mod.uk/bbmf/theaircraft/92sqngeoffwellum.cfm |archivedate=2 March 2009 }}</ref>

Kingcome was acting CO of No. 92 Squadron between official COs; during a month-long period in September and October, No. 92 Squadron lost three COs. In early 1941, after Squadron Leader [[John A. Kent]] was transferred, Kingcome received full command. During this time he and his pilots achieved the highest success rate of any squadron in the entire Battle of Britain.<ref name='MPC' />

After serving with No. 92 Squadron, Kingcome was briefly posted as flight commander at No 61 Operational Training Unit in late 1941. In February 1942, he returned to operations as CO of [[No. 72 Squadron RAF]].<ref name='MPC' /> Almost immediately he was ordered to provide escort cover for the ill-fated Fleet Air Arm Swordfish attack on the German capital ship [[German battleship Gneisenau|''Gneisenau'']], the cruiser ship [[German cruiser Prinz Eugen|Prinz Eugen]] and the capital ship [[German battleship Scharnhorst|''Scharnhorst'']] as they sailed through the [[English Channel|Channel]] in an attempt to reach [[Kiel]], [[Germany]] during operation [[Channel Dash]].

Kingcome then became Wing Leader at [[RAF Kenley|Kenley]] in June 1942, and late in the year posted to the Fighter Leader's School at [[RAF Charmy Down]]. In May 1943 he was posted to North Africa to command No. 244 Wing RAF and in September he was promoted to [[Group Captain]] at the age of 25. With 244 Wing, Kingcome found himself leading five Spitfire squadrons: [[No. 92 Squadron RAF]], [[No. 145 Squadron RAF]], [[No. 601 Squadron RAF]], [[No. 417 Squadron RCAF]] and [[No. 1 Squadron SAAF]] during the [[Italian Campaign (World War II)|Italian Campaign]].

In October, Kingcome attended the RAF Staff College at [[Haifa]]. On completion, Kingcome was appointed Senior Air Staff Officer in No. 205 Group, which comprised all of the RAF heavy bomber squadrons in the theatre. In spite of his staff position, Kingcome flew several missions as a waist-gunner in a B-24 Liberator over northern Yugoslavia.<ref name='BBM' /> He remained in Italy after the war as CO of No. 324 Wing, again on fighters. In mid 1946 he returned to the UK and the Staff College for two years.[[File:Brian Kingcome IWM HU 112488.jpg|thumb|Flight Lieutenant Brian Kingcome (left), commanding officer of No. 92 Squadron Royal Air Force and his wingman, Flying Officer [[Geoffrey Wellum]], next to a Supermarine Spitfire at RAF Biggin Hill, Kent, 1941.]]

==Victories==
Kingcome flew Spitfires in combat continually until the end of 1944, his tally finishing at 8 and 3 shared destroyed, plus a score of probables and damaged. One of the prewar Cranwell elite, Kingcome was to become one of the [[Second World War]]'s great fighter leaders, alongside [[Douglas Bader]], [[Robert Stanford Tuck]] and [[Johnnie Johnson (RAF officer)|Johnnie Johnson]].

In May 1940, Kingcome was posted to [[No. 92 Squadron RAF|No. 92 Squadron]] as [[flight commander]]. On 25 May, Kingcome shared a Do 17 and on 2 June destroyed two He 111s and damaged a third. He shared a Ju 88 of 3./[[LG 1]] with two others on 10 July, and again on the 24th. On 9 September he probably destroyed a Bf 110 and two days later shot down a He 111. On the 14th he damaged another. Kingcome shot down a Bf 109 on the 23rd he shot down Ofw. Gerhard Grzymalla of 8./JG 26. The next day he probably destroyed another Me 109 and one was claimed as damaged in Maidstone area around 08.45. Both claims confirmed by Intelligence Officer were unfortunately groundless. Jagdwaffe did not lost single one. Third claim was for damaged Ju 88. Three days later he shared a Ju 88 again, damaged two others, probably destroyed a Do 17, and damaged one of these also. Around this time Kingcome was awarded a DFC for six victories, and on 11 October got a Bf 109 he claimed another next day, and also damaged one. On the 13th he shot down a BF 109 of [[JG 3]].

On 16 June 1941 Kingcome probably destroyed a Bf 109, and on 24 July shot one down. He received a Bar to his DFC, having brought his score to 10 confirmed kills. He was promoted to lead the Kenley wing, and on 15 April 1942 damaged a Fw 190. He probably destroyed a Bf 109 on 28 May, and during the year was awarded a DSO, having added another victory to his score.

In 1943 Kingcome was posted to North Africa to lead 244 Wing, and lead this for 18 months, becoming a Gp. Capt. after the invasion of Italy.<ref name='MPC' /> By the end of his stay with the wing, he had brought his total personal tally to 8 destroyed, three shared, five probable and 13 damaged enemy aircraft.<ref name='CdG'>{{cite web | url = http://www.cieldegloire.com/sq_raf_092.php | title = Squadron 92 | accessdate = 19 September 2010 | publisher = Ciel de gloire}}</ref>

==Later life==
The Second World War had taken a toll on his health and, after being treated for tuberculosis, Kingcome was invalided from the service in 1954.

In civilian life, Kingcome engaged successfully in a London garage and car hire business with his Battle of Britain comrade Paddy Barthropp (who later became very successful with his Rolls-Royce chauffeur business).<ref name='Barthropp'>{{cite news | title = Wing Commander Paddy Barthropp | date = 23 April 2008 | url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/1899012/Wg-Cdr-Paddy-Barthropp.html | work = [[The Daily Telegraph]] | accessdate = 19 September 2010}}</ref> In 1969, with his wife Lesley (whom he had married in 1957) he set up 'Kingcome Sofas' an enterprise which involved the employment of Devon boat builders to craft sofas to each customer's measurements.

==Published works==
Kingcome wrote an autobiography called "A Willingness to Die" about his experiences during the Second World War. His memoirs were written shortly before his death in 1994.<ref name='AWTD'>{{cite book | last1 = Kingcome | first1 = Brian | last2 = Ford | first2 = Peter | title = A Willingness to Die | publisher = Tempus | year = 1999 | location = London | isbn = 978-0-7524-1693-9}}</ref>

===Personal quotations===
"I always regarded 92 Squadron as my personal property. I led it through, what was to me, the most exhilarating and treacherous part of the war, the Battle of Britain at Biggin Hill. I gained and lost many good friends, and in front line operations I was with 92 longer than any other squadron"<ref name='AWTD1'>{{cite book | last1 = Kingcome | first1 = Brian | last2 = Ford | first2 = Peter | title = A Willingness to Die | publisher = Tempus | year = 1999 | location = London | isbn = 978-0-7524-1693-9 | quote = 'I always regarded 92 Squadron as my personal property. I led it through ...}}</ref>

"Why can’t they just talk about Battle of Britain pilots? Why does it always have to be heroes? I think it devalues the word and denigrates all those others who were called on to face just as great odds."<ref name='AWTD2'>{{cite book | last1 = Kingcome | first1 = Brian | last2 = Ford | first2 = Peter | title = A Willingness to Die | publisher = Tempus | year = 1999 | location = London | isbn = 978-0-7524-1693-9 | quote = 'Why can’t they just talk about Battle of Britain pilots? Why does it ...}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | last1 = Bishop | first1 = Patric | title = Fighter Boys: Saving Britain 1940 | publisher = Harper Perennial | year = 2004 | location = London | isbn = 978-0-00-653204-0 | quote = 'Why can’t they just talk about Battle of Britain pilots? Why does it ...}}</ref>

==Television and Film==
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 [[First Light (Wellum book)|book of the same name]], in which Brian Kingcome was portrayed by the actor [[Ben Aldridge (actor)|Ben Aldridge]]. The film was first shown by the BBC on 14 September 2010.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1653661/ | title = First Light (TV 2010) | accessdate = 19 September 2010 | publisher = [[Internet Movie Database]]}}</ref><ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00ttjz0 BBC2 Programmes]</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/tv/comingup/first-light/ |title=BBC – Coming Up – First Light |access-date=11 February 2018 |archive-date=25 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100825043904/http://www.bbc.co.uk/tv/comingup/first-light/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> He was also personally seen on screen in an uncredited speaking role of "Fighter Pilot" in the opening and closing scenes of the film "First Of The Few" 1942. (US title "Spitfire")<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0034734/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_1] He appears at 8:39 in the YouTube version of "First of the Few": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3Dd24SzAkc .</ref>

==See also==
*[[Kingcome (disambiguation)]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

;Bibliography
* Price, Alfred. ''Spitfire Mark V Aces 1941–45''. Osprey, London. 1997. {{ISBN|978-1-85532-635-4}}
* A Cobra in the Sky. Simon Morris. The history of 92 squadron. [http://www.92squadron.com]
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2010}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kingcome, Brian}}
[[Category:1917 births]]
[[Category:1994 deaths]]
[[Category:Royal Air Force officers]]
[[Category:Graduates of the Royal Air Force College Cranwell]]
[[Category:British World War II flying aces]]
[[Category:Military personnel of British India]]
[[Category:Royal Air Force personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Kolkata]]
[[Category:People educated at Bedford School]]
[[Category:Companions of the Distinguished Service Order]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)]]
[[Category:British people in colonial India]]

Brian Kingcome - Revision history

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