Operation: Rocket Attack

Date: 24th October 1944 (Tuesday)

Unit: No. 247 Squadron (motto: 'Rise from the East') 124 Wing. 83 Group

Type: Typhoon IB

Serial: JP688

Code: ZY-R

Base: B78 - Eindhoven, Netherlands

Location: Bergse-Maas

Pilot: Fl/Lt. Paul Langston NZ/413174 RNZAF Age 22. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off at 11:20 hrs with 7 others on a rocket propelled attack on the road between Tilburg and river Maas in the Netherlands.

Last seen by his No. 2 diving down towards a concentration of enemy vehicles near Loop op Zand.

The Typhoon crashed into swampy ground just south west of Doevereren at 11:40 hrs.

There are different opinions as to how it had crashed, some reports state that he may have been hit by flak, some say that he was hit by flying debris during his attack and another that he ha been hit by small arms fire.

A local scrap metal dealer recovered some pieces of the aircraft in 1946, but the pilot was still classified as missing, believed killed.

It wasn't until the 28th July 1961 that a British salvage team recovered his body which was identified as Fl/Lt. Langston. His name had already been inscribed on the Runnymede Memorial, Panel 262, but he was then buried at the Jonkerbos War Cemetery.

Burial and personal details:

Fl/Lt. Paul Langston. Jonkerbos War Cemetery. Grave 19.J.1. Also Runnymede Memorial, Panel 262. Born on the 12th September 1922 at Marton. Worked as a clerk for Census and Statistics Department in Wellington. Shared a flat with Jim Robinson when they both signed up at Levin on the 24th May 1941. After training with No. 2 Elementary Flying School awarded his pilots badge on the 18th October 1941 and commissioned on the 29th November 1941. Embarked for England on the 13th December 1941. Attached to No. 28 Elementary Flying School as an instructor flying the Tiger Moth on the 06th May 1942. Joined 127 squadron on the 31st May 1944 after serving with 55 and 57 Operational Training Units. Son of William Bradley and Olive Adeline Langston, Marton, New Zealand. A total of 1342 flying hours logged. On his 73rd operational sortie, 37 with 247 squadron, the others whilst with 127 squadron.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to Jenifer Lemaire and to the extensive research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, Brabant Historical info, J. de Bont for excavation photo, Auckland Library Heritage Collection, AWMM, other sources as quoted below:

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
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