Friends of the Somme - Mid Ulster Branch  
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535306   Wireless Operator Francis George Kinghan
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Dated added: 03/09/2016   Last updated: 06/04/2020
Personal Details
Regiment/Service: 254 Squadron, Royal Air Force (British Air Force)
Died: 25/06/1940 (Killed in Action)
Age: 23
Summary      
Francis George Kinghan was the son of Samuel and Sarah Kinghan. He was born about 1917. Francis George Kinghan served with the Royal Air Force in World War Two. By June 1940, Sergeant Kinghan was a wireless operator with 254 Squadron. The Blenheim aircraft in which he was part of a three man crew was shot down off the coast of Norway nn 25th June 1940. There were no survivors. The CWGC record Sergeant (Wireless Operator) Francis George Kinghan as the son of Samuel and Sarah Kinghan of Toomebridge.
Further Information
Francis George Kinghan was the son of Samuel and Sarah Kinghan. He was born about 1917.
Francis George Kinghan served with the Royal Air Force in World War Two.
By June 1940, Sergeant Kinghan was a wireless operator with 254 Squadron.
On 25th June 1940, the three man crew of the Blenheim (Serial Number N3604) took off at 12:48 from RAF Sumburgh in the Shetland Islands. They were tasked with a ‘Stab’ operation - a patrol between Stavanger and Bergen attacking shipping and other targets of opportunity.
Bleinheim airplane
The aircraft was shot down at 14.25 whilst attacking a ship off Stavanger, and crashed into the sea at Østhusvik, Rennesøy, Rogaland, off Stavanger, Norway. There were no survivors. The crew were:
bullet Sergeant David Ferguson Sharpe CAMPBELL (743031) Observer
bullet Flight Sergeant Percival Gordon CORY (564105) Pilot
bullet Sergeant Francis George KINGHAN (535306) Wireless Operator
Sergeant Francis George Kinghan is buried in Haugesund (Rossebo) Var Frelsers Cemetery in Norway. His inscription reads: O CRUCIFIED LORD JESUS HAVE MERCY ON HIS SOUL. MOTHER, BROTHERS AND SISTERS. R.I.P.
Sergeant Francis George Kinghan is buried in Haugesund (Rossebo) Var Frelsers Cemetery in Norway.
The CWGC record Sergeant (Wireless Operator) Francis George Kinghan as the son of Samuel and Sarah Kinghan of Toomebridge, County Antrim, Northern Ireland.
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Relevant Magherafelt Area Locations
No Location Region Location Notes Longtitude Latitude
1 Toome area Toome CWGC lists parents in Toome area 54.753411 -6.456418
References and Links
No Link Reference Map Doc
1 aviation-safety.net Details of crew and crash
2 FindAGrave.com Photo of Sergeant Francis Kinghan's grave
3 National Archives UK Official details of crash
4 RAF Commands - N3604 Details of crew and crash
5 War Graves Photographic Project Photo of Sergeant Francis Kinghan's grave can be purchased here
Magherafelt District's War Dead Acknowledgements 2014-2023