Melvillle John Kingshott
Melville John Kingshott was a Flying Officer with the Royal Australian Air Force. His service number was 400278.
Melville was born in Coburg, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia on 17th February 1916. His parents were Harry Julian & Elsie May Kingshott. He was the oldest of 6 children in this family and was the great-great-grandson of John Kingshott of Greatham. He was my 7th cousin once removed.
Melville enrolled in the Air Force Reserve on 13th March 1940, subsequently moving to the Royal Australian Air Force on 18th August the same year. He was awarded his Flying Badge on 8th April 1941, and granted a Commission.
On 12th June 1941, Melville left Sydney, New South Wales and travelled to the United Kingdom, arriving on 30th August 1941. He was posted to RAF Upwood, Cambridgeshire where he was a pilot of the Bristol Blenheim aircraft.
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On the 3rd January 1942, a Blenheim IV, P6959, took off for a cross-country exercise. Flying Officer Kingshott was the commander. It dived from the cloud base, estimated at 2000 feet, and failed to recover before hitting the ground at Stanton-upon-Edgebolton, Shropshire, England, at 1145 hours.
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Tragically, the entire crew of Flying Officer 400278 Kingshott, Sergeant 1058855 Wilfred Jowett (RAFVR) and Sergeant 1058546 Robert Macauley Masson (RAFVR) were all killed upon impact.
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Melville, known as Mel, is buried at St Mary the Virgin Church, Shawbury, Shropshire, England. He was 25 years old.