I thought this would be of interest: Father and son casualty. Father has headstone and son commemorated at Runnymede. Fathers headstone also has an inscription for his son Name:MAYGOTHLING, GEORGE JOHNInitials:G J Nationality:United Kingdom Rank:Squadron Leader Regiment/Service:Royal Air Force Age:52 Date of Death:20/11/1940 Service No:10125 Additional information:Son of George and Rose Maygothling; husband of Emily Beatrice Maygothling, of Findon Valley, Worthing, Sussex. His son, Gordon James Maygothling, also died on service.Casualty Type:Commonwealth War DeadGrave/Memorial Reference:Sec. 33. Grave 6246.Cemetery:HARROW CEMETERY Name:MAYGOTHLING, GORDON JAMESInitials:G J Nationality:United Kingdom Rank:Pilot Officer Regiment/Service:Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Unit Text:109 Sqdn. Age:20 Date of Death:29/03/1942 Service No:100639 Additional information:Son of Sqdn. Ldr. George John Mygothling, R.A.F. (died on active service, 20th November, 1940), and of Emily Beatrice Maygothling, of Worthing, Sussex.Casualty Type:Commonwealth War DeadGrave/Memorial Reference:Panel 70.Memorial:RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL
A Google produced this information: 28/29 March 1942 Target: Lübeck 234 aircraft - 146 Wellingtons, 41 Hampdens, 26 Stirlings, 21 Manchesters. 12 aircraft - 7 Wellingtons, 3 Stirlings, 1 Hampden, 1 Manchester - lost. This raid was the first major success for Bomber Command against a German target. The attack was carried out in good visibility, with the help of an almost full moon and, because of the light defences of this target, from a low level, many crews coming down to 2,000 ft. The force was split into 3 waves, the leading one being composed of experienced crews with Gee-fitted aircraft; although Lübeck was beyond the range of Gee, the device helped with preliminary navigation. More than 400 tons of bombs were dropped; two thirds of this tonnage was incendiary. 191 crews claimed successful attacks. German sources show that 1,425 buildings in Lübeck were destroyed, 1,976 were seriously damaged and 8,411 were lightly damaged; these represented 62 per cent of all buildings in Lübeck. The casualties in Lübeck were 312 or 320 people killed (accounts conflict), 136 seriously and 648 slightly injured. Total effort for the night: 257 sorties, 12 aircraft (4.7 per cent) lost. Wellington X9913 ZP-? Operation Lubeck 28th/29th March 1942 Airborne 1945 28 Mar 42 from Tempsford. Lost without trace. All are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. P/O Maygothling's father, S/L G.F. Maygothling died On Active Service 20 Nov 40. P/O G.J. Maygothling KIA Sgt F.J. Cassells RAAF KIA P/O L.J. Convey RCAF KIA Sgt F.G. Bower RAAF KIA P/O R.J. Cussen KIA LAC R.F. Rendell KIA P/O B.E.P. Sadler KIA F/S R.A. Walker KIA Seems a larger than usual crew........ perhaps one was operating Gee, pointing to this being an "experienced" crew. There were only 3 night fighter claims, 2 for Stirlings and one unknown. Flak was noted as "light" (but could still have been responsible for some losses. There appears to have been a Maygothling as a Squadron Leader in the RAF in 1957, perhaps a brother, plus at least one fought in WW1... mentioned on the General Electric Roll of Honour. The elder has at least 2 mentions in "Flight" archives, as F/O posted to RAF Depot Uxbridge (Stores) 5/7/31 and again Flt Lt (RAF Ret) "is granted commission in that rank as Class C" (Dec 17 1937). As his burial was at Harrow, it may indicate he was still at RAF Uxbridge.
A little more on the Lubeck raid of 28-29 March 1942..... Lubeck was not raided by the full strength of the RAF again during the war. A Swiss diplomat who was president of the International Red Cross later negotiated an agreement with Britain that the port would not be bombed again because it was being used for the shipment of Red Cross supplies..... 'The Bomber Command War Diaries' Middlebrook/Everitt. The inclusion of a non-NCO (LAC R.F. Rendell) in the composition of a bomber crew in 1942 was unusual.
Squadron Leader George John Maygothling, Promoted to Flying officer in 1920, Flying Officer Stationed at Aircraft Depot Iraq 22nd September 1925 Flying Officer Station at R.A.F. Egypt 16th Oct 1927 Promoted to Flight Lt January 1929 Flight Lt. Stationed at R.A.F. Depot Uxbridge 5th July 1931 Flight Lt. Stationed at Station H.Q. Mount Batten 9th October 1931 Flight Lt (Ret) Granted C Class Commission 17th December 1937 Flight Lt . Transferred from Class C to Class CC 7th May 1938 Promoted to Temp Wing Commander (Equipment Branch) in June 1940. Died on Active Service 20th November 1940 Two son's listed on Ancestry Name: Gordon J Maygothling Mother: Munro Birth: Apr May Jun 1922 - Pewsey, Wiltshire Name: Norman H M Maygothling Mother: Munro Birth: Jan Feb Mar 1925 - Pewsey, Wiltshire There is a Squadron Leader N Maygothling still serving with the RAF upto at least 1962 invloved in Glider Flying, based at least for some part at R.A.F. Crosby, (Carlisle Airport) In relation to Gordon Maygothling, people might find this interesting. From: Officer Commanding, No. 109 Sqdn RAF Tempsford. Beds. To: Air Ministry (P.4. Casualties) No. 3 Group. Air Officer i/c Records, Gloucester/ 109 Sqdn. Detachment, Stradishall Date: 30.3.1942 Ref: 109S/353/28/P.1. Circumstantial Report Wellington X.9913 missing from Operational Flight 28/29.3.1942 With reference to this Unit's signal A.9 dated March 29 1942 and in accordance with A.P. 1922, Section X, para. 102 (a), the following report is forwarded. 2. The crew of Wellington X.9913 was composed as follows: Captain - 100639 P/O G.J. Maygothling 2nd Pilot - AUS. 404933 Sgt. P.J. Cassells Observer - J.6161 P/O L.J. Convey (RCAF) W/Op. AG - 106075 P/O R.J. Cussen W/OP. AG - AUS. 4044078 Sgt. F.G. Bower Air Gunner - 535972 T/F/Sgt. R.A. Walker Special Operator - 67252 P/O B.E.P. Sadler Special Operator - 1305046 LAC R. Rendell 3. The aircraft took off from STRADISHALL at 19.50 hours on March 28th 1942, to carry out a special duty flight for Air Ministry (A.I.4.(a)). It was due to return to base at 03.50 hours on March 29th 1942. 4. The route ordered was from STRADISHALL to a point 60 miles north of TERSCHELLING and then coastwise at a range of 60 miles along the FRIESIAN ISLANDS, the west coast of Germany and the west coast of Denmark to SKAGEN. The return trip was along a parallel track but at a distance of 30 miles from the coast. 5. It is not possible to give any account of the occurrence since no communication was made with the aircraft after takeoff and no information relating to it has been received. It will be appreciated that the aircraft was routed close to enemy night fighter zones and an error in navigation on the return trip may have made interception by enemy night fighters possible. Reports indicate that weather conditions for night fighters were excellent. 6. The aircraft was fitted with long range tanks and, for this operation, carried 1030 gallons of fuel. This provided a safe endurance of nearly 15 hours and ample margin for such a flight. 7. The aircraft was installed with Special Wireless Investigation equipment and two special operators were carried to work the equipment. C.M. Mullen Wing Commander Commanding No. 109 Squadron SOURCE : Maygothling, 109 Sqn, 28-29/3/42 - RafCommands Forums
It was after the raids on Lubeck and Rostock that the German propaganda machine described Bomber Command as "terror flyers". German retaliation came in the so called Baedeker Raids on Exeter,Bath,Norwhich,York and Canterbury. The Lubeck and Rostock operations were planned to assess the effect of incendaries against urban targets and the "1000 bomber operation" against Cologne at the end of May 1942 was an extension of this strategic policy. At the time of the loss of the Wellington,No 109 Squadron was based at Tempsford but had detachments at Wyton,Upper Heyford,Boscombe Down and Stradishall.For the Lubeck raid the Gee navigational equipment did not have the range for Lubeck and from the Casualty Report and crew structure,it looks as if the Wellington operation was an exercise in conjunction with the development of Gee. I would think that P/O B.E.P. Sadler and LAC Rendell would have the maintenance skills on this relatively new equipment.Skills such as being able to deal with snags and the setting up of the equipment would be vital in the air to ensure that the equipment should be properly tried and tested. As far as Lubeck is concerned it has been restored and is a quality city to visit.So impressed with it when passing through,I looked at the short break accomodation and found that there were a number of quality hotels offering deals for breaks.Must say that I have never been disapointed in staying in German accomodation either hotels or self catering.They always appear to give value for money.
So, X9913 was not tasked with the Lubeck operation, but flying along the enemy coast, presumably so best radar reflections obtained to calibrate equipment etc... With so much fuel on board, then it seems more likely to have been intercepted at some stage and shot down. I don't think flak ships were that far out, unless navigational error, but with good visibility, unlikely to have strayed that close to land. Could it be likely that S/L Maygothling could have also been involved in the Gee development trials, maybe son chosen because of that connection? I don't know if the career shown by englandphil might indicate that? Flt Lt CC to temporary W/C seems a big jump?
I would think that this aircraft was involved in the trials in the development of Gee.The raid on Lubeck was entirely detached from this operation although the records as read, indicate an operation related to Lubeck. For the Lubeck raid,the range of the target was beyond the range available from Gee.Nevertheless those aircraft having Gee used it to as an aid to calculate the wind but on a moonlit night,navigation across Schleswig Holstein was not a problem.Gee at the time had not yet been developed into the effective radio navigational equipment it was to be. In its development and to maintain the secrecy of Gee,the scientists of TRE adopted a ordinary communication series to disguise the receiver of pulse type transmissions and instead of designating the receiver as R.1335,it was designated as TR 1335,which would indicate a new transmitter/receiver of a radio communication system.Still that was not adequate as like all equipment,certain identification will indicate to the specialist what the function of the equipment is likely to be.The real problem was that the Germans recognised Gee for what it was and jammed it.TRE's response was to modify the receiver and introduce a switch to a second frequency for the approach to a target area. With this background in mind,this Wellington would appear to be trialling Gee and looking for responses from German Gee jammers and the TRE's counter response to the German ECM. Gee went to be an effective radio navigational system with an accuracy of intersection of between 100 and 500 metres.The US Loran radio navigational aid had a greater range of 1600 kms but damping of the ground wave restricted its use to a navigational aid over sea masses.Loran accuracy of intersection was in the order of + or - 4 km. The sweeps off the coast were intended for this assessment and the nearest sweep to the coast was at 30 miles off.Here it would be likely to be engaged by nighjt fighters or fall as a victim to flak ships. The Germans,apparently captured a number of Gee sets recovered from aircraft and used them for their own navigation,of course having to use RAF transmitters.Gee equipped aircraft were notable in the 1000 bomber raid on Cologne on the night of 30/31 May 1942 and later were distinquishable by the Gee "band"on the aircraft tail ( a case of follow me, I'm not lost!) It appears that S/LR Maygothling rejoined the RAF in December 1937 from retirement as a F/LT as quite a large number of veterans did on the years up to and outbreak of the war.Some had served in the Great War and these categories found employment mostly in the Administration departments on RAF units.It was not unusual to find officers temporary promoted when posted to sub units where they found themselves as commanding officers and were granted the rank as appropriate to the post. I would be surprised if S/LR Maygothling was employed in anything outside administration as his employment in the Equipment Branch would suggest. There may be some additional information from those who have been involved with aircraft individual losses,the detail which, hitherto has not been revealed.
Hi chaps. A bit late but may I join you here? My first visit to this site. I've just been pointed towards this post as it refers to a post of mine on the 'RAF Commands' forum concerning Maygothling for my research on the Lubeck raid. I see you've got noted the info which Dave ('alieneyes' on that forum) obtained about Maygothling's last flight. Just a couple of comments, for what it's worth ... The a/c definitely took off fron Stradishall, not Tempsford, so in that detail Bill Chorley's 'Bomber Command Losses' is incorrect. I have never understood why Chorley refers to the a/c as being coded 'ZP'-something. Its individual letter was 'N' but I've never found any evidence that 109 Sqn, for that's what it's shown as belonging to, ever used 'ZP' codes. As far as I can tell they were always 'HS'. Does anyone know otherwise? And does anyone know if there are any photos of 109 Sqn Wellingtons with the 'HS' (or different) codes? I've never been able to find any such pics. My own view is that this sortie was not for Gee trials but was for listening-in on enemy radio frequencies since it was from 109 Sqn's 'B' Flight which seems to have had that function - please see my 'RAF Commands' post. Nevertheless a very interesting thread, this, and thanks again to Dave for finding out the specific details for me from the Canadian records. Regards all Ian
Hi All, I'm new too this forium but have found this thread most interresting, I have only just started reseaching this family and was very happy to find all this information. I own the medal group to the remaining son Sqn Leader Norman Hugh Munro Maygothling. He was awarded the British War Medal, Defence Medal, General Service Medal clasp Mayalya and a 1953 Cor Medal. I believe in the 1960's he was involved in Gliders, also I believe he served with the Equipment Branch, so Gliders may have been a side line? I would love to know if his fathers and bothers medal groups are out there somewhere or any other information about this family and Sqn Leader Norman Hugh Munro Maygothling, I assume there were no other brothers or sisters?. Regards, Kerry Bulow
Welcome Kerry If you can please post any info or photographs you have most interesting thank you Clive
Hi, LAC Robert Frank Rendell is my wife’s great uncle. He and his brother both worked for what we believe to be a part of the Post Office doing telecommunications and believe this is what he was selected for these missions due to his technical knowledge. His brother worked on highly secret stuff at Orfordness in Suffolk. Attached is a picture of Robert which we assume was in training as there is no rank on his arms. He is 2nd row from the front and 3rd from the right.
From the group photograph, it appears that it has been taken at trade training, the course members could well be AC2s,ie,at the start of their training. if it was taken on completion of the course, then NCO instructors may have been included. After successfully passing their course, they would be reclassified as AC1s At this time there was intensive development of radio and navigational aids taking place at the behest of Bomber Command in order to improve it operational performances. The location of the course would probably be at a hotel or large house requisitioned by the RAF for trade courses. (Is it possible to identify the location) Looking deeper at No 109 Squadron from its formation in 1917.After disbanding in August 1918,the squadron was reformed at Boscombe Down as the Wireless Intelligence Development Unit on 10 December 1940
It would appear that the squadron retained its radio and radar development role at Boscombe Down and continued in this role when it was rebased at Tempsford from 19 January 1942 using Whitleys, Ansons and two Marks of Wellington for its role while at Boscombe. At Tempsford, from 19 January 1942, No 109 Squadron established their HQ and Flights of Wireless Development here. There were a number of detachments made to Wyton, Upper Heyford, Boscombe Down and Stradishall. From this it would appear that LAC Rendell and P/O Sadler were members of a No 109 Squadron Wireless Development Flight supporting and assessing the newly commissioned navigation/wireless equipment...radar known initially as RDF (Radio Direction Finding) I think Bill Chorley has indicated in his publication that the Wellington 1c was lost from its named designated airfield of Tempsford and not its detached airfield. Further from his research of many years ago there is no reference to the role of a non NCO in the crew other that he stated that it was unusual.(at the time for a non NCO to appear in the crew list after the AM order of June 1940 that any uncommissioned crew would hold the minimum rank of Sergeant.) (After receiving the Wellington V1 in March 1942,the squadron was reposted to Stradishall on 6 April 1942 with detachments to Upper Heyford. Its role changed when the squadron received the Lancaster 1 in July 1942 for a short duration and from this new role, the squadron became Pathfinder squadron for the rest of the war from December 1942,based at Wyton and equipped with the Mosquito marks.)
Just found a further picture with them all wearing their Chip hats outside a house/billet number 11 with the name Jennings
Steve I wonder if the house "Jennings" with the number can be searched for. Cannot see evidence of instructors in the photograph. The other point in ascertaining more information about LAC R F Rendell RAF's service is to apply for his service record to RAF Cranwell. His posting to a school of Technical Training should be identified, perhaps by number which is a start RAF Disclosures Section Room 221b Trenchard Hall RAF Cranwell Sleaford Lincolnshire NG 34 8HB
