CONINGHAM Arthur

Enlisted at Maugahuia, Dannevirke, New Zealand as 1/456, Trooper, Canterbury Mounted Rifles in August 1914 serving in the Samoan Advance, thence as 7/1177 in the 4th Reinforcement in Gallipoli, invalided home to New Zealand, discharged 1 April 1916.  Rejoined in UK as Lieutenant, temp Captain, Royal Flying Corps

CITATION

Knight Commander of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (KCB)

Gazetted 27 November 1942

In recognition of distinguished services rendered in operational commands of the Royal Air Force during the period 1st October 1940 to 31st March 1941

Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE)

Gazetted 1 January 1946, issue 37407, p32

Air Marshal, Royal Air Force

Companion of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CB)

Gazetted 24 September 1941

Distinguished Service Order

Gazetted 26 September 1917

Temp Captain, Royal Flying Corps Special Reserve

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. With three other pilots he attacked an enemy machine which was protected by ten others, shot it down and destroyed another one the same evening. Shortly afterwards he and two others attacked five of the enemy, and although wounded and rendered unconscious for the moment he succeeded in driving down two of the enemy. In spite of being exhausted by loss of blood he continued his patrol until he was sure there were no more enemy machines in the vicinity, setting a splendid example of pluck and determination

Military Cross

Gazetted 17 September 1917

2nd Lieutenant, Temp Captain, Royal Flying Corps Special Reserve

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in attacking enemy aircraft. On numerous occasions he has displayed great dash and a fine offensive spirit in engaging the enemy at close range, and driving them down completely out of control.

Distinguished Flying Cross

Gazetted 6 June 1919

Air Force Cross

Gazetted 1 January 1926, p10

Mention in Despatches

Gazetted 11 December 1917

Mention in Despatches

Gazetted 11 June 1924

Mention in Despatches

Gazetted 1 January 1941

Mention in Despatches

Gazetted 11 June 1942

Legion of Honour (France)

Gazetted

Croix de Guerre (France)

Gazetted

Distinguished Service Medal (USA)

Gazetted 3 August 1945

Air Marshal, Royal Air Force

Conferred in recognition of valuable services rendered in connection with the War.

Legion of Merit – Chief Commander (USA)

Gazetted 27 August 1943, p3825

Order of Leopold, Grand Officer (Belgium)

Gazetted 23 November 1945

Air Marshal, Royal Air Force

In recognition of valuable services rendered in connection with the war.

Croix de Guerre with Palm (Belgium)

Gazetted 23 November 1945

Air Marshal, Royal Air Force

In recognition of valuable services rendered in connection with the war.

Order of the Phoenix, Grand Cross with swords (Greece)

Gazetted 6 September 1946, p4455

Air Marshal, Royal Air Force

RAF, in recognition of valuable services rendered in connection with the Royal Hellenes Air Force.

Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Orange Nassau (Netherlands)

Gazetted 18 November 1947

KNOWN AWARDS

Knight Commander of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (KCB)

Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE)

Distinguished Service Order

Military Cross

Distinguished Flying Cross

Air Force Cross

1914-15 Star

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Mention in Despatches (4)

General Service Medal 1918

Kurdistan

1939-45 Star

Air Crew Europe Star

France and Germany

Africa Star

Italy Star

Defence Medal

War Medal 1939-45

Mention in Despatches(2)

Silver Jubilee Medal 1935

Coronation Medal 1937

Legion of Honour (France)

Croix de Guerre (France)

Distinguished Service Medal (USA)

Legion of Merit – Chief Commander (USA)

Order of Leopold, Grand Officer (Belgium)

Croix de Guerre with Palm (Belgium)

Order of the Phoenix, Grand Cross w Swords(Greece)

Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Orange Nassau (Netherlands)

NOTES

Born 19 January 1895, Brisbane, Australia

Died 30 January 1948 in an airline crash over Atlantic

In Jan 1948, while traveling aboard a Avro 688 Tudor Mark IV passenger aircraft operated by British South American Airways from Santa Maria, Azores to Bermuda, he disappeared along with all others aboard in the Bermuda Triangle in poor weather. A total of 26 US Air Force aircraft were assigned to search for the missing passenger aircraft, but the search was abandoned after five days.

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