Maxwell Kogon
Encyclopedia
Maxwell Kogon, DFC
, (1920–1980), was a Royal Canadian Air Force
(RCAF) bomber pilot who was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross during World War II
.
Maxwell (Max) Kogon was born on October 1, 1920 to Edith and David Kogon as the youngest of eight children in Toronto
, Ontario
, Canada. He married Annette (Honey) Karry in 1948. He adopted Annette's daughter from her previous marriage, Nancy, and had one son, David. Maxwell Kogon died on October 31, 1980.
(Ghost) Squadron. On the first of his 37 missions he was told to bomb Hanover
. After he finished this, severe icing on his motors caused them to stop rotating. After crossing the English Coast, both of the engines of his Handley-Page Halifax failed and his airspeed indicator
became unusable. He told his crew to bail out, but Maxwell stayed in the aircraft and successfully crash landed it without landing gear
. Flight Lieutenant Kogon mainly flew a Halifax but later switched to an Avro Lancaster
. He won a Distinguished Flying Cross from the RCAF on September 1, 1944. He was the only member of his squadron to not be killed or captured in 18 months. His most known target was the V-1
Base in Pennemunde. 1n 1945 he was discharged from the RCAF.
to be a fighter pilot during the anticipated War of independence but he said he preferred to wait for the Haggana to contact him because it was less intense. However, they never contacted him.
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
, (1920–1980), was a Royal Canadian Air Force
Royal Canadian Air Force
The history of the Royal Canadian Air Force begins in 1920, when the air force was created as the Canadian Air Force . In 1924 the CAF was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force and granted royal sanction by King George V. The RCAF existed as an independent service until 1968...
(RCAF) bomber pilot who was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Family life
Flight LieutenantFlight Lieutenant
Flight lieutenant is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many Commonwealth countries. It ranks above flying officer and immediately below squadron leader. The name of the rank is the complete phrase; it is never shortened to "lieutenant"...
Maxwell (Max) Kogon was born on October 1, 1920 to Edith and David Kogon as the youngest of eight children in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada. He married Annette (Honey) Karry in 1948. He adopted Annette's daughter from her previous marriage, Nancy, and had one son, David. Maxwell Kogon died on October 31, 1980.
RCAF service
During World War II, Flight Lieutenant Max Kogon was a member of 428No. 428 Squadron RCAF
No. 428 Squadron RCAF, also known as 428 Bomber Squadron, and 428 Ghost Squadron, was a bomber squadron in the Royal Canadian Air Force. Throughout its service in the Second World War the squadron was based in England and flew bombing missions against the enemy. After the end of the war the...
(Ghost) Squadron. On the first of his 37 missions he was told to bomb Hanover
Hanover
Hanover or Hannover, on the river Leine, is the capital of the federal state of Lower Saxony , Germany and was once by personal union the family seat of the Hanoverian Kings of Great Britain, under their title as the dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg...
. After he finished this, severe icing on his motors caused them to stop rotating. After crossing the English Coast, both of the engines of his Handley-Page Halifax failed and his airspeed indicator
Airspeed indicator
The airspeed indicator or airspeed gauge is an instrument used in an aircraft to display the craft's airspeed, typically in knots, to the pilot.- Use :...
became unusable. He told his crew to bail out, but Maxwell stayed in the aircraft and successfully crash landed it without landing gear
Landing Gear
Landing Gear is Devin the Dude's fifth studio album. It was released on October 7, 2008. It was his first studio album since signing with the label Razor & Tie. It features a high-profile guest appearance from Snoop Dogg. As of October 30, 2008, the album has sold 18,906 copies.-Track...
. Flight Lieutenant Kogon mainly flew a Halifax but later switched to an Avro Lancaster
Avro Lancaster
The Avro Lancaster is a British four-engined Second World War heavy bomber made initially by Avro for the Royal Air Force . It first saw active service in 1942, and together with the Handley Page Halifax it was one of the main heavy bombers of the RAF, the RCAF, and squadrons from other...
. He won a Distinguished Flying Cross from the RCAF on September 1, 1944. He was the only member of his squadron to not be killed or captured in 18 months. His most known target was the V-1
V-1 flying bomb
The V-1 flying bomb, also known as the Buzz Bomb or Doodlebug, was an early pulse-jet-powered predecessor of the cruise missile....
Base in Pennemunde. 1n 1945 he was discharged from the RCAF.
Postwar
After the war, KLM offered Kogon a job as the chief flying instructor, but Kogon declined. As a Jew, he was contacted by the IrgunIrgun
The Irgun , or Irgun Zevai Leumi to give it its full title , was a Zionist paramilitary group that operated in Mandate Palestine between 1931 and 1948. It was an offshoot of the earlier and larger Jewish paramilitary organization haHaganah...
to be a fighter pilot during the anticipated War of independence but he said he preferred to wait for the Haggana to contact him because it was less intense. However, they never contacted him.