Lieutenant Commander Michael Langman Royal Navy

Lieutenant Commander Michael Langman, who has died aged 88, enjoyed three distinct flying careers, served in two navies and was recognised for his bravery over the Western Desert and the Mediterranean.

Langman flew Swordfish in 815 Naval Air Squadron based in the Western Desert at Buggush, under the command of the renowned Percy Gick (later Rear Admiral Gick CB OBE DSC*). 815 was under the operational control of RAF 201 Group, and was daily tasked to bomb German targets further west and occasionally conducted night-time anti-submarine patrols over the Mediterranean. On May 22, 1942 Langman depth charged a surfaced U-boat, without apparent success.

Then suddenly on June 26 Langman and his squadron were ordered to evacuate Buggush as Rommel’s tanks broke through Allied defences. At the last minute, as the aircraft were lined up for formation take-off, Gick ordered his aircrewman to retrieve the White Ensign which was still flying over the airfield, even while Langman could see German panzers approaching along the coast road. Langman reflected that the Germans must have thought them mad.

For the next six months in which Langman accumulated 355 hours day and night flying, he conducted regular sweeps over the Mediterranean, interdicting enemy supplies into El Alemain, and he was awarded the DSC in 1943 for his skill, bravery and sustained resolution in many air attacks against enemy submarines and small craft.

Victor Michael Langman was born on August 16, 1921 in Boreham, Essex where his love of flying was inspired when Alan Cobham brought his flying circus to Chingford and, for five shillings, he enjoyed a circuit and a bump.

Young Langman was educated at Brighton College and volunteered for the Fleet Air Arm, joining HMS St Vincent as a Naval Airman 2nd Class in June 1940 with 113 classmates including some 20 New Zealanders

Langman learned to fly at Luton, while accommodated in the stable block at Luton Hoo. There were no bunks, but plenty of straw for pallets and the horses and their grooms had access to ample running water and toilets. Langman was a slow learner and it was 12 hours and 25 minutes before he was allowed his first solo flight in a Miles Magister.
In the Spring of 1941 Langman undertook further training at Kingston, Ontario in the Fairey Battle, which, on May 10, he flew under the International Bridge spanning the St Lawrence river.

After courses and several sea passages, Langman flew as a passenger in a KLM Junkers 52 from Lagos to Cairo to join the Fleet Air Arm squadrons based at Dekheila, five miles west of Alexandria.

At first Langman was disappointed to be appointed to 775 Naval Air Squadron employed on communications duties, but he quickly familiarised himself with the Middle East flying several aircraft types and experiencing a variety of emergencies. In March 1942 Langman made a serious misjudgement when, with two joy-riders embarked, he buzzed an army lorry on the desert road to Alexandria. His starboard wing hit the lorry, which pulled up unharmed but Langman’s aileron was broken by the collision and he had to use all his weight including the strength of his legs to hold the aircraft level and return to Dekheila, arriving over the airfield as his companions were enjoying their lunchtime pink gins. The blast he received from Captain Loben Maund terrified him and was only slightly ameliorated by the ensuing congratulations for bringing the aircraft back. His punishment was to help the riggers repair the aircraft.

After flying with 815, Langman spent more time in the USA, learning fly the Grumman Avenger and joined 851 Naval Air Squadron flying from the escort carrier Shah in on operations in the Indian Ocean.

Postwar Langman worked in the father’s cardboard factory, but he was not a successful salesman and emigrated to Canada where he tried house building, again unsuccessfully.

In 1948 Langman joined the Royal Canadian Navy, flying Avengers from Maggie, the Canadian carrier Magnificent, commanding the Canadian 881 squadron, and was senior pilot in the carrier Bonnie or Bonaventure. He retired in 1966 and was awarded the CD.

Langman returned to the United Kingdom where he joined the Civil Aviation Authority. In 1975 he was seconded to manage the Sultan of Brunei’s new airport, which he enjoyed and where the airport staff named a new fire engine after him. In 1983 he retired again to enjoy his holidays, gardening, and helping his daughter Angela with her many animals.

In his quarter of a century of flying he logged 4,600 hours, 220 day and 51 night deck-landings and flew 42 different types of aircraft.

Langman who died on November 16, 2009, married Betty Joy (always known as Jane) Matthews in 1947, who survives him with their son and daughter.