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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 9, 2009 11:09:42 GMT 12
Sadly I heard yesterday from Robin Klitscher (RSA National Presidentand forum member RobinK) that the well known RNZAF Hudson pilot George Gudsell has passed away.
Robin said he had been ill for some time and in a care home, and he passed away within the past few weeks.
I had the pleasure to interview George a few years back for my book project, and he was a very nice chap. George was the first New Zealander to be awarded a decoration in the Pacific War, being a US Distinguished Flying Cross.
Did anyone here pick up on a death notice or an obituary? He died in Levin
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Post by phil82 on Nov 9, 2009 12:17:49 GMT 12
Sadly I heard yesterday from Robin Klitscher (RSA National Presidentand forum member RobinK) that the well known RNZAF Hudson pilot George Gudsell has passed away. Robin said he had been ill for some time and in a care home, and he passed away within the past few weeks. I had the pleasure to interview George a few years back for my book project, and he was a very nice chap. George was the first New Zealander to be awarded a decoration in the Pacific War, being a US Distinguished Flying Cross. Did anyone here pick up on a death notice or an obituary? He died in Levin Quite agree; one of nature's gentle men. I knew him when I first went to Wellington, when he was a Mess Member at Shelly Bay. |
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Post by tbf25o4 on Nov 11, 2009 9:25:01 GMT 12
So sad to hear of George's passing.
I spent many hours with him over the years, getting his stories for the RNZAF Museum oral history collection, and material for my various books.
George had a unique war career in that he was posted to Singapore mid 1941 to fly the Beauforts, but the first six Aust built ones all had problems and were withdrawn before the Japanese attacked.
George was posted to the General HQ and was on duty when the two battleships were sunk. In fact he took the telephone call advising of their sinking and had to tell the assembled generals.admirals,air marshals of the sinking!
He was the first RNZAF pilot to engage the japanese in direct air-to-air combat in Naovember 1942, flying a Hudson. It was his knowledge of japanese Zero tactics that allowed him to avoid being shotdown. He had observed when being strafed at Seletar, that the Zeros fired their cowl mounted machine guns first as siters, then the two cannon. Based on that he put his navigator in the astrodome of the Hudson and told him to yell everytime he saw the machine gun muzzle flashes, so that he could take immediate evasive action.
A well remembered gentleman.
Paul
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Post by Andy Wright on Nov 12, 2009 19:27:23 GMT 12
He sounds like a fascinating man. RIP.
Sadly, I reckon I read at least two obits a day now. We're losing them too fast.
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Post by Andy Wright on Nov 17, 2009 10:46:06 GMT 12
Has an obit appeared for Mr Gudsell yet? I'm particularly interested to read about his time in Singapore.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 17, 2009 10:56:00 GMT 12
Haven't seen one, perhaps the RSA will run one in their next magazine, which I no longer get since I no longer belong since they closed down the local branch clubrooms.
George's days in Singapore were largely uneventful in terms of the war. He was on a Flight of No. 100 Squadron from memory, the other Flights were flying the Vildebeest but his Flight were attempting to fly the new Australian licensed built Beauforts. He told me they were so poorly made they had nothing but trouble with them and they had to be returned to Australia to be rebuilt, which is why he and his fellow Flight members were withdrawn from Singapore to Australia. That probably saved his life. Once they got some Beaufots lying properly he spent a while in Australia flying GR sorties off the coast, before being posted back to NZ in October 1942 just in time to join No. 3 Squadron. So although a prominent figure in the Squadron's Guadalcanal days he was in fact a new boy to the unit.
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Post by Andy Wright on Nov 17, 2009 11:01:39 GMT 12
Thanks, Dave, I've been trying to find info on him and George Luoni as they're both interesting chaps.
I should check my copy of King's Song Of The Beauforts to see if there's any mention.
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Post by Andy Wright on Nov 17, 2009 11:35:42 GMT 12
Sadly, no mention of Gudsell but a couple of interesting snippets re the Australian-built Beauforts sent to Singapore.
The only RAAF pilot was P/O Peter Gibbs.
The one operation Beaufort ended up making a contribution in the form of two recce flights (the first being curtailed due to weather). Both trips were flown by F/L Peter Mitchell (RAF) with F/O Stumm (RAAF) accompanying him on the first flight while his Vildebeest crew joined him on the second (Sgts Jack Gibson and 'Tiny' Barcroft).
Photographing Japanese ships landing troops on the Singora-Pattani seafront in Thailand and the 60 aircraft at Singora airfield. The airfield was 120 miles NE of Kota Bharu which is where Mitchell landed safely after being attacked by Zeroes and damaged. The rear gunner was wounded but managed to hit one of the Zeroes with the single Vickers. On the ground the Beaufort was subjected to numerous strafing attacks and finally caught fire and was destroyed.
Excerpts from pages 6-8 of Colin M. King's Song Of The Beauforts - No 100 Squadron RAAF and Beaufort Bomber Operations
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Post by tbf25o4 on Nov 19, 2009 10:49:34 GMT 12
I have submitted an obituary article on Geroge Gudsell to Aviation News together
with some pics of him
hopefully it will appear in next month's issue
Paul
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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 19, 2009 11:07:09 GMT 12
Good stuff Paul.
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Post by Andy Wright on Nov 20, 2009 10:08:54 GMT 12
Nice one, Paul. Is that available in Oz?
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Post by tbf25o4 on Nov 24, 2009 8:50:39 GMT 12
Not sure if aviation news is distributed in australia. Will try and copy it post on the forum if published
Paul
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Post by Andy Wright on Nov 24, 2009 21:21:59 GMT 12
Cheers, mate.
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