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Post by angelsonefive on Mar 24, 2012 12:28:04 GMT 12
EJ956 of 486 Squadron was belly landed near Fecamp after being hit by flak on 24th March 1943. 69 years ago to the day.
Info. from the Luftwaffe Experten Message Board.
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Post by chinapilot on Mar 24, 2012 13:13:27 GMT 12
69 years ago to the day.
Heh...Must have been galling if he ever knew that his aircraft was made airworthy. What became of Mawson post war I wonder.
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Post by errolmartyn on Mar 24, 2012 13:38:20 GMT 12
A brother of William Mawson served with the Path Finder Force:
From Colin Hanson's By Such Deeds - Honours and Awards in the Royal New Zealand Air Force, 1923-1999
MAWSON, Flight Lieutenant Ernest Charles, DFC, (pff). NZ425975 & 133074; Born Christchurch, 7 Apr 1915; NZ Army (5th Cant Regt) 7 to 27 May 1942, 3/38/619; RNZAF 30 May 1942 to 8 Jan 1946, Res. to 7 Apr 1970; Navigator. Citation Distinguished Flying Cross (16 Feb 1945): [635(PFF)Sqn RAF (Lancaster)] This officer has completed numerous operations against the enemy, in the course of which he has invariably displayed the utmost fortitude, courage and devotion to duty. Flt Lt Mawson flew 61 sorties with 635 Sqn.
Ernest died at Rangiora in early December 2009.
Steve,
I presume you have already obtained a copy of William's service record from Personnel Records, New Zealand Defence Force?
William is listed in the 'Airmen Sailing' appendix of my For Your Tomorrow - A record of New Zealanders who have died while serving with the RNZAF and Allied Air Services since 1915 (Volume Three: Biographies & Appendices) :
13 Dec 41 Rangitiki Auckland-Belfast via PC, arr 7 Feb 42. . . . RNZAF for att to RAF: 37 Pilots – died: Ashworth, C P; Barlow, N J; Black, L S; Browning, J R; Carpenter, A J; Dryden, A E; Graham, I D; Harvey, J R; Hood, W H; Innes-Jones, E M; Jones, C G; Jones, J S; Langston, P; Loftus, G D; Maxwell, N R; (15) – survived: Adams, W E F; Ashby, J F; Carter, W H; Davidson, T H; Delaney, A H; Dodman, K A; Fagg, N W; Faircloth, N W; Hamilton, J M; Henry, D J V (i/c of draft); Houlton, J A; Jenkinson, A M; Jones, W H; Keedwell, J H; Kofoed, G G; Marshall, R*; Mawson, W K*; Piggott, D A; Price, A J; Smith, D M; Wadham, R A; Williams, B D; (22).
PC = Panama Canal * = PoW
Ashworth's brother, Vinc Ashworth, has published a biography of him. Johnny Houlton wrote an autobiography called Spitfire Strikes.
I would be interested to learn of any first hand account of William's being shot down and his time as a PoW, as I contemplate publishing in due course a volume on New Zealand airmen PoWs (and escapers, evaders and internees) of WWI, WWII and the Korean War to complement my For Your Tomorrow volumes.
Errol
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Post by errolmartyn on Mar 24, 2012 13:53:09 GMT 12
69 years ago to the day.Heh...Must have been galling if he ever knew that his aircraft was made airworthy. What became of Mawson post war I wonder. According to electoral rolls, he was a commercial traveller in Christchurch but later became an engineer's assistant. He died on 29 Nov 1996. Errol
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laurent
Leading Aircraftman
Posts: 7
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Post by laurent on Apr 29, 2012 2:39:11 GMT 12
Hi Laurent, my name is Stephen Collins I was just browsing and came across this thread not sure if your still checking it, but if you are my grand father was William Knapton Mawson and would love to exchange information if your still interested, and also for anything you may have uncovered. Cheers Steve Hello Stephen , I would like to hear from you . see PM .
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Post by gunny on Apr 29, 2012 3:13:40 GMT 12
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laurent
Leading Aircraftman
Posts: 7
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Post by laurent on Jul 31, 2017 21:26:49 GMT 12
Hi Laurent, my name is Stephen Collins I was just browsing and came across this thread not sure if your still checking it, but if you are my grand father was William Knapton Mawson and would love to exchange information if your still interested, and also for anything you may have uncovered. Cheers Steve Hello gentlemen , I would like to hear from Steve Collins , born 21 Sept. 1985 ( see above ) . We have news regarding his grand father Sgt William Mawson's Typhoon . Steve or Stephen can't be reached via this forum . Any help is welcome . Thanks . Laurent. laurent.viton(at)neuf.fr
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