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Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 12, 2007 23:10:24 GMT 12
With the news that a B-25 Mitchell may soon be coming to New Zealand I decided to try to find out if any RNZAF or other Kiwis flew the type in WWII. I happened upon this page with a realy interesting looking book by a Kiwi who flew them in the RAF. I might have to get a copy of it. www.taradalehb.co.nz/promotions-details.asp?Advert_Code=29I haven't yet found any other references to Kiwis flying the type. Have you heard of anyone else who crewed them from NZ? I'm aware that the RNZAF Fighter Wing often escorted Mitchells in the Pacific as they bombed Rabaul and other targets. I won't be unhappy if a US Pacific scheme is applied to the Mitchell, but it would be more interesting and appropriate imho to consider a Mitchell with a Kiwi connection.
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Post by phasselgren on Jan 15, 2007 6:23:04 GMT 12
The only one I remember is Warrant Officer William John Murland who flew as an air gunner with 98 Squadron from December 1943 to the beginning of May 1944. I have seen some more names in By such Deeds but to find them again would take some weeks.
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Post by kiwi on Jan 15, 2007 12:39:36 GMT 12
A man called Innes Jones , who later became Black Rod of Parliament , was seriously wounded by a piece of shrapnel coming up through his seat early in the war in Europe . He was a navigator in a Blenhiem . After his recovery one of his jobs involved flying new Mitchells across the North Atlantic . He told me that these aircraft were amongst the first vehicles to use a form of an Anti Skid Braking system . Another comment I recall was that at Gandor American servicemen packed the aircraft dangerously heavy with parcels from home for US servicemen in the UK .
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 15, 2007 20:38:48 GMT 12
Interesting stuff - thanks.
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Post by John L on Jan 18, 2007 15:22:16 GMT 12
My father, who was in the Army Service Corps in the islands scored a trip as a waist gunner in a Mitchell on a raid, somewhere up in the islands. He was lucky there was no opposition - he said he would have been pretty useless, although he enjoyed the trip!!
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Post by Deleted on Nov 16, 2007 17:18:23 GMT 12
Check on a book called War is Hell by E. R. Smith - he flew them. I can tell you how to contact him
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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 18, 2007 12:30:24 GMT 12
Thanks Larry.
It seems like the B-25 isn't coming to NZ now anyway. But I'd be interested in Mr Smith's contact details if you could email me please. Cheers.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 5, 2014 22:56:24 GMT 12
I just found another kiwi who flew in No. 98 Squadron Mitchells.
Flight Lieutenant Alick Mewa, NZ414320, was a pilot on the Mitchell II's. Interestingly he was the first member of the Indian race to be granted a commission in the RNZAF. He was however born and bred in Auckland, the son of Ranjan and Piyari Mewa, and he attended Richmond Road School and Auckland Grammar.
Alick was killed in action on the 19th of August 1944 on Mitchell II HD329/B. Errol Martyn's book For Your Tomorrow (Volume Two) notes that his RAF navigator was also an officer of Indian descent.
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Post by kb on Oct 6, 2014 15:16:47 GMT 12
I just found another kiwi who flew in No. 98 Squadron Mitchells. Flight Lieutenant Alick Mewa, NZ414320, was a pilot on the Mitchell II's. Interestingly he was the first member of the Indian race to be granted a commission in the RNZAF. He was however born and bred in Auckland, the son of Ranjan and Piyari Mewa, and he attended Richmond Road School and Auckland Grammar. Alick was killed in action on the 19th of August 1944 on Mitchell II HD329/B. Errol Martyn's book For Your Tomorrow (Volume Two) notes that his RAF navigator was also an officer of Indian descent. I have another. Hugh Findlater flew Mitchells with 180 Squadron in Europe. This is from Air Force News Issue 162. There is a photo of him and it seems that he is still alive so you may wish to communicate with him. It would be great to tie in some specific aircraft with him for historical modelling purposes. After his tour he flew communications aircraft around Europe.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 6, 2014 17:23:45 GMT 12
Thanks Keith. Does the article mention which part of NZ he lives in?
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Post by kb on Oct 6, 2014 20:02:18 GMT 12
Thanks Keith. Does the article mention which part of NZ he lives in? Not on the part I have kept. It may be worthwhile getting in touch with Air Force News.
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Post by kb on Oct 6, 2014 20:09:53 GMT 12
Dave- A lot more info! He was a FLTLT and there is a 4min 19 Sec interview with him at:
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Post by kb on Oct 6, 2014 20:26:32 GMT 12
Coming back to Alick Mewa his aircraft was a B-25D US S/N 43-3801, RAF 98 Squadron HD329 Coded VO-B. Now all in one place!
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Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 6, 2014 20:42:51 GMT 12
Great stuff. It seems I may be getting contact details for Mr Findlater sent soon, so it would be great if I can meet and interview him with a full interview.
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Post by chinapilot on Oct 6, 2014 22:08:43 GMT 12
Dave now has contact details...
Hard to believe Hugh is now 91... We were two Kiwis flying around Nigeria and West Africa 32 years ago....
What a privilege to be able to do that.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 12, 2014 0:07:08 GMT 12
A No. 180 Squadron RAF Mitchell II (HD316) that crashed into the sea 12 miles off Beachy Head due to engine failure, on their way to attack an oil and lubricant dump at Clermont, France on Friday 25th of August 1944 had three New Zealanders onboard, who were all killed.
Pilot - F/Sgt William Radcliffe Lewis WOpAG - F/Sgt Kenneth George Curtis Air Gunner - F/Sgt Henry George Walters
Henry Walters was from Devonport and had worked in the newsroom of the New Zealand Herald before the war, and had been a top cricketer. He'd was a member of the North Shore Cricket Club and represented Auckland in the 1940-41 season. He also played Association football.
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Post by avenger on Oct 21, 2014 11:25:48 GMT 12
I believe there's a John (Jack) Curtis at Taupo who flew the B 25 in WW 2. Am able to contact him as know where he resides but don't hold his contact details, he also flew with NAC & AirNZ and at least one other International Airline following retirement from AirNZ.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 21, 2014 11:48:40 GMT 12
Thanks for this. I'll look into it. I still haven't had a chance to follow up on Mr Findlater yet, I must get onto that.
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Post by praxis on Oct 24, 2014 20:36:54 GMT 12
Another Kiwi Mitchell pilot is Dick Brunton. Dick flew B25's with 228 Sqn RAF as part of the 2nd Tactical Air Force. Most of his operational flying was daylight ops over the Low Countries in the lead up to D-Day. He still lives in Napier. Around 2005 he published his own book entitles "My War 1939-1945 by Flt Lt E R (Dick) Brunton.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 24, 2014 21:31:23 GMT 12
Thanks Praxis
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