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Post by wheezynana on Mar 4, 2012 20:52:43 GMT 12
The following are names of men mentioned in Chic's diary, spelling may not be 100% - are any of them known....
Jack O'Neill - Rex Retallick - F.Lt Murry - Lt Clemmins - De Suser - Sgt Neal - Bruce McChaffey - S/Sgt Hogan - Harry Jamison - Cpl Dave Camrom - Jack Lorell - F/L Bowers - Cpl Bates - Cpl Hyde - Dr Norris - W/C Dix - Lt Ritcherson - Ruddyman - Percy Ford - Jock Ross.
There are many more with first names only....
Thanks Anne & Rachel
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 4, 2012 22:13:50 GMT 12
Wing Commander, later Group Captain, Frank Dix was very well known in the Air Force. He was a pilot who served from 1931-1957. He died in 1992.
Cpl Hyde is the man who had his arm chopped off by the Corsair, which you will know as it's in the 5SU details Rachel sent me.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 4, 2012 22:18:26 GMT 12
Oh wait, that was Cpl Hydes, not Hyde, who lost his arm. Acting Corproal Ken George Hydes NZ401994. I wonder if the 's' is accidentally omitted in the diary?
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Post by wheezynana on Mar 5, 2012 13:40:33 GMT 12
Thanks Dave - it probably was the chap who lost his arm - Chic was not a very good speller, especially of names a lot of which seem to be spelt phonetically.
Anne
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Post by errolmartyn on Mar 5, 2012 15:37:13 GMT 12
From Colin Hanson's By Such Deeds - Honours and Awards in the Royal New Zealand Air Force, 1923-1999 :
DIX, Group Captain Francis Ross, CBE, Bronze Star Medal (US).
NZ1019 & 70010; Born Wellington, 8 Dec 1904; NZ Army/TF (Nelson/Marlborough Mtd Rifles) for 3 yrs; RAF 13 Mar 1931 to 20 Jan 1932; NZAF 21 Aug 1932, RNZAF 14 Oct 1935 to 27 Jun 1957; Pilot.
Hon Aide-de-Camp to HE the Governor-General 1 Apr 1948 to 31 Mar 1949.
Citation Bronze Star Medal (US)
(28 Jun 1946): For distinguishing himself by meritorious achievement in connection with operations against the enemy as Operations Officer, Air Command Emirau Island, from 15 December, 1944 to 28 May, 1945. During this time, Wing Commander Dix, by planning and co-ordinating the conduct of air operations from the Emirau Island Base, made a major contribution to the success of the air offensive against the enemy.
Citation Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KB1948):
Not available. Gp Capt Dix was accepted for a short service commission in the Royal Air Force in Dec 1930 and served with them from Mar 1931 to Jan 1932 when he resigned his commission to return to NZ. In Aug 1932 he was appointed to a commission in the NZAF with the rank of Plt Off and posted to 4 (AC) Sqn. In Jun 1933 he was promoted to Fg Off and in Sep 1935 he was accepted for a short service commission in the RNZAF and posted to Wigram. In Jul 1937 he returned to England where he attended an RAF Armaments School. He then spent some time on attachment to various RAF squadrons before returning to NZ in Jan 1939. He was promoted Flt Lt in Jan 1939 and posted to Wigram as Senior Armament Officer. In Sep 1940 he was granted a permanent commission and in Mar 1942 he was posted as CO RNZAF Levin, in the acting rank of Wg Cdr. A posting to the Air Dept, as Staff Officer Armament, followed and in 1943 he went to the United States to study armament developments. On return he was appointed CO Gisborne, Aug-Sep 1944, and in October was posted to the Pacific as CO RNZAF Field HQ, Emirau. On return to NZ he was CO Remuera and in 1946 CO Mechanics Bay. Later in 1947 he became CO Wigram. His distinguished service to the RNZAF, particularly as CO of numerous Stations, was recognised by the award of the OBE.
Citation Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (QB1955): Not available. Following attendance of the Joint Services Staff College Gp Capt Dix returned to NZ to become CO Ohakea in 1949. Various Air Dept appointments followed including service as Assistant Air Member for Personnel and Director of Training until, in 1954, he returned to Wigram as CO, a post he held until his retirement in 1957. His outstanding service to the RNZAF in many command and administrative appointments was recognised by the award of the CBE.
CO 4 Sqn RNZAF (Ventura) Jan-Feb 1945. Died Wellington, 5 Aug 1992.
Also mention of Hydes' in Hanson's entry for this chap:
BREINGAN, Corporal Charles Ernest, BEM.
NZ402052; Born Gisborne, 30 Sep 1909; RNZAF 12 Jul 1940 to 21 Dec 1945; Fitter IIE.
Citation British Empire Medal (NY1946): By his general ingenuity, initiative and leadership as a technical non-commissioned officer, and in particular by his prompt and cool conduct which resulted in saving the life of a comrade who had lost an arm as a result of an accident,[/li][li] Corporal Breingan set an outstanding example to all ranks associated with him in the Pacific. Apart from his timely assistance when a fellow airman was gravely injured Corporal Breingan distinguished himself specially in improvising equipment to meet immediate requirements. He salvaged and brought back into use much equipment that had been discarded, and overcame shortages of certain spares by himself making excellent replacement parts. Corporal Breingan has displayed outstanding devotion to duty.[/i] [/li][li] On 28 Nov 1944, at Emirau, Cpl K G Hydes, RNZAF, losing an arm when a Corsair motor he was priming accidentally started.
Died Wellington, 9 May 1977.
Errol
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Post by errolmartyn on Mar 5, 2012 15:41:20 GMT 12
Oh wait, that was Cpl Hydes, not Hyde, who lost his arm. Acting Corproal Ken George Hydes NZ401994. I wonder if the 's' is accidentally omitted in the diary? Dave, Routine Orders has Kenneth George Hydes' number as NZ401004. He enlisted at Hillside, No 4 Technical Training Centre as a flight mechanic on 29 March 1940. Errol |
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Post by errolmartyn on Mar 5, 2012 15:51:26 GMT 12
The following are names of men mentioned in Chic's diary, spelling may not be 100% - are any of them known.... Jack O'Neill - Rex Retallick - F.Lt Murry - Lt Clemmins - De Suser - Sgt Neal - Bruce McChaffey - S/Sgt Hogan - Harry Jamison - Cpl Dave Camrom - Jack Lorell - F/L Bowers - Cpl Bates - Cpl Hyde - Dr Norris - W/C Dix - Lt Ritcherson - Ruddyman - Percy Ford - Jock Ross. There are many more with first names only.... Thanks Anne & Rachel Retallick was NZ424239 Rex William Retallick, who enlisted at Levin as an Aircrafthand on 31 May 42. He had previously served as an Air Training Corps cadet. He died in 1986 and is buried at Whangarei. 'Ruddyman' may well be NZ40691 William Albert Warne Ruddiman, who enlisted at Wigram as an Instrument Repairer on 23 February 1940. He died 1985 (Waimairi Cemetery, Christchurch). Others more difficult to identify without further information, though not all appear to be Air Force. Errol |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 5, 2012 17:37:09 GMT 12
Yes Instrument Repairer William Albert Warne Ruddiman was on the No. 5 SU roll.
Hydes is definately listed as NZ401994 on the No. 5 SU roll when they departed NZ. I guess the roll is incorrect?
Jack O'Neill would have been Firecrew member John Smart O'Neill NZ435057
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Post by wheezynana on Mar 5, 2012 17:58:40 GMT 12
Thanks all - the search goes on...
Anne
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Post by errolmartyn on Mar 5, 2012 18:51:36 GMT 12
Yes Instrument Repairer William Albert Warne Ruddiman was on the No. 5 SU roll. Hydes is definately listed as NZ401994 on the No. 5 SU roll when they departed NZ. I guess the roll is incorrect? Jack O'Neill would have been Firecrew member John Smart O'Neill NZ435057 The typist probably just missed the correct 0 key when typing up the list and hit the adjacent 9 instead. NZ401994 belongs to Robert Stewart Mercer, who enlisted at Harewood as a flight mechanic on 12 July 1940. I can confirm O'Neill as enlisting as fire crew, at Linton on 29 April 1943. Errol |
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