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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 16, 2014 0:42:45 GMT 12
Richard Hawkins has sent this photo to me to post here. The pilot second-from-left is his late father, Ossie Hawkins, but he'd like to know who the other men are. Does anyone recognise their faces? We're not sure if they were with No. 19 Squadron at Emirau or No. 26 Squadron at Piva, which were the two tours Ossie did.  |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 16, 2014 10:07:14 GMT 12
If it helps at all, the dates of Ossie's tours in the Pacific were:
No. 19 squadron:
Guadalcanal 26 Oct 44-19 Nov 44
Emirau 21 Nov 44-5 Jan 45
No. 26 Squadron:
Guadalcanal March - April 45
Bougainville (Piva N) April - June 45.
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Post by Brenton on Apr 16, 2014 21:25:27 GMT 12
My father Allan Emett was with 19 and then 26 sqn's at the very same times as Ossie Hawkins. When I showed him that first photo of Ossie standing in front of NZ5315 dad thought he looked familiar but wasn't to sure. It's the same with all of the photo's of both Sqn's. Difficult to put names to faces. He does remember some though. Do you have the names of all of the Sqn's members ? I can tell you who he does remember if you like.
We think we can match those other pilots with Ossie with members of 26 sqn. but can't remember names
www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.298600506960662&type=1&l=30ff922578
Can't remember how to post photos LOL. |
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Post by camtech on Apr 16, 2014 22:13:46 GMT 12
Both were with 19 Sqdn on its third tour - reformed at Ardmore 22 Sep 44 , Fg Off Hawkins and Sgt Emett joining the squadron. The squadron moved to Guadalcanal vis Espiritu Santo 25-26 Oct 44, commencing flying 28 Oct. Moved to Emirau 18-19 Nov for its operational tour, commencing operational flying 24 Nov. Last operational flights 4 Jan 45, then returned to NZ.
Hawkins and Emett then left the squadron, and I assume rested before joining 26 Sqdn.
The above detail is from the original hand written diaries from the third, fourth and fifth tours, written by the Intelligence Officer. The original is held by the Air Force Museum.
I have copies of the Sqdn photos for each tour, but not great quality.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 17, 2014 0:10:35 GMT 12
No. 19 Squadron personnel on the third tour:
S/L John Rutherford Clark Killian, Croix de Guerre (CO)
F/L John Evelyn Sanders, mid
F/L John Leslie Scott
F/O Edward Terence Aickin
F/O Aubrey Albert Donald Bills, Qcbc
F/O A. Fogarty
F/O Ossie Hawkins
P/O C. Carnachan
P/O A. Carson (Intelligence Officer)
P/O P. Freyberg
P/O Geoffrey Goldsack
P/O D. Holliss
P/O R. Johnston
P/O F. Symon
P/O K. Wright
P/O Ross Yetton
F/S E. Brown
F/S Gerald George
F/S G. Grant
F/S Frank Green
F/S Garnham
F/S Peter Lloyd Jones
F/S J. Morrison
F/S Graeme J. Ronayne
F/S George T. Watt
Sgt Allan Emett,
Sgt Derek Butler Flintoff
Sgt B.A. Wilson
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 17, 2014 0:36:53 GMT 12
If your father can fill in any of the first names I'd appreciate it please. And nicknames too for that matter.
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Post by thomarse on Apr 17, 2014 7:13:32 GMT 12
Quite possibly F/S Rex K Garnham, later of Garnham Aviation and Rangitikei Air Services.
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Post by Brenton on Apr 17, 2014 10:04:18 GMT 12
P.Freyberg was Peter I think and Allan (dad) said he was the Generals nephew. Peter saved Allans life ( well...you know ?) one day with 19sqn. Longish story so only if you want to hear it.
Wilson was known as Pop. He nearly cost Allan and some of the others their lives when in 26sqn. Just a simple mistake and laughed off at the time.
I'll show dad that list and see what he makes of it. It would be nice to see a list of the 26sqn names also ? Maybe some more photos ?
F/O A. Fogarty was the chap who disappeared into the Hauraki Gulf. He parachuted out of his Corsair but both he and the plane were lost without trace I believe.
Brent.
Edit...Whoops...hold fire with the Wilson comment. It's a different Wilson. Freyberg story was at Emirau. My mistakes...sorry.
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Post by Brenton on Apr 17, 2014 12:12:20 GMT 12
It's still confusing even after talking with dad and comparing photos that we have but maybe that photo above is with 19sqn. The pilot on Ossie's left is tall and could well be P/O Geoffrey Goldsack. Dad remembered him as Goldworthy and picked him also in the informal photo of 26sqn (jungle background) standing 2nd from left with Freyburg on his left and Sqn Leader Delves in front of him. In the formal photo of 19sqn Goldsack is 4th from left middle row. In that photo still, is that Ossie 2nd from right middle row ? Perhaps the guy (name unknown) on his right (1st on middle row)is on the right of your top photo.
Hope that all makes some sense but in a nut shell we don't have the answers. Just too long ago I guess and dads never been good with names anyhow.
Brent.
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Post by McFly on Apr 17, 2014 12:39:50 GMT 12
A few photos and names that might be helpful...  Negative Number: PR3924 Caption: Group of Number 19 Squadron personnel, prior to their second tour. Royal New Zealand Air Force Station, Ardmore. Further Information: L-R: BAck; GT Watt, CJ Berryman, FB BEnnett, GJ Ronayne, JF Green, A Cunningham, RW Henderson, KW Wright, JM Knight. Middle; PL Jones, JMcR Calder, RF Garnham, DM Hutton, JE Sanders, AM Hollings (Intelligence Officer), RH Armstrong, NL Killde, GR Bary. Front; RH Annand-Smith, RW Smith, DE Hogan DFC, JRC Kilian CdeG, MT Vanderpump DFC, PD Gifford, RB Johnson, AAD Bills. Absent; DA Youngs. Year of Image: 1944 Image Date Information: 8 June 1944 Format: Negative-5x4-B&W  Negative Number: PR4839 Caption: Group of Number 19 Squadron personnel in front of a Chance Vought Corsair, before their third tour. Royal New Zealand Air Force Station Ardmore. Further Information: L-R: Back; George, Holliss, Emett, Morrison, Wilson, Watt, Ronayne, Garnham, Jones, Flintoff. Middle; Green, Brown, Grant, Goldsack, Symon, Fogerty, Aicken, Hawkins, Yetton. Front; Bills, Carnachan, Carson (Intelligence Officer), Sanders, Kilian, (Commanding Officer), Scott, Johnston, Wright, Freyberg. Year of Image: 1944 Image Date Information: 27 September 1944. Format: Negative-5x4-B&W  Negative Number: PR5530 Caption: Group of Number 19 Squadron personnel in front of a Chance Vought Corsair, during their fourth tour. Los Negros. Further Information: L-R: Back; Morrison, Warren, Flintoff, Howlett, Brown, Brundell, McArthur, Wilson, Paterson. Middle; Deller, Jones, Green, Vallentine, Callaghan, Garnham, Yetton, Grant, Ronayne. Front; Holliss, Bills, Carson (Intelligence Officer), Aickin, Killian (Commanding Officer), Scott, Carnachan, Johnston, Watt Year of Image: 1945 Image Date Information: February 1945 Format: Negative-5x4-B&W  Negative Number: PR3919 Caption: Group of Number 19 Squadron personnel in front of a Chance Vought Corsair, during their second tour. Torokina, Bougainville. Further Information: L-R: Back; PL Jones, CJ Berryman, GJ Ronayne, G George, RW Henderson, A Cunningham, NL Kiddle, JM Calder. Middle; KW Wright, JM Knight, RF Garnham, RW Smith, RH Armstrong, CR Carnachan, RB Johnson, JF Green, GT Watt, PS Freyberg. Front; AAD Bills, DA Youngs, PD Gifford, JRC Kilian, DE Hogan, JE Sanders, AM Hollings (Intelkligence Officer). Written on bomb in foreground: "blunt end" (left) "15/8/44, 19 FIGHTER SQDN (centre) and "sharp end" (right). Year of Image: 1944 Image Date Information: 15 August 1944. Format: Negative-5x4-B&W  (All photos - Air Force Museum) |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 17, 2014 13:59:41 GMT 12
I think the chap on the left is George Watt. He is second-from-left in this shot  |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 17, 2014 14:02:02 GMT 12
Here's George Watt again  |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 17, 2014 14:18:04 GMT 12
I'm afraid I don't have any photos from No. 26 (F) Squadron from that March-June 1945 tour. I do have a photo of the squadron after it reformed at Ardmore in July 1944, but the squadron was very short-lived -- someone realised they had 13 fighter squadrons active all at once which had not happened before apparently (there had been thirteen squadrons but usually at least one was disbanded for a period while members were on leave). The hierarchy considered it awfully bad luck to have 13 active squadrons so when No. 22 (F) Squadron returned from a tour within a few days both squadrons were disbanded and then what had been No. 26 (F) Squadron reformed as No. 22 (F) Squadron.
All a bit odd but that is what happened.
Brenton I'd love to hear those long stories please.
So back to the original photo, do we agree from left to right we have:
George Watt, Ossie Hawkins, Geoffrey Goldsack and ??
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Post by Brenton on Apr 17, 2014 16:36:32 GMT 12
You are right about George Watt in fact that's actually what dads first suggestion was last night. It's me who's confused it more if anything. It was my suggestion that the guy at the other end could be P/O Ross Yetton.
But it's only a guess and neither of us can guess the last one in the middle. The thing to remember also is that the Officers and the sergeants lived in different areas and didn't mix so much. Makes it harder for dad yet again so maybe those last two were officers like Ossie.
If you look at those photos from my facebook album you'll see some of shots that are all from 26sqn. The pilot in the cockpit of a Corsair is most definitely Ivan Walker. He is also in that group of 4. Too his left is Colin Tallot and the other two are unknown. The other photos dad has are so small you can't make much out anymore if indeed you ever could.
I'll work out the names dad remembers of the guys in order for that 'jungle' photo of 26sqn and come back again later.
Brent.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 17, 2014 16:43:35 GMT 12
Now I am confused. Where is the kink to your Facebook album please?
And which photo are we talking bout with Ivan Walker and Colin Tallot? Are they in your album?
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Post by Brenton on Apr 17, 2014 17:35:48 GMT 12
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 17, 2014 18:14:43 GMT 12
Aha, call me Mr Thicky, I missed the link before. Thanks.
So in Richard Hawkins' photo is is George Watt, Ossie Hawkins, Geoffrey Goldsack and possibly Ross Yetton?
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 17, 2014 18:16:16 GMT 12
I see you have that 26 Squadron group shot I mentioned. Did I send that to you? It has the same sticker on it.
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Post by Brenton on Apr 17, 2014 18:32:48 GMT 12
Picked it up from your WONZ stuff somewhere. But no names.
Back to the top photo we do not have a name for either of the pilots on the right but I suggested Ross Yetton as a guess. That's all it is so I'm afraid we've been no help to you so far.
Do you have names for that Jungle photo ? in order ? I'll come back later.
Brent.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 17, 2014 19:05:21 GMT 12
Regarding that July 1945 No. 26 Squadron photo I think the CO (centre, front row) was S/Ldr G.A. Delves (George?). And the man on his left is Noel Hanna who I got the photo from. I don't know who any of the others are, but a lot of them look pretty young so probably straight from Corsair Conversion Unit. Looking at the photos I think your father's instinct was right for Geoffrey Goldsack. I am not sure about the fourth chap being Yetton though. By "that Jungle photo" I assume you mean this one?  I have no idea who any of them are. But they seem to have khaki F/S hats, I have never seen that before. Usually you see even with tropical khaki uniforms the RNZAF retained the blue F/S hats. They look like Americans in those hats. I am wondering if it's a mix of kiwis (in the S/D hats) and Americans? |
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