|
Post by general on Apr 29, 2014 16:40:43 GMT 12
Devonport RSA were looking for relatives of F/O Kenneth McArthur, last year. In the letter I received were details of his rank and tragic death. A 40 Sqn C-47 were probably repatriating personnel from Santu when it disappeared. He didn't register in the family research my uncle did many years ago, though I'm certain he features somewhere in the family tree. I'd be interested to know who the pax were. Servicemen? aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19450924-0fourwindsrnzaf-com.webs.com/fourwindsmemorial.htmRegards
|
|
|
Post by errolmartyn on Apr 29, 2014 17:23:21 GMT 12
From my trilogy For Your Tomorrow - A record of New Zealanders who have died while serving with the RNZAF and Allied Air Services since 1915 (Volume Two: Fates 1943-1998):
Mon 24 Sep 1945 SOUTH PACIFIC Transport flight from Pallikulo, Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, to Whenuapai 40 Squadron, RNZAF (Whenuapai) Douglas C-47B Dakota NZ3526 - took off at 0530 and failed to arrive. Routine radio communication was maintained until 0906, when a ‘standby, standby’ message was sent from the aircraft. The Norfolk Island receiving station acknowledged this and called back a few minutes later, but there was no reply. Nothing further was heard or seen of the transport or its four crew and 16 passengers, despite a large scale search undertaken by Catalina, Dakota, Hudson and Liberator aircraft over several days. All of the missing are commemorated on the Bourail Memorial. An aircraft following 25 minutes behind later reported that it had encountered very turbulent air conditions at approximate latitude 22.5° south, and had to climb to avoid them. It was thought most likely that NZ3526 had suffered a catastrophic structural failure on encountering similar weather. The 20 deaths associated with the disappearance of NZ3526 represent the largest loss of life incurred by the RNZAF in a single day. Captain: NZ401383 Fg Off Jack Arthur HOFFEINS, RNZAF - Age 24. 1190+hrs (590+ solo on Dakota) Flight Engineer: NZ405126 Cpl John Douglas JACOBS, RNZAF - Age 26. 803+hrs. 116 ops. Navigator: NZ425270 Fg Off Kenneth McARTHUR, RNZAF - Age 28. Wireless Op: NZ412981 Plt Off Clifton Charles KENNEDY, RNZAF - Age 25. 1405+hrs. 109 ops. (Flight Mechanic): NZ427114 LAC Oswald Ferguson BATH, RNZAF - Age 32. (Signals Officer): NZ39447 Flt Lt Wilfred Francis COULSON, RNZAF - Age 38. (Driver): NZ438348 LAC Harry FAINE, RNZAF - Age 25. (Armament Officer): NZ402681 Fg Off Douglas FARR, mid, RNZAF - Age 25. (Armourer): NZ4312786 LAC George FIRMAN, RNZAF - Age 22. (Fire Crew): NZ391404 Cpl Edmund Eaton GOSSLING, RNZAF - Age 34. (Armourer): NZ425982 LAC John Barnard GRENFELL, RNZAF - Age 23. (CS&MW*): NZ411716 Cpl Frank Graham HALDANE, RNZAF - Age 35. (Aircrafthand): NZ441345 LAC Frederick John KEARNEY, RNZAF - Age 22. (Intelligence Officer): NZ2323 Fg Off Alan Allister MACPHERSON, RNZAF - Age 28. (Mechanic MT): NZ416736 LAC David John REID, RNZAF - Age 26. (Disciplinarian): NZ391186 Flt Sgt Reginald Bernard RUSSELL, RNZAF - Age 41. (Carpenter): NZ4214285 LAC Ralph Gordon SAVAGE, RNZAF - Age 36. (Patrolman): NZ442296 LAC Raymond Jonathan TAYLOR, RNZAF - Age 22. (Wireless Mechanic): NZ436105 LAC Douglas Stanley THOMAS, RNZAF - Age 20. (Intelligence Clerk): NZ4210354 Cpl Marshall Harry WILSON, RNZAF - Age 21. * Coppersmith & Metal Worker Crew: - Hoffeins had served in the Middle East, first as a fighter pilot with 213 Sqn, RAF, and later on ferrying and transport duties with 216 Group. His operational hours amounted to 70, but the number of sorties is unknown. Jacobs, returning from a tour of duty in the South Pacific which he had completed on Guadalcanal, was a Fitter IIE by trade and acting as flight engineer on the flight, the regular flight engineer having been left behind, sick. McArthur and Kennedy had each completed two South Pacific tours. Passengers: - including 13 South Islanders, were all returning to New Zealand at the end of their South Pacific tours. Macpherson, Reid and Wilson were at the end of their second tour, the others their first. Farr had previously served in Britain, including a year with 489 Sqn, RNZAF. The passengers last known postings were as follows: - Bath (2 Servicing Unit), Coulson (Jacquinot Bay), Faine (1 Islands Works Sqn), Farr (3SU), Firman (3SU), Gossling (31SU), Grenfell (3SU), Haldane (Field Maintenance Unit), Kearney (1 Islands Works Sqn), Macpherson (17 Sqn), Reid (ZEAIRTAF), Russell (ZEAIRTAF), Savage (FMU), Taylor (3SU), Thomas (3SU) and Wilson (17 Sqn).
And amendments published in Vol Three:
GOSSLING, E E - correct age is 36. MACPHERSON, A A – flew at least 220hrs as pilot. RUSSELL, R B – in footnote’s reference to him (on 2nd last line), for Russell (ZEAIRTAF), read Russell (Jacquinot Bay). THOMAS, D S – amend service number to read NZC436105.
Errol
|
|
|
Post by general on Apr 29, 2014 18:33:15 GMT 12
Wow. Thanks, Errol.
Half those names are reminiscent of people who served the save time as me, in the 80s/90s. Sobering to think of the sum total of missions flown, only to be downed by the weather.
Regards
|
|
sfb
Sergeant
Posts: 14
|
Post by sfb on Apr 29, 2014 21:30:56 GMT 12
In case you are unaware, a memorial service was held for this and the other 40 Sqn tragedy (Ball Pass avalanche in 1975) in September 2013. There is currently a memorial rock (from Mt Cook area) and plaque outside 40 Squadron that was unveiled at the service. Its possible the Devonport RSA were involved in the search for relatives/descendants of the Dakota crew prior to the service. 40 Squadron are still interested in hearing from anybody that is related.
|
|
family
Leading Aircraftman
Posts: 1
|
Post by family on Sept 30, 2018 15:59:48 GMT 12
On 24 September 2005 at the RNZAF Museum, Wigram a Memorial Service was held. Most of the families were represented of those who lost their lives on NZ3526. There were family tributes and official speeches. A memorial booklet was printed which contained stories of those who lost their lives and in some cases the next-of kin who presented the memorial. My Uncle was one of those who lost his life on the aircraft and I was present at the service. I have a copy of the booklet and have also uploaded it on the Auckland War Memorial Museum website.
|
|
|
Post by planewriting on Sept 30, 2018 20:45:44 GMT 12
In 1960, when I was in Standard 4 (Gladstone Primary, Mt Albert), my teacher John T Martin was very interested in aviation and to my delight spoke about it often. One day, when a DC-3 went over he told us how his best friend (name not given) disappeared on a DC-3 (C-47) on its way back from the war, never to be seen again. That would have been NZ3526.
He even had the entire class, boys and girls making balsa wood model aeroplanes. The design we all used was called the Gladstone Rocket. When they were all finished he arranged a class parents' hour where we had a duration challenge in front of our parents. Mine landed in the school swimming pool. He often talked about the NAC planes going to and from Whenuapai and got me to explain at morning talk how an NAC graphical time-table works and we monitored it for accuracy till home time. From my desk by the window I could even see the Sunderlands taxiing on the Waitemata Harbour near Hobsonville. 1960 was good year...
|
|