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Post by gillescollaveri on Sept 16, 2016 7:31:24 GMT 12
Good morning all, A French friend of mine found a beautiful Mosquito Door in France and it comes from the Mosquito NFXIII HK399 from 256th squadron crashed in 1944 (See francecrashes39-45.net/page_fiche_av.php?id=3623 ) We are now looking for the family of the navigator of this Mosquito: Rex Frederick Cottrell (from NZ) . He was killed during the crash and my friend would like to give this door to the navigator’s family. could some of you help us trace this family ? We know that he was the son of Albert George & Ella Mary Cottrell, from Rotorua, in Auckland and we were able to gather some data on his family. See the link here under: you will see pictures of this door and also the family information we found. forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?140102-A-beautiful-Mosquito-door-saved&p=2338966&posted=1#post2338966Thanks in advance for your assistance. Gilles Collaveri aerocherche.fr/ |
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Post by errolmartyn on Sept 16, 2016 9:32:05 GMT 12
From my 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 1944 - 1998):
Sun 2/Mon 3 Jul 1944
MEDITERRANEAN ALLIED AIR FORCES
Intruder patrol over the Plan-de-Lieu and Lyon areas, Southern France
256 Squadron, RAF (La Sénia, Algeria - 337 Wing, Mediterranean Allied Coastal Air Force)
Mosquito NF.XIII HK399 - piloted by Wt Off T D De Renzy, RNZAF, and recorded as missing at 2205. Brought down near Lyon, the pilot survived to be taken prisoner, while his comrade was buried in the La Guillotiere New Communal Cemetery at Lyon. In 1953 the French created a new cemetery in the city’s suburb of La Duo, transferring to it the French military graves and those of all 39 Allied airmen then buried at La Guillotiere.
Navigator: NZ416214 Wt Off Rex Frederick COTTRELL, RNZAF - Age 21. 336hrs.
This was Cottrell’s 15th op with 256 Sqn. Prior to posting to the Middle East he had also flown an unknown number in Britain with 488 Sqn, RNZAF.
And Volume Three (Biographies & Appendices):
COTTRELL, Warrant Officer Rex Frederick.
NZ416214; b Te Puke 28 Dec 22; Auckland Grammar (1st XV & Athletic Team), Rotorua High & Grammar Sch & Victoria Univ Coll; clerk - Public Trust Office, Wgtn. NZ Army/TF (1Bn Wgtn Regt) 8 mths; RNZAF Levin/ITW as Airman Pilot u/t 9 Nov 41, 4EFTS 20 Dec 41, pilot trg terminated 4 Jan 42, Rongotai 9 Jan 42, ITW 25 Jan 42, remust as Air Observer u/t 26 Jan 42, emb for Canada 2 Mar 42, att RCAF 2 Apr 42, 5 M Depôt 3 Apr 42, 4AOS 12 Apr 42, remust as Air Navigator u/t 22 Jun 42, Air Observers Badge [in lieu Air Navigators Badge] & Sgt 14 Aug 42, 1 Y Depôt 26 Aug 42, att RAF & emb for UK 28 Oct 42 [originally to emb 23 Sep but ship 'condemned'], 3PRC 5 Nov 42, 9(O)AFU 13 Dec 42, 62OTU (Anson) 5 May 43, 51OTU (Beaufighter) 9 Jun 43, 54OTU (Beaufighter) 15 Jun 43, AI Conv Flt (Beaufighter) Oct 43, 488 Sqn RNZAF (Mosquito - ? ops) 14 Sep 43, Lyneham e.Feb 44, by air to Malta via Morocco & Algeria c.6-12 Mar 44, 256 Sqn (Mosquito - 15 ops) c.12 Mar 44, kao 3 Jul 44. Lyon (La Doua) French National Cemetery - E.2, Rhone, France. Son of Albert George & Ella Mary Cottrell (née Astley), Rotorua. [phot. TWN 30.8.44].
Errol
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Post by Brett on Sept 16, 2016 16:01:34 GMT 12
It looks like Rex Cottrell had two brothers and two sisters, each of whom married and had children, who then married and had their own children etc. It looks like 12 nieces & nephews and 24+ of the following generation. TreeDetails of the living members of the family are not displayed, but if you contact Chris Korte (his contact details are on the site) he may contact them on your behalf, or give you more information. If you are unable to successfully contact any family members, then might I suggest that the door be donated to one of the major museums in NZ in the name of Rex Cottrell? Best of luck, Brett |
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Post by McFly on Sept 16, 2016 18:27:14 GMT 12
Negative Number: HbH481 Caption: Group. Pilots course 25D, B Flight. Number 4 Service Flying Training School, Royal New Zealand Air Force Station Whenuapai. Further Information: L-R: Back; S.E Collins, A. Davies, E.H. Andrews, V.H. Simmons, W.N. D'Audney, I.H.W. Baulf, A.F. Jenkin, L.J. Casey. Middle; F.A. Hayes, H.G. Ellison, F. Beswick, H. Boundy, A.W. Hollis, W.J. Collins, S.J. Heald, G.P. Broun, N.R. Bateup, R. Brough, R.F. Cottrell. Front; J.V. Hawkins R.L. Stevens, D.R. Browne, J.L. Hendry, R.F. Elliot, H.B. Candy, F.D. Higham, N.O. Hobbs, W.I. Holmes. Year of Image: 1941 Image Date Information: 21 December 1941 Format: Negative-Full Plate-Glass  (Photo Air Force Museum) Negative Number: MUS1000819 Caption: `Portrait of Rex Frederick Cottrell, member of Course 48 at Number 4 Air Observer School, london, Ontario, Canada. Further Information: Year of Image: 1942 Image Date Information: Format: Digital image  (Photo Air Force Museum) |
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Post by McFly on Sept 16, 2016 18:34:11 GMT 12
Excerpt from the book 'The Long Road'.   Excerpt from "Missing Aircrew'.  Cottrell Info.  |
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Post by gillescollaveri on Sept 17, 2016 17:47:38 GMT 12
Thanks Guys for all your answers and documentation.
So far I have not succeeded in finding Rex Frederiok's Cottrell but I continue searching.
If some one has sometime to take the Telephone book of Auckland Area and have a look...that might bring an answer ?
Thanks in advance
Gilles Collaveri
aerocherche.fr
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Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 17, 2016 17:59:27 GMT 12
It seems Rex's siblings were:
Albert George Charles COTTRELL b: 16 JAN 1913 in Rangitikei, Manawatu, New Zealand - died 1952 - he had two children
Astley Bernard COTTRELL b: 13 MAR 1914 in Rotorua, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand - died 1972 - he had five children
Joan Mary COTTRELL b: 17 SEP 1915 in Pukekohe, Auckland, New Zealand - died 1994 (married name Joan Nisbet) she had two children
Bernice COTTRELL b: 1917 in Onehunga, Auckland, New Zealand - died 2011 (married name Bernice Sweet) - she had three children
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Post by ErrolC on Sept 17, 2016 19:22:37 GMT 12
The NZ telephone books are searchable at whitepages.co.nz
However I suggest emailing Chris Korte per above, as they seem likely to have some contact details for the correct Cottrells, or at least the names of the individuals who are relevant.
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jaybee
Squadron Leader
Posts: 122
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Post by jaybee on Sept 17, 2016 19:33:02 GMT 12
For another option, it looks like the funeral notice for Bernice Sweet can be purchased at nzherald.co.nz. This would likely give the names of living descendants as at 2011. Then we could use white pages to track down some possible phone numbers?
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jaybee
Squadron Leader
Posts: 122
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Post by jaybee on Sept 17, 2016 20:10:20 GMT 12
Checked out the death notice option. Bernice was survived by daughters, and the notice doesn't give their married surname. Searching their first names + Sweet doesn't give anything. The next best line of inquiry for this option will be talking to the Osbourne funeral directors, in Rotorua. That will need to wait until next week.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 17, 2016 20:39:20 GMT 12
Joan Nisbet's daughter is/was Lynlie Robyn Macbeth, born 1936.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 17, 2016 20:45:44 GMT 12
Apparently Rex's brother Albert George Charles Cottrell was also RNZAF, and Astley Bernard Cottrell was a Captain in the Army, in tanks, during WWII.
Not only that but their father Albert George Cottrell was also RNZAF.
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Post by errolmartyn on Sept 17, 2016 22:34:49 GMT 12
Apparently Rex's brother Albert George Charles Cottrell was also RNZAF, and Astley Bernard Cottrell was a Captain in the Army, in tanks, during WWII. Not only that but their father Albert George Cottrell was also RNZAF. Albert George Charles Cottrell, enlisted 30 May 42. Albert George Cottrell was not RNZAF according to my records, or at least not prior to 1949. Errol |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 17, 2016 22:53:56 GMT 12
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Post by errolmartyn on Sept 17, 2016 23:48:10 GMT 12
Dave, I think that the 'Note' really just means that the father is mentioned in the obit about his RNZAF son, not that he himself was in the RNZAF. Errol |
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Post by AussieBob on Sept 22, 2016 18:02:03 GMT 12
I have had contact from Chris Korte ( the man who owns the family tree which includes Rex Cottrell family in Brett's message) and he is aware of the discussion topic re Rex Cottrell and hasn't had time to respond yet.
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Post by gillescollaveri on Sept 23, 2016 8:36:30 GMT 12
Great !
Thanks a thousand.
When I get News I let you know.
Gilles
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jaybee
Squadron Leader
Posts: 122
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Post by jaybee on Sept 23, 2016 10:14:39 GMT 12
Email request sent to Osbournes funeral directors to pass my contact details to Bernice's living relatives, so waiting to see what emerges from that.
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Post by thomarse on Sept 23, 2016 10:21:15 GMT 12
Going right back to the first post, wouldn't it be the most appropriate thing if the door was to become part of a current restoration project?
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Post by baronbeeza on Sept 23, 2016 11:23:53 GMT 12
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