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Post by phasselgren on Oct 4, 2021 2:40:39 GMT 12
Hi,
New Zealand air gunner Flight Sergeant T. Roberts received a Mention in Dispatches in October 1942 while serving with 277 Squadron. He received it after the rescue of a Spitfire pilot near the French coast on the 2nd October 1942. Their Walrus landed in a mine field and was under fire from enemy shore batteries during the rescue.
I found this information in Another Kind of Courage – Stories of the UK-based Walrus Air-Sea Recues Squadrons by Norman Franks but I have not been able to find his first name and service number. He was posted from 96 Squadron (he was air gunner on Boulton Paul Defiant night fighters) to 277 Squadron in September 1942 and the rescue was his first operational flight with the new squadron.
Thanks in advance
Peter
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Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 4, 2021 8:22:34 GMT 12
Was he serving with the RAF rather than the RNZAF perhaps?
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Post by errolmartyn on Oct 4, 2021 9:27:40 GMT 12
According to the late Michael Maton's authoritative 'Honour those Mentioned - The Air Forces - Mentions in Despatches to the RAF & DOminion Air Forces During WWII': 515240 Roberts, T, FSgt, mid appeared in the King's Birthday Honours List and was published in the Gazette on 2 Jun 43 on page 2464.
He was later commissioned in the RAF's Equipment Branch as 57832 Tudor Roberts.
He was not a New Zealander to the best of my knowledge.
Errol
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Post by McFly on Oct 4, 2021 11:53:08 GMT 12
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Post by errolmartyn on Oct 4, 2021 13:26:14 GMT 12
Where does it say he was a New Zealander?
Errol
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Post by McFly on Oct 4, 2021 13:40:54 GMT 12
Where does it say he was a New Zealander? Errol Lol- it doesn't, I just thought it was a good account of the particular action which resulted in his MID. The NZ connection (or otherwise) is your skill-set Errol..  |
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Post by phasselgren on Oct 5, 2021 5:51:15 GMT 12
Where does it say he was a New Zealander? Errol In Another Kind of Courage it was the pilot Sergeant T. Fletcher who told the story about the rescue and he mentioned that Roberts was a New Zealander. I had air gunner T.R. Roberts which left New Zealand on the 12th July 1940 aboard Rangitane as a likely candidate to be the same as T. Roberts in the book. Obviously a mistake. T.R. Roberts is one of three air gunner in the group of 23 on Rangitane were I have not been able to find the first names, service number or any posting to an operational unit. The others are D.N. Coleman and C.P. White. Most of the gunners in this group went to squadrons in No.3 Bomber Group which included No.75 Squadron. Peter |
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Post by errolmartyn on Oct 5, 2021 10:11:09 GMT 12
Peter,
NZ401232 Thomas Richard Roberts.
NZ401222 Desmond Norman Coleman.
NZ401238 Charles Peter White - on 17 Apr 43 he was commissioned (from Warrant Officer) as a navigator.
I don't know where any of the trio served after arriving in UK.
Cheers,
Errol
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Post by pjw4118 on Oct 5, 2021 14:12:33 GMT 12
One Kiwi pilot who was recognised was Arnold Diver DFM NZ414601 who flew Walrus with 273 squadron in the Med. He rescued a USAAF crew and could not take off again with the load. After many hours of taxiing they began to sink and were all finally rescued by a passing USN hospital ship . Arnold later flew with 487 squadron.
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Post by phasselgren on Oct 6, 2021 6:23:15 GMT 12
Peter, NZ401232 Thomas Richard Roberts. NZ401222 Desmond Norman Coleman. NZ401238 Charles Peter White - on 17 Apr 43 he was commissioned (from Warrant Officer) as a navigator. I don't know where any of the trio served after arriving in UK. Cheers, Errol Thanks Errol, I forgot to mention that the list of the air gunners which left New Zealand on the 12th July 1940 aboard Rangitane comes of course from your book For Your Tomorrow, Vol 3. Cheers, Peter |
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Post by tengahman on Oct 6, 2021 8:43:00 GMT 12
Maybe not but could be a clue as stories do get distorted with time
Could the spitfire pilot have been a 485sqdn pilot who postwar in the 70's
served with NZ Civil Aviation as a Testing Officer by the name of Maurice Cooper. From fading recall,
I believe his 3 initials were M.H.and either F or C
As to being shot down and rescued from the Channel I cant confirm on that.
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Post by McFly on Oct 6, 2021 13:33:41 GMT 12
Maybe not but could be a clue as stories do get distorted with time Could the spitfire pilot have been a 485sqdn pilot who postwar in the 70's served with NZ Civil Aviation as a Testing Officer by the name of Maurice Cooper. From fading recall, I believe his 3 initials were M.H.and either F or C As to being shot down and rescued from the Channel I cant confirm on that. From what I can ascertain: Sgt MHF Cooper (133025) was an RAF pilot with 616 Sqn when he was shot down on 2/10/1942 and rescued by the ASR. F/Sgt Maurice Roy COOPER (NZ413933) was with 601 Sqn, and was later with NZ CAA as a Flight Testing Officer in the 1950-60's, |
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