clint
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Posts: 135
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Post by clint on Dec 21, 2015 15:51:31 GMT 12
Outstanding work, sorry to change the topic but does anyone know if there is any artwork of Ventura's out there somewhere?
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clint
Squadron Leader
Posts: 135
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Post by clint on Nov 25, 2015 13:59:24 GMT 12
I was surprised today to receive my Great Uncles service records in the post today, I expected a long wait after I was told by the NZDF it could take up to 6 months.
A breakdown of his operational tours with 4(BR) Squadron looks like this;
Fiji-Funafuti-Tonga 01/01/1944 till 17/11/1944: 67 Operations Operational Hours (Day) 263.50 Operational Hours (Night) 28.50 Non-Operational Hours 77.55
Emirau 17/11/1944 till 11/02/1945- 34 Operations including 16 Strikes Operational Hours (Day) 124.30 Operational Hours (Night) 1.20 Non-Operational Hours 5.35
Guadacanal 19/05/1945 till 23/06/1945 12 Operations including 3 Strikes Emirau 23/06/1945 till 11/07/1945 Operational Hours (Day) 37.30 Los Negros 11/07/11945 till 04/09/1945 Operational Hours (Night) 2.40 Non-Operational Hours 24.20
All up this came to a total of 113 Operations with a grand total of 757.45 flying hours. Also appears he was recommended for a Commission but the powers that be rejected it due to "Being to young and raw" (He was 20) and "Lacks advantages of Education" (Had 1 year of High School Education).
The records are really interesting, including the pre-entry tests (I know for a fact I would struggle with most of the questions!). Thanks to those who provided me with information, it more than likely helped in getting the records quickly.
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clint
Squadron Leader
Posts: 135
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Post by clint on Nov 12, 2015 15:29:21 GMT 12
I've just discovered this on amazon and downloaded it onto my kindle
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clint
Squadron Leader
Posts: 135
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Post by clint on Nov 12, 2015 15:08:04 GMT 12
My favourite movie of all time.
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clint
Squadron Leader
Posts: 135
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Post by clint on Nov 8, 2015 19:01:43 GMT 12
Alex Horn's 'Wings Over the Pacific' also has a good section on 4 Squadrons operations from Emirau. Ironically Horn was from Elstow/Te Aroha like my grandfather.
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clint
Squadron Leader
Posts: 135
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Post by clint on Nov 4, 2015 22:31:49 GMT 12
Thanks for the advice Dave. I have been surfing their site tonight and looking at what is available. I've never been there before so it should be an interesting experience when I do eventually get there.
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clint
Squadron Leader
Posts: 135
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Post by clint on Nov 4, 2015 21:46:42 GMT 12
Looks like Archives NZ should be my next port of all to do more research on 4 Squadron, now to find that valuable time off work!
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clint
Squadron Leader
Posts: 135
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Post by clint on Nov 4, 2015 9:56:28 GMT 12
Dave, yes I was a bit surprised when I got the e-mail telling me of the wait, I know when I requested my grandfathers service records it only took a couple of weeks from memory.
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clint
Squadron Leader
Posts: 135
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Post by clint on Nov 4, 2015 9:46:06 GMT 12
David D and everyone, thank you for all this information, I certainly didn't expect so much and it has given me so much more to go on and I will keep digging. I e-mailed off the request for his service records yesterday now that I had a service number however there appears to be around a 6 month wait.
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clint
Squadron Leader
Posts: 135
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Post by clint on Nov 3, 2015 12:40:00 GMT 12
Not sure if this has come up before but I recently downloaded onto my phone a book called 'The Life and Times of John Marr Simpson'. Simpson served as a Navigator on Avengers with 30 Squadron, Ventura's with 4 Squadron and Catalina's with 5 Squadron, the book as the title suggests outlines his life before, during and after the war. Looks like it can be downloaded from here; horowhenua.kete.net.nz/site/documents/show/2536-the-life-and-times-of-john-marr-simpson
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clint
Squadron Leader
Posts: 135
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Post by clint on Nov 3, 2015 11:27:32 GMT 12
No problem I will be sure to get you a copy, thanks for the help.
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clint
Squadron Leader
Posts: 135
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Post by clint on Nov 3, 2015 11:17:22 GMT 12
Dave I currently have pen in hand filling out the request for service records now, as mentioned above I had very little to go on apart from two wartime photographs but Errol has very kindly tracked down his service number for me so that will no doubt help things along.
I have heard that 'A Long Patrol' has some errors in it, I guess there are too many to list?
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clint
Squadron Leader
Posts: 135
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Post by clint on Nov 3, 2015 10:32:33 GMT 12
Errol
Thanks for that quick reply! Out of interest how did you find that out?
Many thanks
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clint
Squadron Leader
Posts: 135
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Post by clint on Nov 3, 2015 10:09:27 GMT 12
Hi there
I am currently attempting to research my Great Uncle's war service as an Air Gunner with the RNZAF in the Pacific on PV-1 Ventura's. Unfortunately my Great Uncle died in 1978 (6 years before I was born) and all I have is 2 photographs of him and I believe he was a belly gunner. I don't even have a service number as it appears all that information has been lost over the years, I am currently filling out the form to request his service records with what information I have.
I am just wondering if anyone out there has a list of all the aircrew that served on the various Ventura Squadrons in the Pacific or if such a thing exists?
I own a copy of 1 Squadron's 'A Long Patrol' and his name doesn't appear in the crew lists at the rear of that book so I think I can rule that squadron out. I have a suspicion that he may have been on 4 Squadron as I own a copy of the book 'PV Ventura/Harpoon Units of World War 2' and there is a 4 Squadron photograph from June 1945 which I believe he is in.
I have plenty of information on my Grandfather who served with the 18th Armoured Regiment in Italy but I don't want my Great Uncle to go unremembered.
If anyone out there can point me in the right direction it would be much appreciated, my Great Uncle's name was Maurice Allan Whitehead.
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clint
Squadron Leader
Posts: 135
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Post by clint on Jul 16, 2005 14:25:19 GMT 12
This sounds like a great book! I want to get my hands on a copy, I never knew it existed! I have a strong interest in RNZAF Ventura bombers but there never seems to enough info out there on the bomber itself or any stories from the men who flew in them so I would love to get my hands on a copy. I had a great uncle serve on Ventura bombers as a Air Gunner but he died in the 1970's so I never knew him nor do I have any info on his service or even his squadron, so this book would fill me in on what he went through.
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