WWII pilot to be honoured in Wgtn next Tuesday

[kiwithrottlejockey]

WWII pilot to be honoured

NZPA | 12:01PM - Friday, 19 March 2010

A World War II hero and former Scots College Wellington student will be honoured at the unveiling of a memorial in Wellington next week.

James Stellin, killed when his RAF plane went down over France in 1944, will be remembered in an information board at Stellin Memorial Park in the suburb of Northland, on a block of land bequeathed to Wellington City Council by his family in the 1960s.

Wellington Mayor Kerry Prendergast, French Ambassador Michel Legar and Wellington RSA president Trevor McComish will join Scots College and its old boys' association at the unveiling on Tuesday afternoon.

Mr Stellin left New Zealand in 1943 to join the Royal Air Force as a Pilot Officer.

He died on August 19, 1944 when his plane crashed near the village of St Maclou la Briere in France during a mission.

He was considered a hero by the people of the village, who saw his plane heading straight for the village and then veering away as he managed to steer it clear before crashing.

He was buried in the local cemetery and a memorial was erected to him.

He was awarded the French bravery medal the Croix de Guerre avec Palme for his actions and in 2001 the Town Square of St Maclou la Briere was named Stellin Place in his memory.

Ms Prendergast visited St Maclou la Briere last year.

www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/local/3476150/WWII-pilot-to-be-honoured

[angelsonefive]

If I recall correctly the Wellington Aero Club had a trophy, the Stellin Cup (I think) for aerobatics, that was competed for annually ...

[chinapilot]

Letter from Mayor of village to his parents...

www.livingheritage.org.nz/schools/primary/northland-school/pdf/memorial-letter.pdf

[Dave Homewood]

A memorial was unveiled about two years ago in Stellin Park, Wellington, too.

[johnb]

angelonefive is right there is a Stellin Cup at the Wellington Aero Club. I believe that it may now be used for the most improved young member.

Pilot James Kingston was the son of James Stellin an important Wellington / Hutt businessman who fought at Gallipoli and died in 1964 leving major bequests to the Wellington City Council “upon Trust”.

Pilot Stellin probably learned to fly in Miramar at the Wellington Gliding Club and the Wellington Aero Club where his father was a founding member. In addition to the cup, the father also gave the club its first glider in the 1920’s. But all that has been forgotten long ago.

From those small beginnings he became a hero in France and is much honoured in Normandy. He was awarded the Croix de Guerre avec Palme posthumously. Wellington flying clubs have much to be proud of.

[kiwithrottlejockey]

There's a short article in the Capital Diary section of today's Dominion Post accompanied by a photograph of the new memorial. Unfortunately the Capital Diary doesn't get put on the STUFF website.

[angelsonefive]

Pilot-Officer James Kingston Stellin, NZ 421785, Croix de Guerre, RNZAF. KIA 19/8/44.

James Stellin died flying a Hawker Typhoon fighter-bomber while with a very distinguished unit, 609 (West Riding) Squadron, Royal Auxiliary Air Force.

The Typhoon's ability to deliver 60-pound Rocket Projectiles made it an effective weapon against armoured vehicles.

Between the 12th and the 21st of August, 1944, a major ground battle took place in Normandy when two Panzer Armies, the 5th and the 7th, attempted to break out of their encirclement by the Allied Armies. The battle, known to history as the Battle of the Falaise Pocket, or Falaise Gap, resulted in the destruction of the two German Armies which comprised the major Nazi force west of the River Seine.
Great havoc was wreaked on the Panzer forces by Allied fighter-bombers, the rocket-firing Typhoons of the RAF being prominent among them.
I take it from the date of P/O Stellin's death that he was taking part in the countering of the German breakout at Falaise when he was killed.