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Post by Dave Homewood on May 20, 2016 0:42:06 GMT 12
Here's an older group, does anyone recognise faces? I think that is George Bolt on the extreme left. From the Auckland Weekly News, 22 March 1923 AVIATION "REFRESHER" COURSE AT KOHIMARAMA, AUCKLAND: EX-OFFICERS OF THE ROYAL AIR FORCE PHOTOGRAPHED WITH MEMBERS OF THE NEW ZEALAND FLYING SCHOOL'S STAFF.  Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, AWNS-19230322-44-4 |
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Post by errolmartyn on May 20, 2016 10:47:03 GMT 12
Here's an older group, does anyone recognise faces? I think that is George Bolt on the extreme left. From the Auckland Weekly News, 22 March 1923 AVIATION "REFRESHER" COURSE AT KOHIMARAMA, AUCKLAND: EX-OFFICERS OF THE ROYAL AIR FORCE PHOTOGRAPHED WITH MEMBERS OF THE NEW ZEALAND FLYING SCHOOL'S STAFF. Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, AWNS-19230322-44-4 See page 155 of Ted Harvie's George Bolt - Pioneer Aviator for same photo captioned with names. Errol |
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Post by Dave Homewood on May 20, 2016 12:45:49 GMT 12
Thanks Errol.
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angel
Leading Aircraftman
Posts: 4 
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Post by angel on Jul 29, 2016 7:49:19 GMT 12
The Wigram Training School photo dated by you 2 October 1940 is the No 9 Training Course and includes my uncle Stan (S O J ) Murphy (the tallest pilot in the back row) and Group Captain Desmond James Scott, DSO, OBE, DFC & Bar (3rd from the right in the front row) who trained with my uncle in Fairey Gordons. In his book 'Typhoon Pilot' Des states that he left for the UK in August 1940. Stan enlisted on 12 Mar 1940; Des was already a qualified, but inexperienced pilot. Stan was downed over the Brest Peninsula in late August 1941 and spent the rest of the war as a POW. Des went on to become Squadron Leader of the famous 486 squadron which included my father, Frank Murphy who himself became a fighter ace and later, a test pilot for Hawker Aircraft.
Does anyone know the actual graduation date of No 9 Training Course ? Or do you have an idea of how long after graduation these photos would be published in the Auckland Weekly News ?
I have a group photo (undated) of No 9 course pilots in front of a monoplane, although I understand that they actually trained on Fairey Gordons (biplanes). It is probably an Airspeed Oxford which only arrived in bulk in NZ in mid-1940.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 29, 2016 9:38:08 GMT 12
Many thanks Angel. That would be this photo you refer to,  2 October 1940 It shows how long it was before the photos made it into the Auckland Weekly News sometimes then, if the dates are right. I'd love to see a scan of the photo you have, if possible. Does it happen to have other names on the photo? I don't suppose your father or uncle are still alive now? |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 4, 2016 15:18:47 GMT 12
Does anyone recognise these young airmen? FIRST OFFICERS OF THE ROYAL NEW ZEALAND AIR FORCE TO LEAVE DOMINION SINCE WAR BEGAN Group-Captain L. M. Isitt, acting-Chief of Air Staff, addressing the 17 acting pilot-officers who were farewelled yesterday before their departure for service overseas. NEW ZEALAND HERALD, 5 DECEMBER 1939  |
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Post by errolmartyn on Sept 4, 2016 16:31:36 GMT 12
Does anyone recognise these young airmen? FIRST OFFICERS OF THE ROYAL NEW ZEALAND AIR FORCE TO LEAVE DOMINION SINCE WAR BEGAN Group-Captain L. M. Isitt, acting-Chief of Air Staff, addressing the 17 acting pilot-officers who were farewelled yesterday before their departure for service overseas. NEW ZEALAND HERALD, 5 DECEMBER 1939 From the 'Aiimen sailing to war, 1937-1945' appendix in my For Your Tomorrow - A record of New Zealanders who have died while serving with the RNZAF and Allied Air Services since 1915 (Volume Three: Biographies & Appendices) 5 Dec 39 Tamaroa Auckland-UK via PC, arr c.17 Jan 40. RNZAF for t/fer to RAF: 17 SSComm Pilots – died: Barnett, M E F; Cameron, E C J; Duigan, J; Gilmour, D V; Loasby, L D; McArthur, D H; Parker, G N; Rolph-Smith, D M; (8) – survived: Best, E V; Denton, F H; Humphreys, A G L*; MacFarlane, M H; Morton, J E S; Outram, H A; Pownall, C A; Scott, R C E; Shorthouse, J S; (9). Not a great survival rate. The * against Humphreys' name indicates that he became a PoW. Errol |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 4, 2016 16:34:52 GMT 12
Thanks Errol it makes for some sad reading but not really unexpected when they went over so early in the war.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 4, 2016 21:00:15 GMT 12
From The Press newspaper, 23 May 1941   |
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Post by sue03 on Sept 5, 2016 17:45:48 GMT 12
In the group photograph recorded as No 9 Course dated 02 October 1940, in the front row fourth from left looks like Flying Officer Denys S. Hamilton. His logbook indicates he passed out of ATS with No 1 FTS at Wigram 21 September 1940. The end of course report is signed by Wg Cdr Hodson.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 16, 2016 20:55:01 GMT 12
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Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 17, 2016 11:40:00 GMT 12
 I have had a call from Les Scott of Tauranga, and he has recognised his father, Jack Scott, a pilot with No. 15 Squadron, as the little chap in the centre of the front row. Les says that Jack did six tours. He died in 2002. |
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Post by davidd on Sept 21, 2016 11:21:33 GMT 12
In Dave's post dated 16th September, the fourth photograph is of No. 16 Squadron again, but this time taken overseas in June or July 1943, at Pallikulo strip, Espiritu Santo, on their first overseas tour. This photograph appears in Keith Mulligan's book "Kittyhawks and Coconuts, page 69, wherein can be found the names of all concerned, including the CO (Johnny Nelson) and his two flight commanders F/Ls Jack Day and Bob Spurdle, etc. Fifth photo shows 4 SU personnel at Torokina sometime in first half of 1944 (ceased operations about 3rd June that year), and sixth photo is of pilots of 16 Squadron again, but on their second tour, and taken at either Ondonga or Torokina on 19th December 1943. This photograph appears in Chris Rudge's "Air-to Air" on page 221, with Mort Vanderpump being prominent in centre of row of pilots. Next is another fighter squadron in the "forward area", but its identity is unknown to me at the moment. The CO (S/L in middle of front row) is pretty distinctive, but have not got his name as yet, but one of his flight commanders is even more distinctive; to right of the CO is none other than the famous J J de Willomoff, the so-called Mad Russian. I wish to check my detailed notes on de W now, so will send this message and continue on this project later.
David D
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Post by davidd on Sept 21, 2016 11:55:12 GMT 12
To continue details of photo No. 7, this definitely No. 15 Squadron on their third Pacific tour December 1943 to February 1944, at Espiritu Santo, Ondonga (New Georgia) and Torokina (Bougainville). The CO is of course S/L J A A (John) Gibson, DFC, RAF, and Battle of Britain veteran. The other flight commander is almost certainly either F/L C R (Roy) Bush, DFC, RAFO, or F/L D P Winstone (but former most likely). Other pilots who should appear in this photograph include F/L H E Boucher, F/O's A M (Max) Davis, W A (Bill) Hardham, A L Parlane, J P Riddell, F/Sgt D B Skellon, and Sgts A W Cliffe, I R Craill, D J Gisby, C B Grubb (lost 22/1/44), B D St John, L P Shorthouse, T A Stephenson, D M F Yeates. Max Davis is the young looking fellow standing behind and between Gibson and de Wilimoff. However we appear to be about 6 men short, although one could well be the Intelligence Officer at the time who I have not mentioned as yet.
David D
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Post by davidd on Sept 21, 2016 13:10:23 GMT 12
Next three photos in the Dave Homewood 16/9/16 thread are of pilots of 17 Sqdn, first two probably at Torokina (Bougainville) about May/June 1944 (third tour), when CO was S/L D F St George (that's him in the ninth photo, wearing the American fatigue cap), while tenth photo is on the second tour (Dec 1943 - Jan 1944) when CO was S/L P G H (Guy) Newton (photo ten). Another prominent individual is one of the flight commanders, "B" Flight's F/L R J (Bob) Prentice, in photo nine at front, right hand side, with F/L J H Mills as A Flight commander on left. In Photo ten, Prentice is in back row second from right. Another very distinctive pilot in two of these photos is the young lad with a broad very boyish face who appears in photo with St George, sitting on wing behind and between St George and Prentice, while in photo 10 he is to immediate right of Newton. However you will note by his rank lace that Newton is NOT sitting between his flight commanders in this shot.
Next photo (No. 11) is indeed 19 Sqdn, with Harry Wigley as CO, at Club Kiwi (thought to be at Torokina, Bougainville) during this unit's first tour, Feb to April 1944. Wigley is flanked by his flight commanders, F/Ls J R (Ralph) Court (A Flight), on left, and P S (Paul) Green (B Flight) on right. F/O P D (Peter) Gifford is to right of Green, and to right of Gifford is F/O D E (Denny) Hogan, DFC, who had served on attachment with the RAF. I have never seen this photo before.
David D
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 8, 2017 14:04:28 GMT 12
Here's a new group photo, which I just received this exciting photograph from WWII veteran Bryan Cox, which he has scanned from the collection of his late brother Grant. The photo is members of War Course 18C, at No. 2 Elementary Flying Training School, RNZAF Bell Block, New Plymouth during July-August 1941. In the photo are three Cambridge airmen! Grant Cox is in the back row, far right. Peter Hanna is in the middle row, far right, in front of Grant. And Gordon Easter is seated in the front row, far left. This course got split - from memory due to illness within the instructors - and Gordon and Peter were among the group sent down to Taieri while the rest continued on the next course at Bell Block. All three went on to train in Canada, and onto England, becoming bomber pilots. Grant was killed in action in a Lancaster in 1944. Gordon flew around eight operations before heading to India, where he became a Transport Officer. And Peter went on to fly Douglas Bostons and North American Mitchells in action. Gordon and Peter returned to New Zealand after the war, then Gordon signed up with the RAF and flew transport aircraft for many years before returning to Cambridge again. All three men are now no longer with us.  And here is the reverse side of the photo:  So I read that as: - Blinkhorne, Chambers, Delaney, Barlow, Greenfield, George, Fisher, Cox - Christensen, Crisp,  , Fagg, Hood, Bartlett, Hanna - Easter, Cowen, Dryden, Brant, Hadlow, Frethey, Harris, Fenwicke, Eden Can someone confirm the full names of these other course members please? And their fates, did many of them return to NZ? I cannot make out the name beside Crisp in the second row. Any ideas? |
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Post by errolmartyn on Feb 8, 2017 15:03:58 GMT 12
Here's a new group photo, which I just received this exciting photograph from WWII veteran Bryan Cox, which he has scanned from the collection of his late brother Grant. The photo is members of War Course 18C, at No. 2 Elementary Flying Training School, RNZAF Bell Block, New Plymouth during July-August 1941. In the photo are three Cambridge airmen! Grant Cox is in the back row, far right. Peter Hanna is in the middle row, far right, in front of Grant. And Gordon Easter is seated in the front row, far left. This course got split - from memory due to illness within the instructors - and Gordon and Peter were among the group sent down to Taieri while the rest continued on the next course at Bell Block. All three went on to train in Canada, and onto England, becoming bomber pilots. Grant was killed in action in a Lancaster in 1944. Gordon flew around eight operations before heading to India, where he became a Transport Officer. And Peter went on to fly Douglas Bostons and North American Mitchells in action. Gordon and Peter returned to New Zealand after the war, then Gordon signed up with the RAF and flew transport aircraft for many years before returning to Cambridge again. All three men are now no longer with us. And here is the reverse side of the photo: So I read that as: - Blinkhorne, Chambers, Delaney, Barlow, Greenfield, George, Fisher, Cox - Christensen, Crisp, , Fagg, Hood, Bartlett, Hanna - Easter, Cowen, Dryden, Brant, Hadlow, Frethey, Harris, Fenwicke, Eden Can someone confirm the full names of these other course members please? And their fates, did many of them return to NZ? I cannot make out the name beside Crisp in the second row. Any ideas? = Everiss, Carlyle Gray - kaa 2 Oct 41 see For Your Tomorrow for details. Errol |
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Post by baronbeeza on Feb 8, 2017 15:20:23 GMT 12
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 8, 2017 15:59:04 GMT 12
Thanks Errol and Kevin.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 8, 2017 16:50:41 GMT 12
OK, I have found some more details myself now. Note is was a different Everiss on this course.
They were:
Henry Ashby Blinkhorne NZ412793
Frank Chambers NZ413024 (Killed 9th of December 1942)
Arthur Hinton Delaney NZ413388
Norman James Barlow NZ413013 (Killed 11th of Sepember 1942)
Greenfield
George
Allan Fisher NZ412670
John Grant Cox NZ412658 (Killed 25th of March 1944)
Arnold George Christensen NZ413380 (Murdered 29th of March 1944)
Joseph Robert Crisp NZ413384 (Killed 9th of October 1944)
Roy Elton Everiss NZ413398
Noal Fingmore Fagg NZ413399
Walter Hudson Hood NZ413417
Bartlett
John Peter Hanna NZ412682
Gordon Easter
Cowen
Alfred Ernest Dryden NZ413549 (Killed 22nd of September 1944)
William Raymond Brant NZ413019 (Killed 30th of September 1943)
Hadlow
Frethey
Herbert Adams Harris NZ413065 or Harold Richard Harris NZ413066
Charled Herbert Fenwick NZ413049
Eden
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, Fagg, Hood, Bartlett, Hanna
