RNZAF Group Photos.

[davidd]

Some of this course (the ones who completed their training in NZ, at either Wigram, Woodbourne or Ohakea) departed NZ (Auckland) for UK (Belfast) aboard RANGITIKI 13 December 1941, arriving 7th Feb 1942. Those subsequently killed on service marked with asterisk. The complete list as follows: W E F Adams, J F Ashby, C P *Ashworth, N J *Barlow, L S *Black, J R *Browning, A J *Carpenter, W H Carter, T H Davidson, A H Delaney, K A Dodman, A E *Dryden, N W Fagg, N W Faircloth, I D *Graham, J M Hamilton, J R *Harvey, D J V Henry, W H *Hood, J A Houlton, E M *Innes-Jones, A M Jenkinson, C G *Jones, J S *Jones, W H Jones, J H Keedwell, G G Kofoed, P *Langston, G D Loftus, R Marshall, W K Mawson, N R *Maxwell, D A Piggott, A J Price, D M Smith, R A Wadham, B D Williams.
More to come.

[davidd]

Here are those who departed for Canada after completing their EFTS training in New Zealand schools. All 49 were LAC A/P u/t (meaning Leading Aircraftman Airman Pilot under Training). All departed Auckland per MARIPOSA 20 October 1941, arrived San Francisco 4 November 1941, to undertake their advanced training in Canadian schools.
A M F Alexander, R F D Bourke, N Brockett, A G *Christensen, R W *Cooke, J C Corson, O F Cossey, R G *Cotton, J G *Cox, A R Cruller, F T *Culling-Mannix, I D Culpan, C R *Davey, A E W Day, T V Dudding, G K Easter, A W *Flack, K M Fleming, E A Grant, J P Hanna, R H Harper, M R Head, W A Hendry, W H Hewitt, W H *Hopkins, I R Juson, M *Lord, J A McCartney, E W McDouall, R G *McGregor, R G *Mellsop, C R Miller, J L Munro, L H F Peterson, J R Pryde, D N Robinson, R M Robinson, L W *Sanders, C J *Shalfoon, I W *Speirs, S C Taylor, L K Tempest, R J *Thornton, W *Twentyman, C M Wallace, V *Watters, L S M White, J *Whyte, J Wilding.

H A Blinkhorne must have been "washed" out of his EFTS course, and was remustered to Air Observer, and departed NZ for Canada on 2 March 1942.

[Dave Homewood]

I see that Martin lord, another Cambridge airman, was also on that course, as was ace Johnnie Houlton and the great Les Munro. And of course Christensen was one of the two Kiwis murdered after the Great Escape.

Gordon Easter told me when they arrived for their course in Canada, from memory at Saskatoon, they were the first NZ course to arrive there and only the second foreign course at that station under the EATS. The previous course had been Australians, who'd behaved appallingly bad, including throwing a piano out of a window and destroying it, very much upsetting their Canadian hosts. When the Kiwis arrived the CO of the station told them they were to have no leave, and extra parades, etc. They were copping the punishment for the previous course, yet they'd done nothing wrong. He said one of the Canadian instructors felt awful about this, so he arranged to give them long route marches (much the the pleasure of the angry CO) but what he was actually doing was simply marching them to town and giving them time to relax in the soda pop bars, etc. Great guy. I believe after a few weeks the restrictions were removed when the CO realised the Kiwis were not going to behave badly like the Aussies had.

Another name on that course is Geoffrey David Loftus, who would have been a distant relative of mine. He was a Spitfire pilot with No. 81 Squadron and was on a patrol from Bone with my friend Alan Peart DFC when they tangled with the enemy Bf109's, and David was blown up in front of Alan, and killed.

[davidd]

Have no clues as to who Bartlett, nor Eden (who appears to have been terminated, as was Frethey), were. Nor any clues on George or Greenfield. Cowan MAY have been NZ413383 William Bruce Cowan, graduated with 19C at Ohakea, later awarded DFC. Any airman pilots u/t removed from flying training courses and remustered would normally be shown in Routine Orders, including date and station (EFTS) they had been posted from, but I failed to take a note of these names at the time! I'm sorry, OK?

Hadlow MAY have been NZ413410 Lawrence Edgar HADLOW, who graduated at Wigram with Course 19A.

The two Harris's mentioned are equally deserving, with Herbert Adams graduating with Cse 18C (Ohakea, as a Sgt pilot), ditto Harold Richard, but at Woodbourne (Cse 18B). However only one appears in the picture. And on the subject of that picture, it is probably worth pointing out that the photograph does not include all of New Plymouth Course 18C by any means, probably only half of them, or even a third. Notice that the names go no higher than the letter H.

I agree with Dave H that the correct Everiss is Roy Elton NZ413398, who graduated at Ohakea with 18C.

Fagg would appear to be NZ413399 Neal Wingmore rather than the suggested Noal Fingmore; he graduated at Woodbourne with 18B, along with Barlow, Brant, Dryden and Fenwick. Perhaps Mr Martyn might care to confirm the given names of Fagg.

Gordon Easter's second initial is K, that is G K Easter. However I cannot locate his full name nor number at this stage.

David D

[Dave Homewood]

I have Gordon's full details somewhere, I knew him. His middle name was Kenneth.

His RAF number postwar was 59652. He flew Yorks in the Berlin Airlift and Washingtons including a nuclear bomber.

[Dave Homewood]

Gordon Easter's RNZAF service number was NZ413392.

[Dave Homewood]

I just noted Leslie "Chalky" White was also on that course, later a No. 485 (NZ) Squadron Spitfire pilot and an evader, and subject of Errol Brathwaite's superb book "Pilot On The Run".

[errolmartyn]

Feb 9, 2017 21:40:42 GMT 12 davidd said:

Fagg would appear to be NZ413399 Neal Wingmore rather than the suggested Noal Fingmore; he graduated at Woodbourne with 18B, along with Barlow, Brant, Dryden and Fenwick. Perhaps Mr Martyn might care to confirm the given names of Fagg.

David D

I can confirm that Fagg's first names were Neal Wingmore.

Errol

[errolmartyn]

Feb 9, 2017 21:40:42 GMT 12 davidd said:

Hadlow MAY have been NZ413410 Lawrence Edgar HADLOW, who graduated at Wigram with Course 19A.
David D

David is correct in his assumption. Only two Hadlows in the WWII RNZAF and the other did not enlist until 1943.

Errol

[sue03]

Returning to a post by Dave Homeward dated 22 Mar 2016, I have the names of the pilots course graduation photo shown as 02 Oct 1940. My father Denys Hamilton is fourth from left in the front row and going through his bits and pieces recently I found a newspaper clipping (probably The Press and probably from the week after graduation as the reverse side shows racing results for 21 Sept. The date used by Dave is incorrect for the day of their graduation.

The caption is:

A further course of pilots was passed out at the Royal New Zealand Air Force Station at Wigram on Saturday. Back row from left: EL Joyce, AC Kelly, TG Webb, GW Alington, DW Gough, DM Walker, SOJ Murphy, HG Doherty, HSR Cameron, HG Saunders and AC Mee. Front row JT Wallace, EC Ball, GH Grimsdale, DS Hamilton, JH Penny, RK bird, DJ Scott, RJ Bullen and KS Jenner.

[Dave Homewood]

Many thanks for that info!!

[janfd]

First post - Recently I have been given photo albums that my cousin Sgt Frank Scott NZ 421105) created during WW2. I would like to publish three photographs initially - he has written the names of the men on the back and I have added them to the photos. Many of the men I have managed to identify and trace but would love to complete the work - as you will see some of the men have not been given names - would love to know if somebody has more information.
These photographs are from Taieri 1942 - Frank Scott commenced his training there on 7 April 1942. From there to Wigram and then departed for the UK in January 1943.

[baronbeeza]

I had a music teacher at high school who had us believe he was flying with Beaufighters in Europe, Pat Harbidge.


www.aircrewremembered.com/rowell-raymond.html


Could this be him sitting at the front right ?

[Dave Homewood]

Jan, I can add that in the first photo George Luoni went on to fly Corsairs in the Pacific, and was shot down on one occasion and ended up in the water but was eventually rescued. He died a few years ago in Hamilton.

From the second photo Ashley Faulkner became a Hudson and Ventura pilot.

And from the third photo, Donald McKenzie Tunnicliffe (correct spelling) DFC went on to fly Beaufighters with No. 489 (NZ) Squadron and he wrote a book called "From Bunnies to Beaufighters".

And D.H. Ayson will probably actually be Donald Fraser Ayson, who flew Venturas in the Pacific. He famously survived an attack on his aircraft by five or more Zero fighters.

[angelsonefive]

I remember meeting Gerry Gotlieb a few times way back. I recall him flying his Taylor Monoplane at air shows. If I recall correctly he was a member of the Wgton Aero Club at the time I joined in 1961.

Regarding George Luoni, is it true that he was picked up from the island that he paddled or drifted to by USNR Lt John F Kennedy in PT-109 ?

[janfd]

Thanks Dave

I typed the names as Frank had written them - forgive him for his errors! Have just finished reading 'Wings over the Pacific' and read about George Luoni and Ashley Faulkner - so sad to read that Norm Vickers was involved in same incident as George Luoni but unfortunately he was picked up by the Japanese, cruelly ill-treated and died of malnutrition and dysentry (exposed in war crimes trial after the war). I can list all those that I know did not survive if anybody would like that information. There could well be more.
I have three queries that I would like help with please:
Ayson - there appear to be two Aysons (Donald Fraser as mentioned above) but also Sgt Douglas Hepburn Ayson who died when his aircraft crashed at Otaki Beach January 1943
Baird - two Bairds as well (P/O Francis Stephen and F/O Norman Kitchener) The latter is mentioned in 'Wings Over the Pacific' and lost at sea on the journey from Fiji to NZ returning Hudsons on 20 August 1943
Martin - two Martin men (F/O John Martin who crashed in an accident in NZ) and Sgt Ron Martin in the photo above and mentioned in WO the Pacific

Also would like to know more about Harold Baker and Leonard Lancaster (1972) who appear in personal photos in the album - obviously they must have survived but cannot find any further information. They both did further training at Wigram as their names are in my cousin's logbook as LAC's.

[Dave Homewood]

I did not realise there was a second Ayson in the RNZAF. This is a photo of Donald Ayson in his Ventura, and he looks very similar to the chap in the photo, but that has to be Douglas in your photo Jan because Don's service number was NZ402538 indicating he joined the RNZAF much earlier, in 1940. So yes, Douglas Ayson in the group shot. I reckon they have to have been related.

[Dave Homewood]

Harold Vincent Baker NZ421000 served with No. 1 (BR) Squadron

[janfd]

This is great information - thank you so much Dave - just so pleased to know more about Harold Baker.

Poor Sgt Douglas Ayson (his number seems strange but this is it according to Auckland Cenotaph NZ 42998 was with RNZAF 2 Ohakea - his Kittyhawk P40E NZ 3003 crashed on Otaki Beach on 29.1.1943.
So nice to get that sorted. I am sure the two Aysons will be related and presumably the same with the Baird and Martin men - so hoping for more updates.

Great information on Harbidge - the third man in from the bottom right row certainly looks the same man as in the Taieri photo - another piece of the story filled in. Thank you barronbeeza.

Were the men given an option where they wished to serve or were they chosen for placement by their ability/personality etc.?

[Dave Homewood]

During their ab initio training on the Tiger Moths, pilots were asked to give their preference, i.e. single engine (which usually meant fighters) or multi engine (which usually meant bombers, transports or flying boats, etc). The instructors however could ignore that if need be, often far more wanted to fly fighters than they needed for the next fighter course so they'd select the ones who they felt were best suited temperamentally to fighters or to multi's. And then they'd go off to the Advanced Flying Training School to wither single engined advanced trainers (Harvards, etc) or multi engined advanced trainers (Oxfords, etc) based on that.