Lost Airfields Then & Now RNZAF Levin/Weraroa

[Dave Homewood]

Corran Ashworth also gets good coverage in Spitfire Strikes by Johnny Houlton as Corran was Johnny's best mate.

[christopher]

Hi Errol, What was your Uncle's name?

[errolmartyn]

Jul 8, 2011 11:42:32 GMT 12 christopher said:

Hi Errol, What was your Uncle's name?

Christopher,

He was NZ413875 Frederick Thomas Martyn.

Errol

[Dave Homewood]

Jonesy, which unit was based there at Wereroa training with Tiger Moths?

[jonesy]

Dave, I'll have to dig out his old flying logbooks. Pretty certain that he learnt to fly there before he ended up flying for the RAF.

[Dave Homewood]

Most RNZAF aircrew personnel and many WAAF's were inducted into the Air Force at Levin up till 1942, in the Initial Training Wing, and though there was a runway there and it was used for a short time by No. 1 (Bomber) Operational Training Unit (Oxfords and Hudsons), I am not aware of any flying training in Tiger Moths there, which is why I am curious. It is more likely he did ITW training there, which was purely six weeks of uniform issue, drill, shooting, and ground school on navigation, meteorology and the likes; and then moved on to an Elementary Flying Training School at Taieri, Bell Block, Whenuapai, Ashburton or Harewood.

[jonesy]

Thats good to know. I'm keen to get his details sorted. As in many cases we really left it too late to find out from him a lot of what he did, relying now on what he'd told other family or from his logbooks.
And to think of all those times we'd driven past there not knowing of its history!

[christopher]

Errol, I have the course list that DJ Martin was on at ITW in July 1941 and FT Martyn is not on it, therefore I can exclude Course 18. Likewise WJ Simpson is not on my list so I can exclude Course 19. My list has 65 names on it, the July 1941 Contact list has 168 pilots entering ITW in July so I conclude their were 3 courses. Two options remain Course 17 or 20.

Do you have any suggestions as to where from here?
By the way I have tried the RNZAF Museum in Chch but with no success.

[errolmartyn]

Jul 9, 2011 10:52:24 GMT 12 christopher said:

Errol, I have the course list that DJ Martin was on at ITW in July 1941 and FT Martyn is not on it, therefore I can exclude Course 18. Likewise WJ Simpson is not on my list so I can exclude Course 19. My list has 65 names on it, the July 1941 Contact list has 168 pilots entering ITW in July so I conclude their were 3 courses. Two options remain Course 17 or 20.

Do you have any suggestions as to where from here?
By the way I have tried the RNZAF Museum in Chch but with no success.

Christopher,

I suggest that you email me a copy of the 65 names you have on DJM's course list.

Errol

[christopher]

Errol, Let me know if this list doesn't open for you

Attachments:

[errolmartyn]

Jul 10, 2011 10:02:57 GMT 12 christopher said:

Errol, Let me know if this list doesn't open for you

Christopher,

Got it, thanks.

Errol

[errolmartyn]

Jul 10, 2011 13:01:59 GMT 12 errolmartyn said:

Jul 10, 2011 10:02:57 GMT 12 christopher said:

Errol, Let me know if this list doesn't open for you

Christopher,

Got it, thanks.

Errol

Christopher,

I made an error earlier in stating that my uncle (F T Martyn) was on Course 18 then 19 (I should know better than to rely on memory, especially for things I think I know well!).

He was actually on 19 then 20. He was posted to 1EFTS at Taieri on 17 Aug 41 as part of Course 19 and should have sailed for Canada on 20 Oct 41 but was delayed for some reason and actually sailed on 17 Nov 41 as a member of Course 20.

Your list, therefore is for members of Course 19, not 20.

Errol

[errolmartyn]

Christopher,

Checking your list of names further, I note that a large number of 19 Course names are not included on it.

What was your list created from or based on?

Errol

[christopher]

Errol,
Sorry for delay in replying. I hadn't noticed the page had flicked over.
Concerning the origin of my list. I'm starting to suspect I made a copy some time ago of a list from No3 EFTS Harewood Course 19B. This is a list of surnames provided on the back of a course photo obtained from the RNZAF museum. List attached. I presume I made a copy to begin investigating the ITW course that the Harewood group must have attended together. I added the initials and names from other sources.
So my question is ; Does the list in the July issue of Contact of 160 pilot trainees represent one course, that being course 19?

Attachments:

[errolmartyn]

Jul 16, 2011 11:36:57 GMT 12 christopher said:

Errol,
So my question is ; Does the list in the July issue of Contact of 160 pilot trainees represent one course, that being course 19?

Christopher,

Yes, but not necessarily the whole of the course. 165 airmen pilots u/t were enlisted at Levin on 5 and 6 July 1941 (see list below), but there would have been others who had enlisted earlier posted in from stations and duties elsewhere to also begin aircrew training at the same time.

Errol

NZ prefix Service No Surname/initials First names
NZ 413801 Alexander, W E R William Edward Robert
NZ 413802 Andrews, L G Lancelot George
NZ 413803 Avery, D E Daryl Ellis
NZ 413804 Baker, C W Charles William
NZ 413929 Barnett, W A William Albert
NZ 413930 Barton, A R B Alan Roy Bidwill
NZ 413805 Battye, J T Jack Thomas
NZ 413806 Bentley, M W Murray Waldron
NZ 413807 Birchall, W J William Jack
NZ 413808 Bomford, J H John Hamilton
NZ 413993 Bourke, R F D Roderick Francis David
NZ 413931 Brabant, R L Roy Ledlay
NZ 413991 Brockett, N Neville
NZ 413809 Brookbanks, R H Raymond Herbert
NZ 413810 Brooker, R S Ronald Stephen
NZ 413811 Browne, R H Roland Henry
NZ 413812 Buckley, J W John William
NZ 413932 Burrett, H J Hubert Jack
NZ 413814 Cannell, W S Winston Stanley
NZ 413815 Coates, F E Frank Ernest
NZ 413933 Cooper, M R Maurice Roy
NZ 413816 Corson, J C John Cameron
NZ 413817 Cossey, O F Owen Frederick
NZ 413818 Cotton, R G Robert George
NZ 413819 Couch, A H Arthur Herbert
NZ 413935 Croft, E S Ernest Stokes
NZ 413936 Cruickshank, J W James Wilson
NZ 413934 Cruller, A R Allan Rufus
NZ 413820 Culpan, I D Ian Duke
NZ 413937 Davey, C R Charles Raglan
NZ 413821 Delaveau, C A Clive Albert
NZ 413955 Dickson, S Stewart
NZ 413822 Dixon, D R S Derek Richard Sidney
NZ 413823 Doherty, E C H Edward Charles Hibbs
NZ 413824 Doherty, J N Jack Norman
NZ 413938 Dormer, G J George Johnathon
NZ 413825 Dow, W D William David
NZ 413826 Dryland, C W Colin Windsor
NZ 413827 Duckett, J C Joseph Colman
NZ 413939 Dyke, A H Aubrey Huvan
NZ 413828 Eady, V R Vivian Roberts
NZ 413829 Ellis, P G Pascoe Guildford
NZ 413830 Elmsly, J C John Charles
NZ 413831 Ensor, W F Weiland Fairfax
NZ 413906 Evers-Swindell, F H Frederick Hornby
NZ 413832 Evison, J C John Corfe
NZ 413986 Fitzgerald, B P Brian Patrick
NZ 413833 Flack, A W Alfred William
NZ 413940 Francis, C W Charles William
NZ 413834 Fraser, D Donald
NZ 413835 Fraser, J M John Malcolm
NZ 413836 Frazer, G M Glen Morrison
NZ 413837 Gardiner, N Norman
NZ 413995 Gardner, E Ernest
NZ 413838 Gardner, R D Ronald Dean
NZ 413992 Goodwin, L K Lindsay Keith
NZ 413839 Grant, R M Ronald Matherson
NZ 413840 Green, G H M George Henry Mills
NZ 413841 Hall, P F L Peter Francis Locker
NZ 413843 Harper, J E John Evan
NZ 413844 Harper, R H Ronald Hamilton
NZ 413842 Harrison, G N George Newall
NZ 413845 Hawke, R J Ronald John
NZ 413846 Hay, B S Bruce Stafford
NZ 413987 Hayward, R C Roy Colin
NZ 413847 Hewlett, G R Gordon Roger
NZ 413848 Hill, R A Raymond Alfred
NZ 413849 Holmes, N V Neville Vaughan
NZ 413850 Hopkins, O Oliver
NZ 413851 Hopkins, W H William Henry
NZ 413852 Hutchinson, A J Alan John
NZ 413853 Ingerson, N W Norman William
NZ 413854 Ingpen, E M Ernest Mervyn
NZ 413855 Jensen, P M A Peter Mateen Antonius
NZ 413856 Johnson, E F Eric Frederick
NZ 413857 Johnston, R T Russell Thomas
NZ 413858 Jolly, M C Maurice Carson
NZ 413859 Jones, R L Ralph Leopold
NZ 413860 Lambourne, B W Bryan Walter
NZ 413861 Lawson, A Allan
NZ 413943 Leese, A D Arthur David
NZ 413945 Leigh, K S Kenneth Stuart
NZ 413862 Little, A T Alan Trevor
NZ 413863 Littlejohn, C P Charles Philip
NZ 413864 Livesey, F E Fred Ellis
NZ 413865 Lock, H D Henry Desmond
NZ 413944 Lornie, R W Ronald William
NZ 413866 Lyell, C I Clive Ireson
NZ 413941 Manning, H E Herbert Edwin
NZ 413871 Mansill, W R Wallace Roy
NZ 413872 Martin, D E Donald Ernest
NZ 413874 Martin, D J Donald James
NZ 413875 Martyn, F T Frederick Thomas
NZ 413957 Mathison, H C Howard Clifton
NZ 413873 Mattson, L H Lester Harold
NZ 413948 McCook, N J Neil James
NZ 413867 McDouall, E W Eric Willoughby
NZ 413946 McFarlane, C R H Cyril Robert Hudson
NZ 413868 McGechie, I S Ian Sinclair
NZ 413869 McGregor, R G Ronald Gregor
NZ 413947 McGregor, S M Stuart Maxwell
NZ 413870 McKechnie, R M Roy Malcolm
NZ 413876 Metcalfe, M Murray
NZ 413877 Millar, H J Henry James
NZ 413878 Miller, C R Clifford Ralph
NZ 413879 Mills, J E John Eric
NZ 413880 Moberley, J E James Edmends
NZ 413881 Morgan, J P John Perenara
NZ 413882 Muir, M R Macgregor Robin
NZ 413883 Mullins, H A Hector Alexander
NZ 413942 Munro, J L John Leslie
NZ 413884 Nicholls, C Christopher
NZ 413885 O'Dea, D Daniel
NZ 413949 O'Donnell, A L Alwyn Lewis
NZ 413886 Ogg, J James
NZ 413988 Oldridge, D S Donald Stuart
NZ 413888 Peterson, L H F Lorraine Harold Frank
NZ 413952 Pollard, J M Jack Mackinlay
NZ 413989 Portman, S L Stanley Leonard
NZ 413889 Powell, J R John Robert
NZ 413950 Primrose, J H James Hubert
NZ 413890 Probert, R A Roland Augustus
NZ 413891 Pryde, J R John Robert
NZ 413892 Renner, I W Ivan Watt
NZ 413893 Rickerby, H G Hector Grange
NZ 413894 Riddell, J P John Peter
NZ 413951 Robinson, R M Robert Maitland
NZ 413956 Rodgers, J R John Robert
NZ 413990 Rothwell, J John
NZ 413895 Sanders, L W Leslie William
NZ 413896 Scott, J H John Hancock
NZ 413897 Shalfoon, C J Charles John
NZ 413898 Sheen, S P Sydney Pat
NZ 413899 Simpson, W J William John
NZ 413900 Smith, P S Philip Shaw
NZ 413953 Sparks, M N Maxwell Nicholas
NZ 413904 Stanley, J A James Armitage
NZ 413901 Stewart, D O David Oliphant
NZ 413903 Stewart, G C Guthrie Cuthbertson
NZ 413902 Stewart, G D Glen Darel
NZ 413905 Strong, G W Geoffrey Walter
NZ 413907 Tabor, L W Lionel William
NZ 413908 Tarrant, J S Jack Saywell
NZ 413909 Taylor, S C Stuart Campbell
NZ 413910 Tempest, L K Leonard Keith
NZ 413911 Templer, G M Guy Merson
NZ 413912 Turner, J G G Jack George Gabe
NZ 413913 Twentyman, W Wilson
NZ 413914 Vietmeyer, C B Carl Bernard
NZ 413915 Wakelin, R Ronald
NZ 413916 Watson, A A Albert Alexander
NZ 413917 Weir, H Harrison
NZ 413920 Whitam, A J Alan John
NZ 413918 White, L N Lawrence Nairn
NZ 413919 White, L S M Leslie Samuel McQueen
NZ 413954 Whyte, J James
NZ 413921 Wilding, J John
NZ 413922 Wills, W J William John
NZ 413923 Wilson, J A James Archibald
NZ 413924 Wing, R Roger
NZ 413925 Woodhouse, R H Richard Hilary
NZ 413926 Worden, J M John Mortimore
NZ 413927 Young, D W David Watson
NZ 413928 Zellman, R R Ronald Robert

[christopher]

Thanks Errol, So this list is the new enlistments made on July 5/6. I notice the sequence is perfect except two omissions; 413813 and 413887. Also the spelling of Elmsly is given as Elmsley in the Contact list. Your list is in alphabetical order except Canal, is this a typo?

Was course 19 then just pilots u/t or did it also include gunners and observers also enlisted on July 5/6 1941?

Attachments:

[thomarse]

My late Dad (who was involved in the Army on some sort of never-discussed Intelligence activities) once mentioned that Weraroa had dummy/decoy aircraft. Any ideas on that?

Where would that reunion involving the Harvard have been held? If at Kimberley the Harvard could not have flown in there at that point in time.

[errolmartyn]

Jul 17, 2011 3:23:19 GMT 12 christopher said:

Thanks Errol, So this list is the new enlistments made on July 5/6. I notice the sequence is perfect except two omissions; 413813 and 413887. Also the spelling of Elmsly is given as Elmsley in the Contact list. Your list is in alphabetical order except Canal, is this a typo?

Was course 19 then just pilots u/t or did it also include gunners and observers also enlisted on July 5/6 1941?

NZ413813 was Albert Edward Caisley, who enlisted 29 Nov 41
NZ413887 was Travis Lester Osborn, who enlisted 27 Jul 41

Elmsly is the correct spelling

Air gunners u/t and air observers u/t enlisted at the same time but their course numbers were higher (24 and/or 25 in this case, I think).

NZ 413939 canal, A H Aubrey Huvan
Should read
NZ 413939 Dyke, A H Aubrey Huvan
Not quite sure how 'canal' crept in there, odd. The copy of the copy and paste was correct.

Errol

[christopher]

Errol, You have been a great help on this July airmen pilot u/t class. Thank you.

[Dave Homewood]

Errol, would the trade not have been renamed Navigator by then rather than Observer?

I note some familiar names in that course list from my own research and also some famous names there too, such as Les Munro - the Dambuster pilot, Peter Hall the fighter ace, and L.S.M. "Chalky" White - 485 Sqn pilot and escaper, subject of excellent book "Pilot on the Run".

The canal was showing up because it was one of the forum's censored words. I have removed it now so it should show as Dyke. Who knows why they censored that? A bit silly realy.