Fg Off Ronald Garland Blamires RCAF

[Tony]

Just found this link to a young Kiwi who was in the US when war broke out so joined up with the RCAF.



A member of 418 Sqn RCAF, he lost his life on the 1/2nd August 1942 flying Boston W8264 on a raid on Rouen.
Those killed were:
P: Fg Off R G Blamiers RCAF CWGC 2331623
O: Flt Sgt H E Prime RCAF CWGC 2335316
W.Op/AG: Sgt H L Green RNZAF CWGC 2320732

Cenotaph memorial: muse.aucklandmuseum.com/databases/Cenotaph/17796.detail
CWGC entry: www.cwgc.org/search-for-war-dead/casualty/2331623/BLAMIRES,%20RONALD%20GARLAND

Interesting medal array for a member of the RCAF:
1939-1945 Star
Atlantic Star with France and Germany Clasp
Air Crew Europe Star
War Medal 1939-1945
New Zealand War Service Medal

Was he the only Kiwi to join the RCAF?

Book references:
Errol's: For Your Tomorrow, Volume 1.
RAF Fighter Command Losses, Vol 2. 1942 - 1943

Other links:
wwii.ca/memorial/world-war-ii/114908/pilot-officer-ronald-garland-blamires/
twgpp.org/information.php?id=818604
www.flickr.com/photos/harlowirish/sets/72157605974872296/with/2636434867/

Here is a puzzle: The AWM entry lists the following
Place of Embarkation: Newfoundland, Canada
Vessel: RNZAF Hudson

I assume this is a typo and it should read RAF Hudson (he ferried an aircraft across the Atlantic).

[errolmartyn]

There are a number of errors in the AWM account. For a more accurate picture of Blamires service career here is his bio as presented in Vol Three of my For Your Tomorrow:

BLAMIRES, Flying Officer Ronald Garland.
J/6951 (prev R81025); b Devonport 28 Jul 21; Takapuna Grammar; taxi driver - Santa Monica Cab Co, California. Accepted for trg in RNZAF c.Aug-Sep 39 [but not enlisted], own way to California USA [to join sister owing to death of brother] c.Oct 39, RCAF Vancouver/RC as Aircrew (Pilot or Observer) 12 Nov 40, 1 M Depôt 16 Nov 40, 1AMD Picton 10 Dec 40, Sydney 31 Dec 40, 3ITS 24 Mar 41, 10EFTS 22 Apr 41, 6SFTS 10 Jun 41, Pilots Badge & Sgt/Comm 20 Aug 41, CFS 22 Aug 41, 34SFTS RAF (Oxford) as FI 22 Nov 41 [att Ferry Cmd Dorval 16 Mar-6 Apr 42], att RAF & [flew a Hudson?] to UK 7 Apr 42, 3PRC 12 Apr 42, 51OTU (various a/c types) 21 Apr 42, 418 Sqn RCAF (Boston) 26 May 42, kao 2 Aug 42. Bretteville-sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery - XXVII.H.2, Calvados, France. Son of the Rev Edgar Percy Blamires & Mrs Martha Olivia Blamires (née McKinney), Devonport. [phot. TWN 10.2.43].

At least three other New Zealand-born members of the RCAF died during WWII service and are recorded in my volumes.

Errol