A couple of recent pickups

[pauld]

Morning Gents,

As part of my collecting theme of collecting named items belonging to wartime RNZAF Airmen, i recently picked up the following;

WAG brevet , AG brevet, etc to NZ412985, i know he served in the Pacific theatre, ( Due to a Pacific Star medal group) but need to know who he was and what Squadron he flew with

Tropical Sunhat to NZ4211282 T. Christensen
Who was he? and where did he serve and with which SQN?

And lastly a Beautiful "B" type flying helmet with NZ4314296 written behind an earcup. Who was he and what was he? and his SQN?

Any info would be greatly appreciated as it then can tell me whether to order his full file from the NZDF.

A million thankyou's in advance

Kind regards
Paul D

[errolmartyn]

Paul,

From Colin Hanson’s By Such Deeds - Honours and Awards in the Royal New Zealand Air Force, 1923-1999:

McCLELLAND, Flight Lieutenant Albert William, mid.
NZ412985; Born Waimate, 12 Feb 1920; RNZAF 30 May 1942 to 22 Nov 1945; Wireless Operator-Air Gunner.
Citation Mention in Despatches (10 Jul 1945): For meritorious service. Completed three tours in the S & SWPAs, totalling 124 sorties - one tour with 3 Sqn (Hudson) and two with 1 Sqn RNZAF (Ventura).
[died ANZAC day 2001 while playing golf at Harewood, just a few months after the book's publication]

NZW4211282 Thomas Christensen - enlisted Rongotai as Carpenter (W) 7 Oct 42

NZ4314296 Claude Leslie Hickey - enlisted late-ish 1943, graduated as pilot and commissioned 3 Jun 45, Reserve 7 Sep 45

Errol

[pauld]

Hi Errol,

Thanks so much for that info it makes the decision to order the files easier

McClelland i had no idea had an Mid and i do have 'By Such Deeds" so its a nice surprise as he would have served with many of my other chaps at nos 1 and 3 SQN's, so will be able to look him up in other publications.
Actually i was a tad confused when looking for McClelland in Hansons book, as i was looking for McLelland and it was with this spelling of his name i found him in James Sanders book, "A Long Patrol" where he is noted as part of the crew of the third Echelon to depart for Guadalcanal on 24 october 1943 flying in NZ4507 with F/O Alford as Pilot. He is noted in appendix 5 as being on strength as the Gunnery leader for 1 SQN, but not noted in either A or B flight crews. ( I have items belonging to 2 other Airmen of these flights, one being F/L I.A. Ewen, Pilot and F/O R.L Scarlett who was a WAG who lost his life in NZ4634 on 20 Dec 1944)

So Christensen was a Carpenter, did he get overseas? and i suppose he was an LAC or Corporal ?

And Hickey, did he get operational?or was he too late? i think maybe too late as this B type is in very good condition with very little wear, it could have been NOS hence the excellent condition, and they fished it out of the stores for Hickey to use...

anyway i am very pleased, it gives me something to work through and paint their pictures

Thanks again Errol, much appreciated

Kind regards
paul D