pauld
Flying Officer
Posts: 65
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Post by pauld on Mar 2, 2013 15:23:56 GMT 12
Afternoon Gents, I have added to my collection the Mess dress and Khaki Drill uniforms belonging to S/L Eric Desmond McCabe OBE AE** Apart from the information in "By Such Deeds" i have nothing on his service with 15SQN in the pacific.He flew 54 missions with them on Corsairs. There is a photo of him in the book, RNZAF a short History, by Geoffrey Bently. Any info would be appreciated  Regards, Paul |
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Post by davidd on Mar 9, 2013 11:29:23 GMT 12
Paul,
His RNZAF bio in Errol Martyn's "For Your Tomorrow, Vol 3".
David D
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pauld
Flying Officer
Posts: 65
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Post by pauld on Mar 10, 2013 18:46:26 GMT 12
Hi David,
I have had a good look in Errol's vol3 but i cannot find anything on him.
Regards
Paul D
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Post by errolmartyn on Mar 10, 2013 21:52:49 GMT 12
Paul,
I think David may have mistakenly referred you to my book instead of Colin Hanson's book, By Such Deeds , which you have already seen.
Errol
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Post by davidd on Mar 11, 2013 11:32:32 GMT 12
Whoops! Sorry about that Paul (and Errol), I was relying on memory (!!??!!??) and was actually thinking of E D Casey who was killed in the Devon crash in the Tararuas in Feb 1955. That will teach me, only the initials are the same!
David D
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Post by davidd on Mar 11, 2013 11:48:09 GMT 12
Paul,
To make up, here is McCabe's WW2 fighter pilot career with 15 Squadron. Hope this is self-explanatory. There should be some good photos of McCabe in the 15 Squadron wartime histories (Form 540s) as well as in RNZAF official photographs of courses (2 OTU for instance, also CFS); he trained with Course 25B at Woodbourne in 1942, and was also a member of No. 2 (Wellington) Squadron TAF which I believe kept some photograph albums.
David D
To cse @ 2 OTU 4/3/44, to 15 Sqdn, Ardmore 13/4/44 (3 tours: 14/5 – 19/7/44; reform Ard 16/8, tour 19/9 – 14/12/44; reform Ard 5/1/45, tour 21/1 – 14/4/45); to NEP [Cat 12] 8/5, to cse @ CFS, WB 24/5 (qual Cat “Q”- SE 15/6/56), tfd to Reserve A1 5/7/45. Note, NEP = Non-effective Pool.
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pauld
Flying Officer
Posts: 65
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Post by pauld on Mar 13, 2013 6:43:11 GMT 12
Hi David, You are forgiven Thanks for the info on McCabe. Was he Commissioned before joining 15SQN? and did he get promoted during his 3 tours? perhaps a flight leader? Cheers and Thanks! Paul D |
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Post by davidd on Mar 23, 2013 13:38:24 GMT 12
Paul,
McCabe's promotions and commissioning were as follows: To Sgt 13/6/42, F/Sgt 15/5/43, W/O 15/5/44; to P/O 1/8/44, F/O 1/2/45. I have no information that he was ever a Section Leader, but with his level of experience this is entirely possible. Such appointments were usually made by the unit CO based on his own assessment of the individual concerned probably after suggestion by supervising flight commander. A persusal of the squadron ORB for each tour should show these relationships.
David D
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vivz1
Leading Aircraftman
Posts: 1 
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Post by vivz1 on Jul 24, 2013 11:50:27 GMT 12
Hi there, came across this thread when googling Eric's name. Not sure if you are aware but Eric is still very much alive and well in the care facility I work in. He has shared with me many stories of his time flying. Such an interesting person.
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Post by davidd on Jul 29, 2013 8:27:21 GMT 12
Vivz1
Good to hear from you and the news that Eric is still with us. Which town are you in if you don't mind me asking?
David D
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