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Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 15, 2013 14:03:38 GMT 12
In a reference in a wartime Waikato Times newspaper there was a G. Atkinson of Cambridge in the RNZAF, supposedly a pilot. I placed this on my Wings over Cambridge website and it remained a mystery for ages till 'Digger' Arculus suggested the best match he could find was a Flight Lieutenant George Edwin Atkinson, NZ415982, an Air Gunner, on a list of RNZAF Officers in 1945. So I placed these details on G. Atkinson's page hoping more info might come forward confirming or correcting this. So far nothing. It's a bit of a mystery. Can anyone help? Was George Edwin Atkinson from Cambridge for sure? Was he ever a pilot, and perhaps remustered to Air Gunner? Or can you suggest another G. Atkinson that fits the bill better please? Thanks. cambridgeairforce.org.nz/G%20Atkinson.htm |
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Post by errolmartyn on Jul 15, 2013 15:46:28 GMT 12
Dave,
There were only two 'G' first initial Atkinson's in the wartime RNZAF:
The George Edwin Atkinson, NZ415982, that Digger refers to was born at Rotorua on 29 May 1918. Resided in Rotorua in the 1950s and 1960s. Died in Australia in 2008.
The other man was NZ444142 Geoffrey John Hayes, who enlisted as an ACH AC (i.e. for aircrew training) on 7 July 1944. He was an Army officer at Waiouru in the 1950s and before that living in Canterbury.
A more likely candidate for your man would seem to be:
NZ424407 Lloyd George Atkinson who enlisted at Rotorua as an AP u/t on 2 May 42. According to the 1946 electoral rolls he was then a printer living in Hamilon. He's still there in the 1981 roll.
Errol
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 15, 2013 19:24:34 GMT 12
Thank you Errol, Lloyd George Atkinson seems the more likely as the Waikato Times article was from 1943.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 15, 2013 21:22:00 GMT 12
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Post by McFly on Jul 16, 2013 17:12:02 GMT 12
Here you go Dave...  Negative Number: WgG191~42 Caption: Group. A Flight, Pilots course 32B, Number 3 Elementary Flying Training School, Royal New Zealand Air Force Station Harewood. Further Information: L-R: Back; W.F. Crist, H.J. Hammond, G.H. Boyes, T.F. Anear, C.J. Craven, D.C. Andrews, C.E.S. Cross, J.C. Brown. Middle; R.C.I. Blackett, W.A. Bird, A.L. Ewart, G.R. Clothier, F.W.S. Bradshaw, N.B. Collins, R.W. Bremner. Front; S.C. Corby, D.C. Brown, N.J. Baty, L.G. Atkinson, R.D. Ferguson, C.V. Brittain. Year of Image: 1942 Image Date Information: 27 July 1942  (Photo Air Force Museum Official) |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 16, 2013 22:24:54 GMT 12
Many thanks for this Marty.
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Post by magnum50cal on Oct 15, 2018 20:23:47 GMT 12
Thank you Errol, Lloyd George Atkinson seems the more likely as the Waikato Times article was from 1943. I worked with George Atkinson (the Printer) He told me he flew Spitfires in WW2, I believe for Coastal Command |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 15, 2018 21:24:19 GMT 12
Thank you Magnum. I was not aware that Coastal Command had Spitfires, so I'll be interested to know what people can add.
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Post by errolmartyn on Oct 15, 2018 22:54:25 GMT 12
Thank you Magnum. I was not aware that Coastal Command had Spitfires, so I'll be interested to know what people can add. If he flew Spitfires with Coastal Command then most likely he was engaged on Photo Recce work. Errol |
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Post by davidd on Oct 16, 2018 7:35:37 GMT 12
Or perhaps with the ASR organisation?
David D
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Post by pjw4118 on Oct 16, 2018 9:08:00 GMT 12
Thats probably it , on file I have photos of an ASR flight and in the line up are a Walrus, Lysander and Spitfire .
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Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 16, 2018 10:20:14 GMT 12
So do we know the squadron numbers of the Coastal Command ASR units?
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Post by davidd on Oct 16, 2018 11:33:22 GMT 12
L G Atkinson embarked NZ (DAY STAR) for Canada 31/10/42, graduated as a Sgt Pilot in Canada 6/4/43, served with 485 (RNZAF) Sqdn Nov 1944 - Feb 1945, rtd to NZ 1/7/45. However, as you can see this is only a snippet of his service.
David D
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