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Post by corsair5517 on Aug 14, 2015 19:34:32 GMT 12
Hi troops.... my father who is visiting is trying to locate a school mate of his who flew Spitfires in 485; the chap in question is Alan Thomas Condon. Can anyone shed any light, please??
When I picked him up in Mooloolaba, we visited his 5Sqn (RAAF) mate who is in a nursing home now, suffering from dementia but when Dad greeted him with a hearty "Hi, there, Smoky Joe!!" you could see the synapses starting to fire and we spent a very pleasant hour or two with him. Obviously, he is never going to be the man he was - few of us are!! - but, please, if you know a veteran, spend an hour or two with them; they are very precious indeed!!
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Post by errolmartyn on Aug 14, 2015 19:56:11 GMT 12
Hi troops.... my father who is visiting is trying to locate a school mate of his who flew Spitfires in 485; the chap in question is Alan Thomas Condon. Can anyone shed any light, please?? When I picked him up in Mooloolaba, we visited his 5Sqn (RAAF) mate who is in a nursing home now, suffering from dementia but when Dad greeted him with a hearty "Hi, there, Smoky Joe!!" you could see the synapses starting to fire and we spent a very pleasant hour or two with him. Obviously, he is never going to be the man he was - few of us are!! - but, please, if you know a veteran, spend an hour or two with them; they are very precious indeed!! According to Geelen & Deerness's The Topdressers 1990, he departed the topdressing industry in New Zealand in May 1969 and joined the Australian Department of Transport (Civil Aviation). Today, as it happens, is his 92nd birthday, if he is still with us. Errol |
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Post by corsair5517 on Aug 14, 2015 20:53:16 GMT 12
Thank you, Errol!! Gives us somewhere to start, eh!
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Post by errolmartyn on Aug 14, 2015 21:29:35 GMT 12
In the 1980 Aussie Electoral Rolls for Southport, Queensland (the latest there are) on Ancestry.com he is recorded as residing at 23 Patura Dr, Ashmore Village. Also at the same address is listed Joyce Betty Condon (probably his wife).
Errol
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Post by McFly on Aug 14, 2015 21:44:21 GMT 12
Yes Alan did serve with 485 (NZ) Sqn (dates to be confirmed), however he also flew Spitfires with 92 Sqn RAF in Italy later in the war. There are a couple of links to various mentions of him and one especially good photo from the National Library. 
Flying Officer A. T. Condon; born Rakaia, 14 Aug 1923; clerk; joined RNZAF 7 Sep 1941.
During the second phase of the Italian campaign, Flying Officer A. J. Faulkner of No. 93 Squadron and Flying Officers C. D. Young and Condon4 of No. 92 Squadron achieved a good record of service as Spitfire pilots. Flying Officers G. M. Buchanan, Osborne,5 Palliser,6 and T. D. Stewart were prominent with No. 185 Squadron, which did specially good work in armed reconnaissance and in bombing road and rail targets behind the enemy front; Buchanan and Osborne frequently led fighters on ‘cabrank’ patrols.nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-WH2-3RAF-c8.html#n213
Flight Sergeant A T Condon (Mosgiel) at the microphone as he records a message to be broadcast in New Zealand. Condon is one of the New Zealanders serving with the RAF in Italy, World War II. Photograph taken in Venafro, Italy, on 27 April 1944 by George Robert Bull. natlib.govt.nz/records/22760093?search[century]=1900&search[subject]=Italy&search[path]=items&search[text]=Series%3A+The+Broadcast+Archives+series
And another photo taken at he same time - Looks like Alan standing to the rear with his hands in his pockets.
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Post by corsair5517 on Aug 15, 2015 8:34:37 GMT 12
You blokes rock!! Thank you! hey... here's a guitar I've just finished as a tribute to the Aussie troops who kept the old boy safe, with the inspiration for both this one and the Corsair Avenger, Des Stokes, ex-15 Sqn RNZAF. 92 and still touring the world!    |
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Post by McFly on Aug 17, 2015 13:02:11 GMT 12
So I can confirm that F/O Alan T Condon NZ414962 served with No 485 (NZ) Squadron 4-45 to 8-45 and was with the Squadron when it disbanded at the end of the war. Some earlier pics from his flying training days: Negative Number: MUS0800530 Caption: Group. Pilots course 22A, Number 1 Elementary Flying Training School, Royal New Zealand Air Force Station Taieri. Further Information: L-R: Back; A.T. Condon, G.W. Honey, P.M. Boyle, T.F. Munro, G.H. Myers, C.M. Tapper. Middle; L.J. Kirkpatrick, I.R. McKenzie, H.J. Bennett, K.G. Edgington, J.B. Martyn, D.R. Scrymgeour, G.H. Owen, R.H. Nimmo. Front; M.A. Legg, L.A. Idle, A.J. Greentree, A.H. Smith, E.H.J. Pheloung, P.S. Watt. Year of Image: 1941 Image Date Information: 18 October 1941 Format: Digital image  Negative Number: WgF2116 Caption: Group. Pilots Course 23a, Number 1 Service Flying Training School, Royal New Zealand Air Force Station Wigram. Further Information: L-R: Back; Gunther, Bunt, Condon, Brown, Eddy, Pheloung, Southward, Stowell, Marshal, Stevenson. Middle; Gorton, Brown, Lawson, MacFarlane, Carmichael, Scott, Stuart, Turner, Martyn, Nelson. Front; Halliburton, Jackson, Heaps, Rodgers, Price, Salt, Piper, Whitworth. Year of Image: 1941 Image Date Information: 23 December 1941 Format: Negative-Full Plate-Glass  (Photos Air Force Museum) |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 17, 2015 14:17:24 GMT 12
Note Laurence "Bunty" Bunt next to Condon in that second photo in Marty's most recent post. He's a well known guide and icon at the Omaka AHC.
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Post by corsair5517 on Aug 18, 2015 0:04:35 GMT 12
Wow!! Thanks ever so much for that, Marty!!
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Post by davidd on Aug 18, 2015 9:25:05 GMT 12
C M (Charles) Tapper, who appears extreme right, rear row of the Taieri (1 EFTS) Course 22A photo, was a well known guide at the RNZAF Museum until his death about 10 years ago. He was best known in WW2 for his time on Coastal Command strike squadrons, 489 Sqdn on Beaufighters, also flew Hampdens. A real gentleman. Also see my old friend I R (Ian) McKenzie in same photo, who flew Kittyhawks in NZ and Pacific, and most interestingly with 15 Squadron in Tonga, then on their first tour at Guadalcanal.
David D
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Post by angelsonefive on Aug 18, 2015 10:16:51 GMT 12
Front row, third from the left in the pic. of Course 23a, 1SFTS, will be LAC Brian Heaps who was the pilot killed in the two-Harvard crash in the Kaikouras in March 1942.
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Post by bettyv12 on Jan 7, 2016 21:44:04 GMT 12
Hi troops.... my father who is visiting is trying to locate a school mate of his who flew Spitfires in 485; the chap in question is Alan Thomas Condon. Can anyone shed any light, please?? I worked with his wife Joyce at The Southport School in the early 90's and met and talked with Alan at his home in Ashmore. Like a lot of Spitfire pilots he was not forthcoming on his war time experiences but Joyce did let some details slip: I think it was Douglas Baders? famous photo in front of a spitfire was actually Alan's aircraft - as douglas' had crashed? The famous NZ crop dusting aircraft was tested by Alan and his radio comments on the performance of the plane were written down by Joyce on the ground - Like "lost control" - "stall on the wing" - you can imagine the full tests... Alan was also an all blacks Rugby Player Alan was disabled when he was a in australia as he was a aircraft crash investigator and his own plane crashed on the way to an investigation - he survived the crash but released the seat belts while upside down and damaged his spine by landing on his head. I can't remember the exact details but Alan and Douglas were the only pilots allowed to fly after being shot down behind the German lines? |
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shaneg
Leading Aircraftman
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Post by shaneg on Jan 13, 2018 13:59:20 GMT 12
Hi there, my name is Shane Alan Gooch, I am Alan's Grandson in Melbourne Australia. I stumbled across this group compiling some history and war time images in addition to those I have to show my children. I am staggered by all of the threads and comments below, I am actually learning some things I didn't know and some I wasn't so clear on. The comment thread about the census where Alan was living in Ashmore Queensland with Joyce is correct. Joyce was his wife, my Grandmother. Sadly I will advise they have both passed. Alan died suddenly but peacefully at home in 2007 from complications with emphysema, he spent his last year on permanent oxygen. He is still a constant in my daily thoughts, he was a great man that taught me a lot. I have his Squadron badges, medals, and also a very fragile discharge papers in frames in my home. Alan first moved to Victoria Australia after New Zealand. He did work for the department of civil aviation. He unfortunately fractured his spine in a crash whilst testing an aircraft and was forced into retirement. He and my grandmother, my mother and uncle all then moved to the warmer climate of Ashmore, Gold Coast Queensland. They resided here for more than 20 years before moving to an apartment by the beach, their last home together. My Grandmother Joyce sadly passed away in 2016 many years after Alan, but she never stopped talking about him. I hope they are flying together somewhere right now! If anyone has any other information on Alan or images ( I have inherited many books that note his name in areas/operations) but not many other stories or images. I know its a stretch all these years later but would love to hear from you. Thanks Shane
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shaneg
Leading Aircraftman
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Post by shaneg on Jan 13, 2018 14:02:00 GMT 12
Hi McFly, I have just posted to the thread of this discussion introducing myself. Hoping you are still apart of this group. I am Alan's Grandson, Shane Alan Gooch in Melbourne Australia. How do I see the images you have referred to below? I would love to see these as I am compiling information to share with my children. Thank you Shane So I can confirm that F/O Alan T Condon NZ414962 served with No 485 (NZ) Squadron 4-45 to 8-45 and was with the Squadron when it disbanded at the end of the war. Some earlier pics from his flying training days: Negative Number: MUS0800530 Caption: Group. Pilots course 22A, Number 1 Elementary Flying Training School, Royal New Zealand Air Force Station Taieri. Further Information: L-R: Back; A.T. Condon, G.W. Honey, P.M. Boyle, T.F. Munro, G.H. Myers, C.M. Tapper. Middle; L.J. Kirkpatrick, I.R. McKenzie, H.J. Bennett, K.G. Edgington, J.B. Martyn, D.R. Scrymgeour, G.H. Owen, R.H. Nimmo. Front; M.A. Legg, L.A. Idle, A.J. Greentree, A.H. Smith, E.H.J. Pheloung, P.S. Watt. Year of Image: 1941 Image Date Information: 18 October 1941 Format: Digital image Negative Number: WgF2116 Caption: Group. Pilots Course 23a, Number 1 Service Flying Training School, Royal New Zealand Air Force Station Wigram. Further Information: L-R: Back; Gunther, Bunt, Condon, Brown, Eddy, Pheloung, Southward, Stowell, Marshal, Stevenson. Middle; Gorton, Brown, Lawson, MacFarlane, Carmichael, Scott, Stuart, Turner, Martyn, Nelson. Front; Halliburton, Jackson, Heaps, Rodgers, Price, Salt, Piper, Whitworth. Year of Image: 1941 Image Date Information: 23 December 1941 Format: Negative-Full Plate-Glass (Photos Air Force Museum) |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 13, 2018 14:08:56 GMT 12
Thanks for the update Shane.
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lani
Leading Aircraftman
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Post by lani on Jan 13, 2018 14:54:23 GMT 12
Hi McFly, I have just posted to the thread of this discussion introducing myself. Hoping you are still apart of this group. I am Alan's Grandson, Shane Alan Gooch in Melbourne Australia. How do I see the images you have referred to below? I would love to see these as I am compiling information to share with my children. Thank you Shane So I can confirm that F/O Alan T Condon NZ414962 served with No 485 (NZ) Squadron 4-45 to 8-45 and was with the Squadron when it disbanded at the end of the war. Some earlier pics from his flying training days: Negative Number: MUS0800530 Caption: Group. Pilots course 22A, Number 1 Elementary Flying Training School, Royal New Zealand Air Force Station Taieri. Further Information: L-R: Back; A.T. Condon, G.W. Honey, P.M. Boyle, T.F. Munro, G.H. Myers, C.M. Tapper. Middle; L.J. Kirkpatrick, I.R. McKenzie, H.J. Bennett, K.G. Edgington, J.B. Martyn, D.R. Scrymgeour, G.H. Owen, R.H. Nimmo. Front; M.A. Legg, L.A. Idle, A.J. Greentree, A.H. Smith, E.H.J. Pheloung, P.S. Watt. Year of Image: 1941 Image Date Information: 18 October 1941 Format: Digital image Negative Number: WgF2116 Caption: Group. Pilots Course 23a, Number 1 Service Flying Training School, Royal New Zealand Air Force Station Wigram. Further Information: L-R: Back; Gunther, Bunt, Condon, Brown, Eddy, Pheloung, Southward, Stowell, Marshal, Stevenson. Middle; Gorton, Brown, Lawson, MacFarlane, Carmichael, Scott, Stuart, Turner, Martyn, Nelson. Front; Halliburton, Jackson, Heaps, Rodgers, Price, Salt, Piper, Whitworth. Year of Image: 1941 Image Date Information: 23 December 1941 Format: Negative-Full Plate-Glass (Photos Air Force Museum) |
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lani
Leading Aircraftman
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Post by lani on Jan 13, 2018 14:57:10 GMT 12
Hello
My name is Lani Furlong and Alan Thomas Condon was my father. My son Shane and I are interested to see any pics or pass on any information we can about Alan, (always known as Daddy to me).
Cheers
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Post by McFly on Jan 14, 2018 8:11:45 GMT 12
Hello My name is Lani Furlong and Alan Thomas Condon was my father. My son Shane and I are interested to see any pics or pass on any information we can about Alan, (always known as Daddy to me). Cheers Here you go...  Flight Sergeant A T Condon (Mosgiel) at the microphone as he records a message to be broadcast in New Zealand. Condon is one of the New Zealanders serving with the RAF in Italy, World War II. Photograph taken in Venafro, Italy, on 27 April 1944 by George Robert Bull. natlib.govt.nz/records/22760093?search[century]=1900&search[subject]=Italy&search[path]=items&search[text]=Series%3A+The+Broadcast+Archives+series  And another photo taken at he same time - Looks like Alan standing to the rear with his hands in his pockets.  And.... Some earlier pics from his flying training days: Negative Number: MUS0800530 Caption: Group. Pilots course 22A, Number 1 Elementary Flying Training School, Royal New Zealand Air Force Station Taieri. Further Information: L-R: Back; A.T. Condon, G.W. Honey, P.M. Boyle, T.F. Munro, G.H. Myers, C.M. Tapper. Middle; L.J. Kirkpatrick, I.R. McKenzie, H.J. Bennett, K.G. Edgington, J.B. Martyn, D.R. Scrymgeour, G.H. Owen, R.H. Nimmo. Front; M.A. Legg, L.A. Idle, A.J. Greentree, A.H. Smith, E.H.J. Pheloung, P.S. Watt. Year of Image: 1941 Image Date Information: 18 October 1941 Format: Digital image  Negative Number: WgF2116 Caption: Group. Pilots Course 23a, Number 1 Service Flying Training School, Royal New Zealand Air Force Station Wigram. Further Information: L-R: Back; Gunther, Bunt, Condon, Brown, Eddy, Pheloung, Southward, Stowell, Marshal, Stevenson. Middle; Gorton, Brown, Lawson, MacFarlane, Carmichael, Scott, Stuart, Turner, Martyn, Nelson. Front; Halliburton, Jackson, Heaps, Rodgers, Price, Salt, Piper, Whitworth. Year of Image: 1941 Image Date Information: 23 December 1941 Format: Negative-Full Plate-Glass  (Photos Air Force Museum) |
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shaneg
Leading Aircraftman
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Post by shaneg on Jan 15, 2018 12:50:36 GMT 12
WOW! I have seen the first image with my Grandfather in line, our family has a book with this image in it. However we have not seen either of the last two images! Thank you so very much for this! Greatly appreciated.
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sarah
Leading Aircraftman
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Post by sarah on Aug 30, 2019 8:33:36 GMT 12
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