Post by fwx on Nov 9, 2016 14:47:32 GMT 12
Colin Knight is famous as the first member of the RNZAF to be decorated in World War 2, winning a DFM with 99 Squadron RAF.
Originally from Tolaga Bay, he was one of six Signals airmen selected from the first (1937) intake at Wigram to travel to the UK in December 1938 to train to be part of the crews being assembled in England to fly the 30 new Vickers Wellington bombers ordered by the NZ Government back to New Zealand. This unit , the New Zealand Squadron, sometimes referred to as the New Zealand Flight, wasn't established until 1 June 1939, so in the meantime all six were attached to 99 Squadron, which was the first bomber squadron to operate Wellingtons. Four of the RNZAF W/OP's were posted to the New Zealand Squadron in July 1939, to be part of the 1st Mobile Flight.
However when war broke out Colin was still at 99 Sqdn, which commenced operations immediately, while the NZ Squadron was frozen at less than Flight strength while it's fate was decided. After a few months, the decision was made to build the unit up to full squadron strength, to form a new NZ squadron in the RAF.
Errol M kindly provided the following information about Colin in this thread: rnzaf.proboards.com/thread/19467/corporal-bickerstaff-zealand-bomber-squadron
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From Colin Hanson’s "By Such Deeds - Honours and Awards in the Royal New Zealand Air Force, 1923-1999":
KNIGHT, Flight Lieutenant Colin Beresford Graham, DFM, (cvsa).
NZ37122 & 70073; Born Tolaga Bay, 7 Jun 1912; NZ Army/TF (Mtd Rifles) 7 yrs; RNZAF 20 Oct 1937 to 7 Jul 1952; Wireless Operator-Air Gunner.
Citation Distinguished Flying Medal (20 Feb 1940): [99 Sqn RAF (Wellington)] During operations off Schillig Roads and Frisian Islands on 14th December, 1939, this airman [then a Corporal] in his capacity as chief wireless operator of the formation succeeded in obtaining valuable bearings from German W/T Stations, and passing all requisite messages to base, including sighting reports of German warships, which were encountered. This work was carried out under the most arduous conditions, and he was constantly disturbed by enemy tracer passing his window. In spite of all distractions he remained absolutely steady throughout.
Official History records that on 14 Dec 1939 twelve Wellingtons were briefed to search for the German fleet, believed to be in the vicinity of the Schillig Roads. Sqn Ldr McKee, RAF, of Oxford, NZ, (later Air Chief Marshal Sir Andrew McKee) led the formation, only six of which safely returned. His crew included Cpl C B G Knight who, that day, was to win the first decoration for the RNZAF in WWII, a Distinguished Flying Medal.
Flt Lt Knight served as Signals Leader 40 Sqn RNZAF, Nov 1943-Nov 1944, including the ferry trip of a Dakota from the US to NZ. In Jun 1945 he was attached to RAF Transport Command operating from Montreal and flying to Newfoundland, Azores, Africa, India, Bermuda, Bahamas, Jamaica, Trinidad, Natal, Ascension Island, and the passenger service with Liberators from San Diego to Australia. In 1946 he was posted to the UK for duty with 1359(VIP)Flt RAF operating Lancastrians to NZ, Canada and the US. In Sep 1946 he returned to NZ as Signals Leader 41 Sqn RNZAF (Dakota) at Whenuapai where he remained for some years.
Citation King’s Commendation for Valuable Services in the Air (KB1948): For valuable services as a wireless operator on No 41 Sqn RNZAF (Dakota).
An original member of the NZ Sqn formed in 1939 to ferry Wellingtons from England to NZ. Seriously injured in a flying accident in the UK Aug 1940. Died Manurewa, 28 Mar 1998.
Knight actually won his DFM for an action with 99 Sqn (I think in the same raid that Bickerstaff won his DFM, hence perhaps the confusion). According to the Hanson/Duxbury nominal roll of 75 Sqn, Knight served with 75 Sqn from 10 September 1940 to 25 January 1941.
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I have been looking at Colin's career, and some of the information is conflicting, for example, that he was a member of the New Zealand Squadron, and yet his date of arrival at 75 (NZ) Sqdn (in the nominal roll) is 10 Sep 1940, five months after the New Zealand Squadron ceased to exist.
Some confusion may have arisen from the presentation of his DFM by High Commissioner Bill Jordan at RAF Feltwell (where the NZ Squadron was based) on 20th March 1940. A lot of the publicity around his DFM included reference to the New Zealand Squadron, and Jordan's praise for the New Zealanders. In fact six DFM's were presented on that occasion, the other five being non-RNZAF personnel from other squadrons. So it may be that Colin was still with 99 Sqn at the time.
However a photo album commemorating the event was presented to Jordan afterwards, and part of the inscription states “to confer, on behalf of His Majesty, the Distinguished Flying Medal upon Corporal C. B. G. Knight, New Zealand Squadron ...”. Another error?
His serious injury apparently occurred at 22 OTU in August 1940, so if correct, that tends to confirm the likelihood that he didn't arrive at 75 until September.
Either way, his name doesn't appear anywhere in the ORB's that I can see, either posted in, posted out, or on operational crew lists. He may have had a non-flying role at the squadron?
Unfortunately we don't have access to his logbook.
If anyone is able to shed any light on any of this, it would be much appreciated!
According to his son, Colin went on to fly special op’s (SOE), landing in occupied France, and received his commission and promotion to the rank of Pilot Officer on 23 March 1942.
He ended the war with the rank of Flight Lieutenant.
Originally from Tolaga Bay, he was one of six Signals airmen selected from the first (1937) intake at Wigram to travel to the UK in December 1938 to train to be part of the crews being assembled in England to fly the 30 new Vickers Wellington bombers ordered by the NZ Government back to New Zealand. This unit , the New Zealand Squadron, sometimes referred to as the New Zealand Flight, wasn't established until 1 June 1939, so in the meantime all six were attached to 99 Squadron, which was the first bomber squadron to operate Wellingtons. Four of the RNZAF W/OP's were posted to the New Zealand Squadron in July 1939, to be part of the 1st Mobile Flight.
However when war broke out Colin was still at 99 Sqdn, which commenced operations immediately, while the NZ Squadron was frozen at less than Flight strength while it's fate was decided. After a few months, the decision was made to build the unit up to full squadron strength, to form a new NZ squadron in the RAF.
Errol M kindly provided the following information about Colin in this thread: rnzaf.proboards.com/thread/19467/corporal-bickerstaff-zealand-bomber-squadron
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
From Colin Hanson’s "By Such Deeds - Honours and Awards in the Royal New Zealand Air Force, 1923-1999":
KNIGHT, Flight Lieutenant Colin Beresford Graham, DFM, (cvsa).
NZ37122 & 70073; Born Tolaga Bay, 7 Jun 1912; NZ Army/TF (Mtd Rifles) 7 yrs; RNZAF 20 Oct 1937 to 7 Jul 1952; Wireless Operator-Air Gunner.
Citation Distinguished Flying Medal (20 Feb 1940): [99 Sqn RAF (Wellington)] During operations off Schillig Roads and Frisian Islands on 14th December, 1939, this airman [then a Corporal] in his capacity as chief wireless operator of the formation succeeded in obtaining valuable bearings from German W/T Stations, and passing all requisite messages to base, including sighting reports of German warships, which were encountered. This work was carried out under the most arduous conditions, and he was constantly disturbed by enemy tracer passing his window. In spite of all distractions he remained absolutely steady throughout.
Official History records that on 14 Dec 1939 twelve Wellingtons were briefed to search for the German fleet, believed to be in the vicinity of the Schillig Roads. Sqn Ldr McKee, RAF, of Oxford, NZ, (later Air Chief Marshal Sir Andrew McKee) led the formation, only six of which safely returned. His crew included Cpl C B G Knight who, that day, was to win the first decoration for the RNZAF in WWII, a Distinguished Flying Medal.
Flt Lt Knight served as Signals Leader 40 Sqn RNZAF, Nov 1943-Nov 1944, including the ferry trip of a Dakota from the US to NZ. In Jun 1945 he was attached to RAF Transport Command operating from Montreal and flying to Newfoundland, Azores, Africa, India, Bermuda, Bahamas, Jamaica, Trinidad, Natal, Ascension Island, and the passenger service with Liberators from San Diego to Australia. In 1946 he was posted to the UK for duty with 1359(VIP)Flt RAF operating Lancastrians to NZ, Canada and the US. In Sep 1946 he returned to NZ as Signals Leader 41 Sqn RNZAF (Dakota) at Whenuapai where he remained for some years.
Citation King’s Commendation for Valuable Services in the Air (KB1948): For valuable services as a wireless operator on No 41 Sqn RNZAF (Dakota).
An original member of the NZ Sqn formed in 1939 to ferry Wellingtons from England to NZ. Seriously injured in a flying accident in the UK Aug 1940. Died Manurewa, 28 Mar 1998.
Knight actually won his DFM for an action with 99 Sqn (I think in the same raid that Bickerstaff won his DFM, hence perhaps the confusion). According to the Hanson/Duxbury nominal roll of 75 Sqn, Knight served with 75 Sqn from 10 September 1940 to 25 January 1941.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
I have been looking at Colin's career, and some of the information is conflicting, for example, that he was a member of the New Zealand Squadron, and yet his date of arrival at 75 (NZ) Sqdn (in the nominal roll) is 10 Sep 1940, five months after the New Zealand Squadron ceased to exist.
Some confusion may have arisen from the presentation of his DFM by High Commissioner Bill Jordan at RAF Feltwell (where the NZ Squadron was based) on 20th March 1940. A lot of the publicity around his DFM included reference to the New Zealand Squadron, and Jordan's praise for the New Zealanders. In fact six DFM's were presented on that occasion, the other five being non-RNZAF personnel from other squadrons. So it may be that Colin was still with 99 Sqn at the time.
However a photo album commemorating the event was presented to Jordan afterwards, and part of the inscription states “to confer, on behalf of His Majesty, the Distinguished Flying Medal upon Corporal C. B. G. Knight, New Zealand Squadron ...”. Another error?
His serious injury apparently occurred at 22 OTU in August 1940, so if correct, that tends to confirm the likelihood that he didn't arrive at 75 until September.
Either way, his name doesn't appear anywhere in the ORB's that I can see, either posted in, posted out, or on operational crew lists. He may have had a non-flying role at the squadron?
Unfortunately we don't have access to his logbook.
If anyone is able to shed any light on any of this, it would be much appreciated!
According to his son, Colin went on to fly special op’s (SOE), landing in occupied France, and received his commission and promotion to the rank of Pilot Officer on 23 March 1942.
He ended the war with the rank of Flight Lieutenant.
