Thomas James Denton

[Dave Homewood]

Gary Spicer is interested to learn more about his wife's grandfather, Thomas James Denton.

Gary says, "..he went to war as a soldier and landed in Glibie injured in August and then trained as pilot. Fly on western front returned to NZ and in 1923 was one of the 5 officers who formed RNZAF, was in England 1938 to 1942 as NZ, and then returned to NZ, retired I think from RNZAF about 1948."

I found three open files on Archway for Gary relating to his WWI service, which he and his wife Sue have been reading and enjoying. I thought though it would be worth asking here in case anyone has any info or photos.

[McFly]

There's a 'T Denton' here in this photo (WgF74) from the Air Force Museum collection.

Group. Officers at Royal New Zealand Air Force Station Wigram. (OFFICERS OF THE NZPAF, c, 1929)
L-R: Back; T. Denton, Somerset-Thomas, S. Wallingford, A. deT. Neville. Front; H.B. Burrell, L.M. Isitt, T.M. Wilkes, J.L. Findlay, M.W. Buckley.

[Dave Homewood]

That's got to be him, I found this short biography on Papers Past:

OFFICER TO RETIRE

LONG AIR FORCE CAREER

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, April 10.

The retirement of the director of R.N.Z.A.F. equipment, Group Captain Thomas James Denton, O.B.E., has been announced by the Air Department. Group Captain Denton enlisted in the New Zealand Permanent Staff in 1911In August, 1916, he was mentioned in dispatches and promoted in the field to second lieutenant. Six months later he was seconded to the Royal Flying Corps. In 1923 he was transferred to the New Zealand Air Force and was appointed an equipment officer in 1933. In 1938 Group Captain Denton proceeded to the United Kingdom on attachment to the Royal Air Force, and immediately on his return to New Zealand in 1941 was appointed director of equipment. He remained in this post until August, 1942, when he was appointed chief inspector of equipment. In 1946 he was re-appointed director of equipment. _ Group Captain Denton is the only Air Force officer to have won, the King's Medal for shooting, and he was awarded the O.B.E. in the last New Year honours.

GISBORNE HERALD, 10 APRIL 1947

[McFly]

Interesting snippet on Lieutenant Denton crashing an Avro in 1924 - Here

"16 February 1924 - A "crash" in connection with the refresher flying course at the Sockburn aerodrome [Christchurch] was experienced but was happily without serious results to passenger and pilot, although the machine became a total wreck. Lieutenant [Thomas James] DENTON, of the permanent staff, with Mr R TAYLOR as a passenger, was out for a joyride on an Avro when the engine cut out. The pilot attempted to glide back to the aerodrome, but when he failed to do so he essayed to make a forced landing in a small field. He landed safely but the Avro had too much impetus and ran across the paddock to the fence, over which it turned, and, falling into a gully, broke the fuselage and became a complete wreck. Lieutenant Denton received some slight cuts on his face, but the passenger was not injured; in fact, he signified his intention of returning for the remainder of his "flip," for it is a stipulation in passenger flights that passengers are to receive the full time for which they have paid. Northern Advocate, 18 February 1924, Page 4 and Press, Volume LX, Issue 18000, 18 February 1924, Page 8."

[McFly]

Oct 9, 2020 17:17:27 GMT 12 McFly said:

Interesting snippet on Lieutenant Denton crashing an Avro in 1924 - Here

"16 February 1924 - A "crash" in connection with the refresher flying course at the Sockburn aerodrome [Christchurch] was experienced but was happily without serious results to passenger and pilot, although the machine became a total wreck. Lieutenant [Thomas James] DENTON, of the permanent staff, with Mr R TAYLOR as a passenger, was out for a joyride on an Avro when the engine cut out. The pilot attempted to glide back to the aerodrome, but when he failed to do so he essayed to make a forced landing in a small field. He landed safely but the Avro had too much impetus and ran across the paddock to the fence, over which it turned, and, falling into a gully, broke the fuselage and became a complete wreck. Lieutenant Denton received some slight cuts on his face, but the passenger was not injured; in fact, he signified his intention of returning for the remainder of his "flip," for it is a stipulation in passenger flights that passengers are to receive the full time for which they have paid. Northern Advocate, 18 February 1924, Page 4 and Press, Volume LX, Issue 18000, 18 February 1924, Page 8."

'Avro' Aircraft was - Avro 504K G-NZAG/H1964 (NZPAF) Canterbury (NZ) Avn Co 28.02.22. Crash landed nr Wigram 17.2.24

'Archway' accident report (R22440786) available - Here.

And the ASN Wikibase Occurrence #65375 Here as well..

[McFly]

Caption: Members of the second Refresher Course at Wigram Aerodrome, 1924. Top L-R: John Seabrook (also featured in ‘What’s in a Name’), Trevor Watts White, George Bolt. Middle: Ken Hall, Ian Keith, Gerry Stedman, Bill Harrison, Maurice Buckley. Bottom: John Findlay, Tom Wilkes, Leonard Isitt (also featured in ‘What’s in a Name’), Gordon Coulls, TJ Denton.

Link - Here

[Peter Lewis]

Im actually looking for a photo of that Avro - if anyone has such a thing tucked away I'd be delighted to see it.

[McFly]

A few more from the Air Force Museum collection..

Image from the J. L. Findlay personal album collection. 2nd Refresher Course in front of a Bristol F2B at Wigram Aerodrome.
Standing L-R: Wilkes, J. L. Findlay, L. M. Isitt, Lieutenant T. Denton, Lieutenant G. Hood, "Mac" MacGregor, Lieutenant N. Barlow, Lieutenant Mercer, Captain Drewett, Lieutenant J. Park, Corporal Merrin, Sergeant H. Smith and Stan Simpson. Sitting L-R: Lieutenant F. Gordon, Captain Musgrove, Lieutenant F. Horrell, Lieutenant D. Inglis, Sergeant Major Townsend and Flight Sergeant Sorrell. WgG2433~78-Circa February/March 1924.



Group. New Zealand Permanent Air Force cadet pilots course, in front of an Avro 504k at Wigram Aerodrome.
L-R: Back; Sergeant W.C. Townsend, Sergeant F.W. Sorrell, Cadet Pilot W.C. Jenkins, Cadet Pilot L.F.J. Taylor, Cadet Pilot G.E. Watt, Cadet Pilot H.S.T. Weston, Cadet Pilot J.M. Buckeridge, Cadet Pilot C.C. Hunter, Cadet Pilot E.S. Henderson, Cadet Pilot J. Goodheart, Sergeant W.S. Simpson. Front; Cadet Pilot M. Wilkes, Lieutenant T.J. Denton, Captain J.L. Findlay, Captain M.W. Buckley, Cadet Pilot I.C. McLaine. WgF71-Circa 1927.



Group. Visit by Air Commodore Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith to 3 Squadron (3 Bomber Squadron) at Wigram Aerodrome.
L-R: Back; Carter, Roake, Coull, Reynolds, Poulton, Henderson, Mercer, Grigg, Busch, Wilkes, Richardson, Petre. Front; Somerset-Thomas, Hall, Buckley, Harrison, Kingsford-Smith, Findlay, Burrell, Denton, Barlow. MUS02052-Circa 1933.



Group of officers in front of Block 7, Royal New Zealand Air Force Station Wigram. Note: Some names in back row appear to be incorrect or the wrong order.
L-R: Back; Flight Lieutenant Nisbett, Flying Officer G.A. Nicholls, unknown, Hamish Armstrong, Flying Officer R.G. Linklater, Flying Officer B.D. Armstrong, B.F. Stewart. Front; unknown, Flight Lieutenant M.W. Buckley, Flying Officer T.J. Denton, Squadron Leader T.M. Wilkes, Squadron Leader J.L. Findlay, Flight Lieutenant T.W. White, Flight Lieutenant Sommerset-Thomas, Flight Lieutenant S. Burrel. MUS0701345-Circa 1938.

Wing Commander T. J. Denton. Chief Inspector of Equipment, Air Department, Wellington. PR960-Circa 1943.

[Dave Homewood]

Great stuff Marty. I will let Gary know about all these finds.

[McFly]

GPCAPT Thomas Denton's citation descriptions. 'Mention in Dispatches' (MID) and 'Order of the British Empire' (OBE)


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