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Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 10, 2021 23:16:35 GMT 12
A very unusual story:
NEW ZEALANDER SHOT
STRUGGLE WITH INTRUDER
LONDON, March 17
Pilot-Officer Jack Small, of Lower Hutt, who is serving with the Royal Air Force at a station in Northamptonshire, entered a hut used as an officer’s billet and found a man ransacking a suitcase. The man, evidently alarmed, turned round, immediately and shot Pilot-Officer Small in the body, and then attempted to escape.
Pilot-Officer Small closed with him and a struggle took them outside the hut, where two more shots were fired before the man escaped. Pilot-Officer Small is now seriously ill in hospital.
The police arrested an eighteen-year-old aircraftman, Charles Ainscough, who was accused at the Northants Court on March 14 of attempting to murder the Royal Air Force officer. He was remanded.
WAIKATO TIMES, 20 MARCH 1944
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Post by davidd on Sept 11, 2021 10:24:40 GMT 12
This man would appear to be Pilot Officer Jack Brian Small (NZ416174), Pilot, who graduated in NZ (1 SFTS, Wigram) as a Sgt Pilot on 13th June 1942, embarked Auckland for the UK on 22nd June per DOMINION MONARCH, via Panama Canal and Halifax, disembarked Liverpool 29th July. Appointed to a temporary commission in GD Branch in rank of P/O as from 8th April 1943, to F/O w.e.f. 8/10/43 (but apparently not gazetted at time of his being shot, if the news story has his rank correct). His elementary training took place at 3 EFTS (Harewood). I think the statement that he was a member of the RAF is incorrect, although he was definitely attached to, and serving with this service. Errol M may be able to confirm or deny any or all of my statements!
David D
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Post by errolmartyn on Sept 11, 2021 12:01:03 GMT 12
David, Yes, quite corret, Small was serving with the RAF while on attachment to it as a member of the RNZAF. He was not a member of the RAF. Cheers, Errol
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Post by davidd on Sept 11, 2021 13:06:28 GMT 12
Thanx for that Errol.
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