Warrant Officer J. Davidson RNZAF

[Dave Homewood]

Does anyone happen to know who this RNZAF Warrant Officer, J. Davidson, of Cambridge, would have been that returned to New Zealand onboard the Rangitane on the 10th of January 1946? I've not come across him for my Wings Over Cambridge project before, I don't think. Was he definitely Air Force or was the report wrong?

paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WAIKIN19460111.2.8

[davidd]

Only possible wartime J Davidson's I can see are two with simple initial J (Jack, John), and one with J D'A (Jack D'Arcy). All were pilots, two served overseas (and returned to NZ from India, Jack returning to NZ 3/1/45, and Jack D'Arcy on 24/11/43), but John remained in NZ. However all were officers, with two attaining F/L by end of war (Jack, seniority 16/8/43, and Jack D'Arcy, seniority 21/7/44), and third, John, attained F/O, seniority 6/8/43). However so far as I can see NO warrant officer (or any other airman of non-officer status) with first initial "J" sailed for overseas prior to or during WW2.

My statements are heavily reliant on Errol Martyn's "For Your Tomorrow, Volume 3", plus much additional self-researched information. Beginning to suspect that either the warrant officer status is in error (although that seems unlikely) or the initial "J" is suspect, or he was NOT RNZAF (also seems rather unlikely, could he have been RAF?). Some 22 RNZAF men with name Davidson are recorded as having served overseas during WW2.

David D

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks David. I need to look into it further but it is possible he was Army and the paper got it wrong. Although the ship lists usually gave each person's srrvice I think.