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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 16, 2024 9:04:38 GMT 12
I have come across this snippet reporting on the night ditching of Avenger NZ2548 from the NZ Herald on 16 March 1944.  The Wireless Operator-Air Gunner was Sgt William George Angus McCloud, who survived this but was later killed in action. But I do not have the names of the Captain - F/Sgt J.H. Hope or the Navigator - Sgt E.J. Newton - for my No. 31 Squadron Roll. I am guessing neither proceeded overseas with the squadron. Does anyone here have their fill names and service numbers, please? |
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Post by davidd on Mar 16, 2024 10:30:31 GMT 12
Dave, the Navigator is NZ4212858 Eric Julius NEWTON, born 1923, Ngaruawahia, previously employed as a carpenter. Embarked Auckland for Canada for advanced training per MATSONIA 5/5/43; completed training and ppromoted to Sgt in Canada October 1943, retd to NZ December 1943, posted to 31 Sqdn 18/1/44, thence to 1 Sqdn @ Whenuapai 17/4/44, to 1 OTU (Ohakea) 26/6/44, to Ohakea (admin posting) 8/7/44, to 2 Sqdn (Ohakea) 18/8/44. Completed forward area operational tour with latter squadron (25/10/44 - 16/3/45), remained with 2 Sqdn on reforemation 16/4/45, to Aircrew Pool 1/6/45, to 1 Sqdn (Whenuapai) 25/7/45, to Ohakea T/S 30/8/45 (possibly for C-47 Course with 1 [Transport] OTU), tfd to Reserve, Class C 23/10/45.
There is a faint possibility that the pilot was NZ432759 Sgt John David Hope, who graduated with Wigram Course No. 44A on 19/2/44, thence to New Plymouth (GR course with School of GR), 8/3/44, thence to CSP (Combined Schools Pool, Levin) 24/5/44, but the rank is wrong - he was not due for promotion to F/Sgt till 19/8/44, so there may very well be another F/Sgt Hope (the correct one!) yet to be discovered. J D Hope was posted to Fiji for service with 4 GR Squadron, Nausori, Fiji, 14/7/44 from what I can make out.
David D
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 16, 2024 10:32:51 GMT 12
Thanks David!!
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Post by errolmartyn on Mar 16, 2024 10:38:40 GMT 12
I have come across this snippet reporting on the night ditching of Avenger NZ2548 from the NZ Herald on 16 March 1944. The Wireless Operator-Air Gunner was Sgt William George Angus McCloud, who survived this but was later killed in action. But I do not have the names of the Captain - F/Sgt J.H. Hope or the Navigator - Sgt E.J. Newton - for my No. 31 Squadron Roll. I am guessing neither proceeded overseas with the squadron. Does anyone here have their fill names and service numbers, please? NZ422206 James Henry Pope (note: Pope not Hope) NZ4212856 Eric Julius Newton Errol |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 16, 2024 10:39:48 GMT 12
Thanks Errol, that makes more sense. Cheers!
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Post by davidd on Mar 16, 2024 11:00:08 GMT 12
Dave, have just run another check, and seems (from the accident/incident cards) that the pilot of the ditched Avenger (NZ2548) on 15/3/44 was in fact F/Sgt J H POPE, so the published name was incorrect! Pope's log book is available at Wigram, so I guess that can be perused by anyone interested. Pope's full name was James Henry POPE, NZ422206, postwar number 132302, so the newspaper got the initials right at least. I also suspect it was the RNZAF which probably supplied the faulty information in the first place, although rest if information all correct!
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