No 5 Bombing & Gunnery School
Course 27 – Air Observer

This Post Has 2 Comments

1. 

   Liz O'Brien December 11, 2022 Reply

   Hi Nathan. Thank you so much for this section of RCAF.info. New Zealanders made a smaller contribution to WW2 due to population numbers, but no less significant than other nations. It’s great to see these men honoured here with their history available for others to find if they so wish. Thank you.

2. 

   Keith Gould September 11, 2024 Reply

   Thi is an update to Liz’s excellent list
   

   ADL Dumont,
    A Tiinnosni (RCAF),
    RJ Parish, RNZAF killed in action 26 Jun 1942 11OTU Bremen NZ41546 Richard
   John Parish
   o Mar 42 – 11 OTU, Course 47, Plts & Obs
    Murray Ellis Carncross NZ411718
   o Killed in Action – 29 July 1942
   o RNZAF
   o Posted from Course 27-Air Observer, No 7 Air Observer School, Portage la
   Prairie, Manitoba, Canada of 15 September 1941
   o Posted to Course 27-Air Observer, No 1 Air Navigation School, Rivers,
   Manitoba, Canada on 27 October 1941
   o 24 Nov 41 – Plt Off from Sgt
   o 4 Mar 42 – 11OTU Bassingbourn, UK
   o 7 Jul 42 – 75 Sqn
   o Final Rank – Pilot Officer
   o Service file in the Collection of the Site Owner.
    AH Bradley, RNZAF NZ402435 Arthur Hilary Bradley
   o 16 Sep 42 – 214 Sqn from 1651CU
   o 25 May 43 – Plt Off from Flt Sgt (as NAV)
   o 17 Jun 43 – 620 Sqn from 214 Sqn
   o 13 Aug 43 – DFM
   o 30 Aug 43 – 1651 CU (as NAV) from 620 Sqn
   o 25 Nov 43 – Fg Off from Plt Off
   o 23 Aug 45 – Flt Lt (temp) from Flt (acting)
   o 23 Aug 45 – Reserve of Air Force Officers
    Harry Francis Burton Smith RNZAF 41641
   o Killed in Action – 24 September 1942
   o Spr/Sum 42 – 11 OTU – 48 Course
   o Final Rank – Flying Officer
   o 24 Nov 41 – Plt Off from Sgt
   o 1 Oct 42 – Fg Off from Plt Off
   o

   https://media.api.aucklandmuseum.com/id/media/v/1030487?rendering=original.jpg

    A Willis – RNZAF404437 Arthur Willis
   o Jan 42 – Mar 44 – 226 Sqn (8 – 15 Sep 43 – 98 Sqn)
   o 14 Jan 43 – Plt Off from Sgt
   o 14 Jan 45 – Flt Lt from Fg Off
   o B. 20 May 16, d. 26 Oct 79
    Douglas “Doug” Haig Palmer – RNZAF41545
   o Survived the war, passed away 1989.
   o Highest Rank – Squadron Leader
   o Awarded a Mentioned in Dispatches
   o https://www.belsen.co.uk/squadron-leader-douglas-haig-palmer-rnzaf/
    Herbert Stanley McCullum, RNZAF 41545
   o 6 Jan 43 – 18 Sqn – last op 13 May 44
   o 7 Jul 44 – Awarded Distinguished Flying Cross as WO on 18 Sqn
   o Appears that he possibly survived the war, possibly dying in 1990 8 Feb 1990
    Ronald Ernest Herbert – RNZAF411721
   o 3 Mar 42 – 11 OTU
   o 16 Apr 42 – 22 OTU
   o Killed in Flying Accident – 25 May 1942 on 22 OTU
   o Final Rank – Sergeant
    Norman Priestly Saul – RNZAF411730
   o Killed in Action – 7 September 1942 on 75 Sqn
   o Final Rank – Sergeant
    JCH Sullivan
   o Jun – 24 Oct 42 75 Sqn
    Bernard John Ewart Hannah – RNZAF403446
   o 24 Nov 41 – Plt Off from Sgt
   o 10 Oct 42 – Fg Off from Plt Off
   o Killed in Action – 9 October 1943
   o Final Rank – Flying Officer
    MA Elliott – RNZAF4111720 Max Hilton Elliott
   o 3 Mar 43 – 11 OTU
   o 16 Jul 42 – 149 Sqn
   o Killed in action 30 Sep 1942
    RH Dunkley RNZAF 404344 Raymond Harold Dunckley
   o Killed in Action – 27 August 1942
   o Mar 42 – 11 OTU, Course 47, Plts & Obs
   o Jun/Jul 42 – 1651 CU
   o 6 Jul 42 – 215 Sqn
   o 24 Nov 41 Plt Off from Sgt
   o Final Rank – Pilot Officer
    William Herbert H Lip-Guey NZ411723
   o Killed in Action – 11 November 1942 608 Sqn
   o Final Rank – Sergeant
    CR Davidson RNZAF 411207 Colin Radcliffe Davidson
   o 27 Apr 42 – 608 Sqn from 6OTU
   o 22 Aug 42 – RAF Sumburgh N/E sick
   o 2 May 80 – d. Manuka, NZ
    Patrick George Nelson – RNZAF411726
   o Killed in Flying Accident – 10 November 1942 – 53 Sqn

   o Final Rank – Sergeant
    HR Powley – RNZAF 411727 Herman Robert Powley
   o 24 Nov 41 – Plt Off from Sgt
   o 15 May 43 – commission terminated from Fg Off
    Keith Williamson Morrison – RNZAF404396
   o Killed in Action – 21 July 1943
   o Final Rank – Flight Sergeant
    RM Sparrow – RNZAF 411733 Richard Maxwell Sparrow
   o 24 Nov 41 – Plt Off from Sgt – Observer
   o 10 Oct 42 – Fg Off from Plt Off
   o 24 Nov 43 – Flt Lt from Fg Off
   o 8 Jul 42 – 57 Sqn from 11OTU 48 Course
   o 29 Aug 42 – Missing – POW with rest of crew
   o 2015 – d.
    Orison Edwin Amos – RNZAF411717
   o Killed in Action – 3 March 1943 – 15 Sqn
   o Final Rank – Flight Sergeant
    CN Richards – RNZAF 404846 Charles Napier Richards
   o 9 Sep 43 – Plt Off from Sgt
   o 9 Sep 44 Fg Off from Plt Off
   o 9 Sep 15 – b.
   o 2004 – d.
    Kenneth Ewen Smith – RNZAF404417
   o Killed in Action – 27 December 1942
   o Final Rank – Sergeant
    EA Davis – RNZAF 411719 Archibald England Davis
   o 24 Nov 41 – Plt Off from Sgt – Observer
   o 8 Jul 42 – 214 Sqn from 11 OTU (with crew)
   o 31 Jul 42 – Fg Off from Plt Off
   o 10 Sep 43 – DFC awarded on 214 Sqn
   o 1 Aug 43 – 1657 CU (as A/Flt Lt)
   o 24 Nov 43 – Flt Lt
   o 14 Jun 45 – MiD as A/Sqn Ldr
   o Apr 46 Returned to NZ
    John Syddall Williams – RNZAF404977
   o Killed in Action – 25 May 1942 – 22OTU
   o Final Rank – Sergeant
    Robin William Morton – RNZAF411725
   o 24 Nov 41 – Plt Off from Sgt
   o Killed in Action – 3 July 1942 – 18 Sqn
   o Final Rank – Pilot Officer
    RC Spittal – RNZAF 404420 Philip Charles Spittal
   o 24 Nov 41 – Plt Off from Sgt – observer
   o Spring 42 – 11 OTU
   o Jul 42 – 75 Sqn
   o Killed in action – 26 July 1942
    AJ McDonogh (RCAF) – R86834 Athol Ian McDonogh
   o Service record shows at 5BGS on the above date
   o 20 Apr 42 – 25 OTU
   o 6 Aug 42 – 75 Sqn

   o Killed in action – 21 Aug 1942
    BS Sinclair – RNZAF411731 Bruce Stalley Sinclair
   o ? Mar 41 – enlisted as U/T AO
   o 24 Nov 41 – Plt Off from Sgt – observer
   o 1 Oct 42 – Fg Off from Plt Off
   o 24 Nov 43 – Flt Lt from Fg Off
   o 10 Dec 42 – 42 Sqn
   o 31 Mar 44 – ?217 Sqn
    Kenneth Stuart Spencer – RNZAF41552
   o 3 Mar 43 – 11OTU
   o Killed in Action – 29 July 1942 – 1656CU
   o Final Rank – Sergeant
    GH Dunn – RNZAF 411790 Gordon Henry Dunn
   o 1 Jul 43 – Plt off from Flt Sgt
   o 1 Jan 44 – Fg Off from Plt Off
   o 1 Jun 45 – Flt Lt from Fg Off
   o 28 Mar 48 – Commission relinquished
    ES Roberts – RNZAF411728 Eric Samuel Roberts
   o 24 Nov 41 – Plt Off from Sgt
   o 1 Oct 43 – Fg Off from Plt Off
   o 24 Nov 43 – Flt Lt from Fg Off
   o 42 – 44 – ?22, 42 and 217 Sqns
   o B. 1916, d. 2006
    E Garnett (?)(RAF),
    Norman Lee Burton – RNZAF41531
   o Missing in Action – 2 October 1943
   o Final Rank – Flying Officer
    LV Rosser – RNZAF411798 Leonard Victor Rosser
   o 22 Dec 41 – Plt Off from Sgt
   o 1 Apr 44 – Flt Lt from Fg Off
   o ?108 Sqn
   o B. 1920, d. 1994
    Noble Andrew Gardiner – RNZAF41579
   o Killed in Action – 28 July 1943
   o Final Rank – Flying Officer
    G Nimmo – RNZAF404931 George Nimmo
   o 24 Nov 41 – Plt Off from Sgt
   o 27 May 42 – 221 Sqn from 17 OUT
   o 1 Sep 42 – 464 Sqn from 221 Sqn
   o 10 Oct 42 – Fg Off from Plt Off
   o 24 Nov 43 – Flt Lt from Fg Off
    James Allan Logan – RNZAF404908
   o Killed in Flying Accident – 10 November 1942
   o Final Rank – Flying Officer
    Ian Ignatius Friend – RNZAF404350
   o Killed in Action – 9 November 1942
   o Final Rank – Sergeant
    Max Hilton Elliott.
   o Killed in Action – 30 September 1942
   o Final Rank – Sergeant (see above)

   There is a confusion in the names on the photograph. The front row has 16 airmen but 17
   names are shown. I contend that MA Elliott (with no.17 next to him) is M H Elliott.