Auckland Museum Transcription Projects

JC/NF

41521: Flight Lieutenant Brian Minden MADDEN. PARENTS: Mr. & Mrs. J. Madden of Auckland.

Brian Madden was born at Wellington on the 2nd November, 1919. He was educated at the Otago Boys High School and at Wellington College, where he gained his University Entrance. He also studied at the Victoria University College, where he gained part of the LL.B. Degree. He was a keen athlete, playing for the second XV and the first XI at Wellington College. He also played rugby for the Victoria University and was a member of the Wellington College Old Boys Football Club. At the date of his entry into the Army in September, 1939, he was employed by Mazengarb, Hill and Macalister, Wellington as a law clerk.

He applied for aircrew training in December, 1939, but did not enter camp until January, 1941, whe he reported at the Ground Training School, Levin. He commenced his flying training at No. 2 Elementary Flying Training School, New Plymouth on the 1st March, 1941. On completion of his training in New Zealand he proceeded to Canada in April for further training under the Empire Air Training Scheme.

On arrival in Canada in May, 1941, he was posted to No. 32 Service Flying Training School, Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, for further training on Harvard aircraft. He was awarded his flying badge on the 8th August and promoted to the rank of Sergeant on 9th August. He was granted a commission in the rank of Pilot Officer the following day.

F/Lt. Madden embarked for the United Kingdom on the 25th August, 1941, arriving at No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre, Bournemouth, on the 22nd September, 1941. A few days later he commenced operational training on Miles Master and Hurricane aircraft at No. 59 Operational Training Unit, Crosby-on-Eden, Cumberland. On completion of the course in October he was posted to No. 56 (Punjab) Squadron, Duxford, Cambridgeshire, and was engaged on combat training for the next two months. On December 10, 1941, he

On June 6, 1944, he acted as escort for invasion barges for the "D" Day landings in Normanby. He also acted as escort in Typhoon bombers bombing enemy shipping, aerodromes and other targets in Germany.

On June 16, 1944, he was posted to West Malling, where he carried out anti-flying bomb patrols. He was engaged on these duties until August 24, when he again took part in operation sorties over Germany and Occupied Europe. On several occasions he helped to escort bombers on raids on targets in Germany, including Gelsenkirchen and Kamenz. He also shot up barges and motor transports in Holland on a number of occasions.

On September 17, 1944, F/Lt. Madden acted as escort to the airbourne invasion of Holland, and a few days later escorted C47 Dakotas transporting supplies to a landing strip at Grave in Western Germany. On the 4th December, 1944 he moved to France with the Squadron. For the next fortnight he was engaged on routine patrols and fighter sweeps over enemy territory.

On the 18th December, 1944, F/Lt. Madden was pilot of a Spitfire aircraft engaged on an offensive patrol over Germany. While over Aachen the Squadron was split up by anti-aircraft fire and enemy fighters, and dog fights ensued. F/Lt. Madden was reported missing believed killed. It was later reported that he had lost his life when his plane crashed near Rotenbar. He was buried with full service honours in the American Cemetery, Henri Chapelle, near Aachen, Germany.

5/2/1932 563 hours.

Mrs. M.G. Madden (M) 28 Komaru Street, Remuera, AUCKLAND.

4213792: Flight Sergeant Anthony Victor Peter Madsen. Parents: Mr and Mrs V.H.C. Madsen of Palmerston North.

Anthony Madsen was born Palmerston North on the 21st January, 1921, and received his secondary education at the Palmerston North Technical High School. He was interested in football and swimm-ing at school. At the time of making application for war service in aircrew on the 13th October, 1941, he was a Gunner in the Eight Medium Battery of the Territorial Army. His civilian occupation was that off farmer, farming on his own account at Kairanga, Palmerston North.

Flight Sergeant Madsen was transferred from the Army at Wanganui to No. 202 Aerodome Defence Squadron, Ohakea on the 31st October, 1942. Early in January, 1943, he was posted to the Initial Training Wing, Rotorua, for aircrew training as Air Gunner. He proceeded to No. 1 Operational Training Unit, Ohakea, on the 3rd April, where he was awarded the Air Gunner's Badge on the 30th of the same month and promoted to Sergeant. He was further promoted to Flight Sergeant on the 30th October, 1943. Meanwhile, he had proceeded to Whenuapai on the 28th May. He embarked for Fiji on the 8th July, 1943, where he was posted to No. 4 Bomber Reconnaissance Squadron, based at Nausori.

Flight Sergeant Madsen was a member of the crew of a Hudson aircraft which took off on anti-submarine escort duty on the 2nd January, 1944 and failed to return to base. The machine was seen by an aircraft returning to Lauthala Bay, at which time it was flying on its correct course. No further trace of the machine was ever discovered and all the crew, included Flight Sergeant Madsen, were posted as lost at sea on the 2nd January, 1944.

5/2/13272 A.S.2. No log book.

Mrs V.H.C. Madsen (M), Kairanga Rural Delivery, PALMERSTON NORTH.

Pilot Officer Ronald Stanley MAGEE (surname underlined) Mr. & Mrs. S.V. Magee of Reefton.

Donald Magee was born at Reefton on the 29th March, 1914, and received his secondary education at Reefton District High School, and St; Bede's, Christchurch, where he passed the Matriculation examination. He rugby and cricket for his school first fifteen and eleven respectively and in 1931 was the school senior athletic champion. After leaving school he joined the New Zealand forces as a gunner and while serving in gton, joined the Wellington Aero Club gaining his "A" Flying License. March, 1937 he applied for a Short Service commission in the Royal Air Force but was unsuccessful at the time an he accordingly applied for enrolment in the Civil Reserve of Pilots being assigned to the Otago Aero Club for (unreadable). Following this on the 12th September, 1939 he was posted with the (unreadable) pilot officer to No. 1 Flying Training School, Wigram, to continue training on service type aircraft. While here, on the 20th November he was awarded his Flying Badge. In the meantime he had renewed his station for a Short Service commission in the Royal Air Force, and on (unreadable) accepted, on the 17th February, 1940 embarked for the United Kingdom.

On arriving in England Pilot Officer Magee reported to Air Ministry (unreadable) confirmed in his appointment to a Short Service commission as a officer for five years from the 9th April, 1940. On the same day he was instructed to proceed to No. 1 Royal Air Force Depot, Uxbridge, Middlesex, a short disciplinary course. This was succeeded by his posting on (unreadable) April to No. 12 Operational Training Unit, Benson, Oxfordshire. On the 4th June 1940 he was posted to No. 98 Squadron forming part of the Advanced Air Striking Force in France, but on the 22nd July was posted to Ferry Pilot Pool, Kemble, Gloucestershire, for aircraft delivery duties. His next posting was on the 17th August to No. 5 Operational Training Unit, (unreadable), Gloucestershire, for a further course in operational flying.

On the 26th August, 1940, Pilot Officer Magee was carrying out (unreadable) flight in a Hurricane fighter which crashed near South Cerney, Pilot Officer Magee being killed. He was buried in the Woodchester Priory, Chester, near Stroud, Gloucester.

(unreadable)/1300 AS2 (unreadable)ng time not available

Mrs. C.M. Magee (M) 3 Belvedere Flats, Salisbury Street, CHRISTCHURCH

F/O Maguire returned to New Zealand in October 1943 and after leave, went to No. 3 B.R. Squadron at Ohakes where he was one of the crew of a Ventura piloted by F/L Stevens.

In May 1944, they went overseas to Espirita Santos where they were engaged on anti-submarine patrols. In July and August the squadron went forward to Guadalcanal and Bougainville. On September 9th, 1944, the Ventura in which F/O Maguire was Air Gunner was reported missing over Kerarat, New Britain. Other members of the crew were F/L J.H.W. Stevens (Captain & Pilot) F/O J.J. Carson (Navigator), W/O G.J. Innes (W.O.A.G.) and P/O S.J. Dawson (Air Gunner)

5/2/2478 A.S.2. 781 hours as Air Gunner (290 of them night flying)

Mrs. P.M. Maguire (W) C/o T. Ramage, River Street, Mataura, SOUTHLAND.

4212852: F/Sgt. Patrick Terence MAHER. MOTHER: Mrs. C.E. Maherm, Westport.

Patrick Terence Maher was born at Westport on March 4th, 1921 and received his education at St. Josephs School, Granity and at the Granity District High School. After leaving school, he was employed as a clerk by John Duthie & Co., Wellington. He applied for enlistment as a pilot early in 1942 and was eventually mobilised in October of that year, when he reported to Ohakea for duty with the Aerodome Defense Squadron there. In January 1943, he commenced training as a Wireless Operator Air Gunner at the Initial Training Wing, Rotorua and in the following April embarked for Canada.

Flight Sergeant Maher was posted to No. 2 Wireless School at Calgary on his arrival in Canada and after qualifying as Wireless Operator in November, 1943 he proceeded to No. 2 Bombing and Gunnery School at Mossbank, Saskatchewan where he was awarded his Air Gunner's Badge and promoted to the rank of Sergeant on January 17th, 1944. After a short period at No. 9 Air Observer's School, St. Johns, Quebec, he returned to New Zealand in April. In August, 1944 at the conclusion of a course at No. 1 (Bomber) Overseas Training Unit, Ohakea, during which he was promoted to Flight Sergeant, he was posted for duty to No. 2 Bomber Reconnaissance Squadron on Ventura aircraft. He departed with the Squadron for service in the Pacific area on October 28th, 1944 and a few days later, on November 3rd, was posted missing when the aircraft of which he was a crew member failed to return to Guadalcanal from an anti-submarine sweep. The other members of the crew of the lost Ventura were F/Sgt. C.F. St. John (Pilot), Sgt. S.G. Claughton (Navigator), Sgt. J.R.L. Leonard (Air Gunner) and Sgt. V.W. Mullany (Air Gunner). Subsequently the whole crew, including F/Sgt. Maher, were presumed to have lost their lives on the above dates.

5/2/14282 265 hours as Air Gunner.

Mrs. C.E. Maher (M) Post Office, Kongahu, WESTPORT.

2522 Flying Officer Harry Naider Major. Mother: Mrs. M. Osmond of Christchurch.

Harry Major was born at Auckland on the 30th October, 1910, and received his secondary education at King's College, Auckland, reach-ing Matriculation standard. He played for his school 1st XI, and later playing golf. After leaving school, he was engaged in sheep farming at Lake Tekapo, Canterbury. He obtained his "A" License in 1930 and was appointed to a Commission in the New Zealand Air Force in the rank of Pilot Office on the 19th September, 1932, and posted to No. 4 Squadron.

Pilot Officer Major continued to carry out the annual prescribed training and was promoted to the rank of Flying Officer on the 2nd April, 1935, continuing to serve until the outbreak of war, when he was mobilised at Whenuapai with the Auckland General Reconnaisance Squadron. He was posted to Ohaken for duty as a Staff Pilot on the 17th November, 1939.

Flying Officer Major was the pilot of an Oxford aircraft engag-ed on the 19th October, 1940 in a fight from Hobsonville to Ohakes. The aircraft failed to arrive at its destination and Flying Officer Major was classified as missing. Several months later, the wrecked aircraft was forund in dense bush near the West Coast north of Mokau, and the bodies of the crew were found nearby,

Flying Officer was cremated at Auckland.

4/3/177 A.S.2. No log book.

Mrs M. Osmond (M), 249 Gloucester Street, CHRISTCHURCH.

Cheshire, for duty as an instructor. He returned on the 24th April 1943, to No. 2 Flying Instructors' School now at Montrose, Angus, Scotland, for a brief refresher course prior to being posted on the 16th (unreadable) to No 5 (Pilots) Advanced Flying Unit, Ternhill, Shropshire, for (unreadable) as staff Pilot. His next posting was on the 21st September 1943 (missing) the Royal Air Force College, Cranwell, Lincolnshire, whre he was similiarly employed, and following this on the 1st October 1943 he re(missing) his duties with No. 5 Advanced Flying Unit, now at Tatenhill, Staffordshire, and later at Chetwynd, Shropshire.

On completing his tour of duty as an instructor on single (missing) aircraft. Flight Lieutenant Malcolson was next posted on the (missing) September, 1944 to No. 41 Operational Training Unit, first at (missing) warden, Flintshire, Wales, later at Poulton, Derbyshire, also in (missing) and finally at Andover, Hampshire. He proceeded on the 20th (missing) 1944 to No. 84 Group Support Unit, Lasham, Hampshire, prior to (missing) posted on the 17th January 1945 to No. 2 Squadron, operating from (missing) airfield to Holland.

On the 8th February 1945, Flight Lieutenant Malcolmson was (missing) of a Spitfire fighter which crashed near Hunbetgen, Holland, while (missing) on an artillery reconnaissance flight. The crash was due to a (missing) landing owing to shortage of petrol in which Flight Lieutenant (missing) lost his life. He was buried on the 9th February in the Can-(missing) Cemetery at Bergin-Op-Zoom, Holland.

5/2/4677 AS2 1289 Hours as Pilot.

Mrs. E.W. Malcolmson (W) (right aligned) 36 Creyke Road, (right aligned) Fendalton, (right aligned) CHRISTCHURCH. (right aligned & underlined)

411236 Sergeant Geroge Edward MARTIN. Parents: Mr. and Mrs. B.Martin of Eltham.

George Martin was born at New Plymouth on the 10th March 1920. He received his secondary education at the Stratford Technical High School. From the time of leaving school in 1935 until applying for enlistment in aircrew, on the 9th December 1939, he was employed in the grocery trade at Fordell.

Sergeant Martin was enlisted at the Initial Training Wing, Levin, on the 15th February 1941, and on the completion of his training there embarked on the 27th March for Canada to train under the Empire Air Training Scheme.

Sergeant Martin was posted to No.3 Wireless School, Winnipeg, Manitoba, on the 17th April and then to No.7, Bombing and Gunnery School, Paulson, Manitoba, on the 1st September. Here on the 29th September he was awarded the Wireless Operator Air Gunner's badge and promoted to the rank of Sergeant. Afterwards proceeding on the 6th October to No.1 'Y' Depot, Halifax, Nova Scotia, for embarkation to the United Kingdom.

Sergeant Martin arrived at No.3 Personnel Reception Centre, Bournemouth, on the 24th October 1941 and early in December was posted to No.1 Signals School Cranwell, Lincolnshire, for his advanced training. On the 20th January 1942 he proceeded to No.11, Operational Training Unit, Steeple, Morden, Hertfordshire, and later at Bassingbourne where he crewed up and completed his training on Wellington bomber aircraft. While at this later base he took part in an operational raid on Bremen in Germany. During July he converted to Stirling bomber aircraft at No.149 Squadron, Conversion Flight, Mildenhall, Suffolk, joining the squadron at Lakenheath on the 20th July. From this base he took part in a further nine operational flights the targets including Duisberg (2), Saarbrucken, Dusseldorf, Kassel, Nurenberg and Frankfurt, all in Germany.

Sergeant Martin was a member of the crew of a Stirling bomber which took off during the night of the 10/11th September 1942 to attack a target at Dusseldorf. The aircraft failed to return to its base and all the crew including Sergeant Martin were classified as missing. Later, information was received from a German offical

439008 Sergeant Graham MacLeod MARTIN. Widow: Mrs. I.L. Martin of CHRISTCHURCH. Parents: Mr. and Mrs. J. Martin of CHRISTCHURCH.

Graham Martin was born at Christchurch on the 13th April 1916, and received his secondary education at the Christchurch Boys' High School, passing the matriculation examination. When applying for enlistment in aircrew, on the outbreak of war, he was employed in a clerical capacity by the Government Tourist Bureau at Wellington.

Sergeant Martin was mobilised at Woodbourne, Blenheim, in the Wellington Territorial Squadron on the outbreak of war and posted to Wigram on the 27th October, for a wireless operator course at No.1 Technical Training School. After completing the course, he returned to Blenheim on the 1st January 1940, where he served until posted to Levin on the 10th June 1942 for similar duties.

During April and May 1941 he acted in a draft conducting capacity to Canada. On posting to Levin, he acted as an instructor in wireless operating, both on the ground and in the air, and on the 16th October 1942 was posted to New Plymouth for similar duties.

Sergeant Martin was a member of the crew of an Oxford aircraft engaged on the 23rd October 1942 in a training flight from New Plymouth, and which failed to return to its base. All the crew, including Sergeant Martin, were classified as missing. In due course, it was assumed that he had lost his life at sea without trace on the 23rd October 1942.

4/2/3198 A.S.2

Mrs. I.L. Martin (W), 30 College Avenue, Papanui, CHRISTCHURCH.