Auckland Museum Transcription Projects

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Germany, and 2 minelaying operations to the Frisian Islands off Holland. He was reposted on the 13th October, to No.1657 Conversion Unit, now at Waterbeach, Cambridgeshire, where he furthered his training on Stirling Bomber Aircraft, and on the 5th November he proceeded to No.622. Squadron, Mildenhall, Suffolk. With this Squadron as Wireless Operator of a Sterling Bomber he resumed operational flying.

Flight Sergeant Neilson was the Wireless Operator of a Stirling Bomber Aircraft which took off on the 15th February, 1944 to attack the target of Berlin, and failed to return to its base and all the members of the crew including Flight Sergeant Neilson were classified as missing. Later, information was received from a German source, through the International Red Cross Committee, stating that Flight Sergeant Neilson had lost his life and he was in consquence, reclassified to missing believed killed in Action. Information was subsequently received from the same source that he had been buried in the New Gaaz Cemetery, twenty miles west of Ronstock, Mecklenburg, Germany. In due course his death was officially presumed to have occured on the 15th February, 1944.

5/15/2385 AS.2. 316 hours as WIRELESS OPERATOR/AIR GUNNER.

Mrs. E.A. Neilson (M) 81, Amahou Street, ROTORUA.

NZ412476 Sergeant George NELSON Parents Mr. and Mrs. J. Nelson of Christchurch

George Nelson was born at Christchurch, on the 20th May 1921. He received his secondary education at the Christchurch Technical College reaching Matriculation standard. From the time of leaving school in 1937 until applying for enlistment in aircrew, on the 6th January 1940, he was employed as a fitter and turner at the Railway Workshops at Addington.

Sergeant Nelson was enlisted at the Initial Training Wing, Levin, on the 13th April 1941, and embarked on the 18th June for Canada, to train under the Empire Air Training Scheme.

Shortly after arrival in Canada he was posted on the 6th July to No 6 Air Observers School, Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, then on the 28th September to No 3 Bombing and Gunnery School, Mac-Donald, Manitoba, where on the 8th November he was awarded the Air Observers badge and promoted to the rank of Sergeant. Next day he proceeded to No 1 Advanced Navigation School, Rivers, Manitoba, and proceeding on the 6th February 1942, to No 1 "Y" Depot, Halifax, Nova Scotia, for embarkation to the United Kingdom.

Sergeant Nelson arrived at No 3 Personnel Reception Centre, Bournemouth, on the 10th March 1942, and proceeded to No 2 (Observers) Advanced Flying Unit, Millom, Cumberland, at the end of the next month, then to No 11 Operational Training Unit, Westcott, Buckinghamshire, on the 23rd June. Here he trained as Navigator of Wellington bomber aircraft, and was posted on the 9th September to No 115 Squadron, Mildenhall, Suffolk.

On his first operational flight, undertaken against Dusseldorf, on the night of the 2nd/3rd October 1942, the aircraft failed to return, and all the crew including Sergeant Nelson were

classified as missing. Later, information was received from a German official source through the International Red Cross, that he had lost his life, and was buried in the Ninth Military Cemetery, Dusseldorf. In consquence he was reclassified to missing believed killed in action, and in due course his death was officially presumed to have occurred on the 2nd October 1942.

5/2/4974 As2. 222 hours as Navigator.

Mrs. M.S. Nelson (M) 45 Sydney Street, CHRISTCHURCH.

414663 Leading Aircraftsman John William Thomas NELSON. Mother: Mrs.I.M. Nelson of NAPIER.

John Nelson was born at Napier on the 7th April 1921. He obtained his secondary education at the Hamilton High School, passing the matriculation examination and gaining a school certificate. He played cricket for his school 1st XI and afterwards for the United Cricket Club at Napier. From the time of leaving school until applying for enlistment in aircrew, on the 15th July 1940, he was employed by the National Bank on New Zealand at Napier.

Leading Aircraftsman Nelson was enlisted at the Initial Training Wing, Levi, on the 16th August 1941, and posted to New Plymouth on the 27th September for his elementary flying training. He then proceeded, on the 9th November to No.2 Service Flying Training School, Woodbourne, Blenheim.

Leading Aircraftsman Nelson was the pilot of a Harvard aircraft which collided with another aircraft on the ground at Lake Grassmere on the 23rd January 1942, Leading Aircraftsman Nelson losing his life. He was buried in the Park Island Cemetery at Napier.

5/2/5732 A.S.2. No Log Book.

Mrs.I.M. Nelson (M), 111 Chaucer Road North, NAPIER.

NZ404400 Pilot Officer Max Kiri NELSON PARENTS: Mr. & Mrs. C.E.J. Nelson of Auckland.

Max Nelson was born at Hastings on the 26th September, 1918. His secondary education was received at Seddon Memorial Technical College Auckland. His sports were yachting and rugby in which latter he was a member of his school first fifteen and was afterwards an Auckland re-presentative player. After leaving school he was employed by Johns Ltd. Auckland, as a radio engineer and was so employed in October, 1939 he applied for war service in the Royal New Zealand Air Force.

Pilot Officer was enlisted for aircrew training on the 24th November, 1940 at the Ground Training School, Levin, and commenced his flying training on the 27th December, when he was posted to No. 4 Elementary Flying Training School, Whenuapai. This training completed, he proceeded on the 7th February, 1941 to No. 2 Service Flying Training School, Woodbourne, and while here on the 24th March, he was awarded his flying badge. On the 3rd May, he was commissioned as a Pilot Officer and on the 26th May embarked for the United Kingdom where he would complete his training and commence operational flying.

The journey was made by way of Canada and Pilot Officer Nelson arrived in England on the 2nd July, 1941 and was held at No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre, Bournemouth, until posted on the 19th July to No. 10 Operational Training Unit, Abingdon, Berkshire, while here he crewed up and completed his training on Whitley Bomber aircraft prior to being posted on the 25th September, to No. 10 Squadron, Leeming, Yorkshire. With this squadron as pilot of a Whitley bomber he took part in five operational flights comprising attacks on STUTTGART, KIEL, HAMBURG, ESSEN, and EMDEN, ALL IN GERMANY.

From this last operation against the target of Emden undertaken as pilot of a Whitley bomber on the 30th November, 1941 the aircraft failed to return to its base and all member of its crew including Pilot Officer Nelson were classified as missing. After due time had elapsed his death was officially presumed to have occurred on the 30th November, 1941 as the result of air operations.

5/2/3226 AS2 364 hours as pilot.

Mr. C.E.J. Nelson (Father) 5 Middleton Road, Remuera, AUCKLAND.

411726 Sergeant Patrick George NELSON. Parents: Mr. and Mrs. G. Nelson of WANGANUI.

Patrick Nelson was born at Wellington on the 21st February 1921 and received his secondary education at the Gisborne High School and the Wanganui Collegiate School. At school he played football, rowed, and boxed. Later on, after leaving school he played gold and was a member of the Wanganui Golf Club. When making application for enrolment in the Civil Reserve of Pilots on the 9th August 1939, he was employed as a clerk at the Wanganui Office of the Bank of New South Wales.

Sergeant Nelson was enlisted on the 15th March 1941, at the Initial Training Wing, Levin, and after completion of his initial training embarked on 26th May 1941 for Canada.

Shortly after arrival in Canada he was posted to No.7 Air Observers' School, Portage la Prairie, Manitoba on the 15th June 1941, where he remained until posting on the 15th September 1941, to No.5 Bombing and Gunnery School at Dafoe, Saskatchewan. Completing the Gunnery Training Course he was awarded his air observers badge on the 25th October 1941 and promoted to the rank of Sergeant.

He then proceeded on the 26th October 1941 to No.1 Air Navigation School, Rivers, Manitoba and on the 9th November 1941 to the No.1 "Y" Depot, Halifax, Nova Scotia, where he soon after embarked for the United Kingdom.

Sergeant Nelson arrived at the No.3 Personnel Reception Centre, Bournemouth, on the 26th December 1941, and proceeded on the 16th January 1942 to No.3 School of General Reconnaissance at Squires Gate Aerodome, Blackpool, Lancashire. He was posted on the 24th February 1942, to No.6 (Costal) Operational Training Unit, Thornaby, Yorkshire where he crewed up and completed his training on Hudson aircraft in preparation for operational flying. On the 21st April 1942, he joined No.53 Squadron at St. Eval and from this base as an air navigator took part in seven operational flights, consisting of six anti-submarine sweeps and one search for a Danish fishing vessel.

In July 1942, Sergeant Nelson moved with the Squadron to Trinidad via Reykjavik (Iceland), Goose, (Labrador) via Greenland, and the United States. From this base he took part in a further 35 operational flights, consisting of 28 anti-submarine sweeps, 6 patrols of shipping lanes and 1 convoy escort. In the course of these operations he successfully attacked on the 16th August 1942, a 1,000 ton U-Boat east of Martinique. On the 27th of the same month, he again attacked a U-Boat obtaining two hits.

Sergeant Nelson was the navigator of a Hudson aircraft that failed to return after an anti-submarine sweep off the Coast of Trinidad on the 10th of November 1942. All the crew were reported missing and it was later officially presumed that Sergeant Nelson lost his life at sea, on the 10th November 1942.

5/1/252 A.S.2. 257 hours as navigator

Mr. George Nelson (F) 132 St. Hill Street, WANGANUI.

413339 Pilot Officer Ronald Herbert NELSON. Mother: Mrs. M. Nelson of GISBORNE.

Ronald Nelson was born at Auckland on the 20th June 1917. His secondary education was received at Gisborne High School where he passed the matriculation examination. He subsequently furthered his studies by attending classes at Massey Agricultural College, Palmerston North. The sports in which he took part were rugby, tennis, and swimming. Joining the Territorial Forces in June 1939 he served for fifteen months in the Corps of Signals. His civilian occupation was that of a wool classer in the Poverty Bay district. In April 1940 he applied for war service in the Royal New Zealand Air Force.

Pilot Officer Nelson was enlisted for aircrew training on the 14th June 1941 at the Initial Training Wing, Levin, and on the 14th August he embarked for Canada for training under the Empire Air Training Scheme.

Shortly after his arrival in Canada, Pilot Officer Nelson was posted on the 31st August 1941 to No.6 Air Observer School, Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. His course here completed, he was posted on the 28th November to No.3 Bombing and Gunnery School, MacDonald, Manitoba, where on the 30th December he was awarded his air observer's badge. On the 3rd January 1942 he was promoted to sergeant and later, when in England on the 1st May 1943 was further promoted flight sergeant. On the 27th July 1943 he was commissioned as a pilot officer. Meanwhile, on the 5th January 1942 he had been posted to No.1 Air Navigation School, Rivers, Manitoba. At the conclusion of this course, on the 18th February he proceeded to No.1 "Y" Depot, Halixax, Nova Scotia, to await embarkation for the United Kingdom.

Having arrived in England on the 10th March, Pilot Officer Nelson was held at No.3 Personnel Reception Centre, Bournemouth, until posted on the 2nd May 1942 to No.2 (Observer) Advanced Flying Unit, Millom, Cumberland. This training completed, he proceeded on the 23rd June to No.II Operational Training Unit, first at Bassingbourn and later at Steeple, Morden, both in Hertfordshire.

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Kano, Nigeria.

5/2/7091 A.S.2. No Log Book.

Mrs.M.I. Neve (W), 58 Waiwaka Terrace, Fitzroy, NEW PLYMOUTH.

JC/NF

404401: F/Sgt. Norman John NEWALL. PARENTS: Mr. & Mrs. L.G. Newall of Dunedin. WIFE: Mrs. N.K. Newall of Nelson.

Normal Newall was born at Dunedin on the 1st October, 1942 and was educated at the Otago Boys' High School, where he gained his school certificate. After leaving school, he studied for Accountancy at the King Edward Technical College (Evening Classes) and through Hemingways Correspondence School. He was keen sportsman, playing rugby, cricket and soccer whilst at school, and he played soccer for the Otago Boys' High School Old Boys and cricket and men's basketball for Napier Motors after leaving school. He was employed by Napier Motors Ltd. of Dunedin on clerical work.

He applied for aircrew training in September 1939, but did not enter camp until November 1940, when he was enlisted at the Initial Training Wing, Levin. He commenced his flying training in December at No.1 Elementary Flying Training School, Taieri, flying his first solo on January 11th, 1941. In February he was posted to No.2 Service Flying Training School, Woodbourne, for further training on Oxfords. He was awarded his Flying Badge in March and promoted to Sergeant in May 1941.

In may he proceeded to No. 2 (General Reconnaissance) Squadron, Nelson, and was engaged on general flying duties and operational training. In February, 1942 he proceeded to Fiji, returning to Nelson five days later. On August 1st, 1942 he was promoted to Flight Sergeant.

F/Sgt. Newall went overseas again in October to Fiji and returned to Nelson again on November 30th. On December 12th he proceeded overseas again to No. 3 (General Reconnaissance) Squadron, Guadaleanal.