RNZAF Biographies of Deceased Personnel: 1939 - 1945, Ab - Bl

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Bound Volumes of Royal New Zealand Air Force Biographies of Deceased Personnel from 1939 to 1945, encompassing names from Ab to Bl. Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira and Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga Archives New Zealand are working in collaboration to transcribe these biographies for loading into individual Online Cenotaph records.

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404522 : Pilot Officer Alexander Richard ABBOTT. WIFE : Mrs H. J. Abbott of Wellington. PARENTS : Mr & Mrs R. V. Abbott also of Wellington.

[right margin: HW/NF 12848 Vol. 1 AB. - BL. DO NOT TRIM FORE EDGE OR BOTTOM]

Alexander Abbott was born on the 18th December, 1918. at Wellington, and received his secondary education at Wellington Technical College, where he won the "Callender Memorial" engineering scholarship. On leaving school he furthered his education at Wellington Technical College evening classes, and at the Stuart Tutorial College and Banks College, gaining his University Entrance. His sporting interests included cricket, tennis and athletics; and he was a member of the Wellington Technical College 1st XV and later the Athletic Football Club. At the time of his making application for aircrew training in the RNZAF ^Royal New Zealand Air Force^ - on the 10th January. 1940 - he was employed by the Post & Telegraph Dept. as a clerk. He had also served for a short time in the Territorials.

P/O Abbott enlisted at Levin on the 24th November, 1940, and having satisfactorily completed his initial training, embarked for Canada on board the "Aorangi" on the 30th January, 1941.

On arrival in Canada P/O Abbott was - on the 16th February, 1941 - posted to No. 4 Air Observers School, London, Ontario. On completion of his course at this school he proceeded to No. 1 Bombing and Gunnery School, Jarvis, Ontario, where on the 21st June he was awarded the air observer's badge and, two days later, promoted to Sergeant. He was commissioned in the rank of Pilot Officer on the 23rd of the following month. In continuation of his training he was - on the 23rd June, 1941 - posted to No. 1 Advanced Navigation School, Rivers, Manitoba.

On the 31st July, ^1941^ P/O Abbott was attached to the Atlantic Ferry and on the 3rd August set out, as 1st navigator of an "Atferro" Hudson, on the first stage of a flight from Canada to the United Kingdom, arriving at No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre, Bournemouth, on the 6th August.

Last edit about 1 month ago by Jannyp
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From No. 3 P. R. C., ^Personnel Reception Centre, Bournemouth^ P/O Abbott was - on the 23rd August, 1941 - posted to No. 16 Operational Training Unit, Upper Heyford, Oxfordshire, where he carried out air exercises on Hampden bomber aircraft. On the 6th December, 1941, he proceeded to No. 455 (Austr) (Australian) Squadron, Swinderby, Lincolnshire, from which base he flew as navigator in Hampden bomber aircraft on nine operational flights over enemy territory. The targets on these raids included Hamburg, Hanover, Munster, and Wilhelmshaven, in Germany; Brest, in France; and Ostend, in Belgium. He also flew on minelaying operations in the North Sea off the East Frisian Islands.

On the 12th February, 1942, P/O Abbott was navigator of a Hampden bomber aircraft which took off from Swinderby to attack enemy warships off the coast of Holland. The aircraft failed to return to its base and all the members of the crew, including P/O Abbott, were reported missing. Subsequently the death of P/O Abbott was officially presumed. ^to have occurred on the above date.^

5/2/3627 A. S. 2 Mrs H. J. Abbott (W) 266 hrs. as Air Observer.

Mrs. H. J. Abbott (W) 103 The Ridgeway,| Mornington, WELLINGTON.

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414570 : Flying Officer Clifford Wilmore ABBOTT. MOTHER : Mrs L. B. Doig of Trentham. WIFE : Mrs. A. J. Abbott of Lyall Bay, Wellington.

Clifford Abbott was born at Wellington on 1st September, 1917 and received his secondary education at the Hutt Valley Memorial Technical College, playing in the 1st XV at rugby and the 1st XI at Cricket. ^From 1938 he had been employed by on the perminent staff of the Wellington Harbour Board.^

He applied for enlistment in the RNZAF on the 12th December, 1940 being then married and with one daughter. From 1938 he had been employed on the permanent staff of the Wellington Harbour Board. He was attested in the RNZAF Royal New Zealand Air Force at Wellington on the 20th May, 1941 and commenced flying training at Harewood on the 29th September, 1941. After over 18 hours ^flying^ training flying, his training was terminated, but on reconsideration, due in a measure to his exceptional keenness, he was given another opporunity to continue flying and posted to the Elementary Flying Training School at Whenuapai. There he was rcorded as of average flying ability and from then onwards made normal progress, gaining his Flying Badge on 4/3/42. 4th March, 1942. He left for the United Kingdom on ^in^ May 1942 in with the rank of Sergeant.

Flying Officer Abbott commenced flying in Great Britain at No. 12 Advanced Flying Unit, Spitalgate, Grantham, Lincolnshire in July 1942. He completed his advanced course on Airspeed Oxford aircraft the following October, when he was posted to No. 2 Flying Instructors' School, Montrose, Scotland for a further course on Miles, Magisters and Oxfords, at the completion of which he returned to No. 12 A. F. U. Advanced Flying Unit at Spitalgate as a Flying Instructor. Apart from a short period during February and March, 1943 when he was attached to No. 51 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit at Twinwood Farm, Bedford, for a conversion course to Bisley and Bristol Blenheim aircraft, Flying Officer Abbott remained at No. 12 Advanced Flying Unit as an instructor until the time of his death.

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He was commissioned in the rank of Pilot Officer on February 19th, 1943 and promoted to Flying Officer on August 19th of the same year. Flying Officer Abbott numbered many New Zealanders amongst his pupils at Spitalgate, where his flying time as an instructor totalled approximately 600 hours, mainly on Blenheim aircraft. He lost his life as the result of an aircraft accident crash on the 5th May, 1944 when engaged as an Instructor at Spitalgate, Lincolnshire flying a Blenheim aircraft. He crashed in Lincolnshire

5/2/7451 A. S. 2. Mrs. A. J. Abbott (Widow)
1123 hrs. as a pilot. 196 Sutherland Road,
Lyall Bay, WELLINGTON
Last edit about 1 year ago by Marion D
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424401 : W/O William Gibbs ABBOTT.
PARENTS : Dr. & Mrs. William Norman Abbott of Auckland.
William Abbott was born at Auckland on May 9th, 1922 and was educated at Kings School and Kings College, Auckland. He gained his University Entrance Examination in 1939 and after leaving school was employed on clerical duties with the Colonial Sugar Refining Co. at Auckland. Prior to the war he served with the 1st Battery, 1st Field Regiment, New Zealand Army Territorial Forces. He applied for enlistment in the Royal New Zealand Air Force as an Airman Piot on the 19h February 1941 at the age of 18, He was being attested on the 6th August 1941 at Auckland. He represented his school in the 1st XV at football and the 1st XI at cricket and played 3rd grade rugby for Auckland University. After a short education course with the Royal New Zealand Air Force Education service, he went to the Initial Training Wing at Rotorua for training in May 1942. His Elementary Flying Training was undertaken at No. 1 Elementary Flying Training School, Taieri and he then went on to No. 2 Training School, Woodbourne, where he gained his Flying Badge on December 29th, 1942. On completing his training, he was recommended for training on fighter aircraft. He was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in March 1943 and left New Zealand in the following month for service in the United Kingdom.

He arrived in Great Britain at the end of May and a month later commenced flying on Miles Master aircraft at No. 17 Advanced Flying Unit, Calveley, where he completed his course in November. He was promoted to Flight Sergeant on September 6th, 1943. Warrant Officer Abbott next proceeded to No. 53 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit at Kirton Lindsay for operational training on Spitfire I & II fighters.

From the beginning of March until the end of July 1943 he was stationed at the Tactical Exercise Units at Tealing, Kinnel and Honiley in Scotland, at which he was flying the Hurricane IV, Spitfire VB, Typhoon IA and Mustang III fighters after which he spent a short period at No. 83 Group Support Unit at Bognor Regis in Sussex.

Last edit over 1 year ago by Marion D
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