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

On August 5th, 1944 Warrant Officer Abbott was posted to No. 19 (Fighter) Squadron on Mustang Fighter Bombers. He left almost immediately for Normandy and commenced operations over France on August 7th. For the next month he was engaged daily and sometimes twice a day in fighter sweeps and bombing and Strafing raids on enemy aerodromes, communications, barges and railway and road transport. He made contact several times with enemy fighters, mainly Messersmidt 109's and Focke-Wulf FW 190's and was involved in several dogfights. On his 13th operational trip on August 20, he shot down his first Hun - a FW190 - and several days later discovered he had won a sweepstake for shooting down the 122nd aircraft destroyed by No. 122 Fighter Wing of the Royal Air Force to which No. 19 Squadron belonged.

On September 2nd, Warrant Officer Abbott proceeded with No. 19 Squadron to a recently captured aerodrome at Evreux near Rouen and the next day moved on to Beauvais north of Paris, from which sweeps were carried out against targets in Belgium and Holland. He was promoted to Warrant Officer on September 6, 1944. On September 9. Warrant Officer Abbott was reported missing when the Mustang of which he was the pilot failed to return from an armed reconnaissance flight over Holland. He was strafing railway locomotives south ofthe town of Apeldoorn and his aircraft was seen to be hit by intense light flak. He was later presumed to have lost his life.

5/2/11408 A. S. 2.		Dr. W. R. Abbott (F)
		453 Manakau Road
		Epsom, AUCKLAND.

RS/NF

42284	:	Sergeant Lawrence Norman ABERCROMBIE
MOTHER	:	Mrs. E. A. M. Abercrombie of Auckland.

Lawrence Abercrombie was born at Auckland on 11th February, 1914 and was educated at Wellington South Primary School and Wellington College. His main sports were rugby, tennis and indoor basketball. In 1932 he passed his Public Service Entrance examination. After leaving college he was engaged in farming pursuits in the Waikato district, and was later farming on his own account near Whangaparaoa, North of Auckland.

Sgt. Abercrombie applied for aircrew training in March, 1941, and was enlisted as an air observer at the Initial Training Wing, Levin on 25th January, 1942. He proceeded to Canada in April, 1942 for training under the Empire Air Training Scheme.

On arrival in Canada he was posted to No. 4 Air Observers' School, London, Ontario where he trained on Avro Anson aircraft. At the completion of his course on 11th September, 1942 he was awarded his air observer's badge and promoted to Sergeant. The following month he crossed to the United Kingdom.

Shortly after arrival, Sergeant Abercrombie was posted to No. 9 (Observer) Advanced Flying Unit, Penrhos, Caernarvonshire, North Wales. On 31st December, 1942 he was posted to No. 15 Operational Training Unit, Harwell, Berkshire. Here he underwent operational training on Wellington aircraft.

Sgt. Abercrombie was a member of the crew of a Wellington aircraft which crashed during a training flight at Common Barn, Hermitage, Berkshire on March 3, 1943. All the members of the crew lost their lives. Sgt. Abercrombie, the only New Zealander in the crew, was buried in the Harwell Cemetry, Harwell, Berkshire.

5/2/9305 AS2		Mrs E. A. M. Abercrombie (M)
184 hrs. as air observer		c/o Messrs Dufaur, Lusk,
		Biss & Fawcett.
		Solicitors,
		P.O. Box 926, AUCKLAND.

29122		Flight Sergeant Walter Alfred ABRAHAMS
Widow	:	Mrs. W. Abrahams of Epsom, Auckland.

Walter Abrahams was born in London on the 24th June 1896 and emigrated to New Zealand in 1927. He was employed for a time as a carpenter by the Public Works Department before enlisting as a carpenter in the Regular Air Force on the 13th December, 1929. He served at Hobsonville in this capacity and was promoted to corporal in March 1937 and to sergeant on the 1st January 1939. Except for a short period of posting to Rukuhia during 1943, he continued to serve at Hobsonville until posted to the Sick and Wounded Pool on the 14th October 1943.

Flight Sergeant Abrahams died at Auckland on the 10th July 1944 and was buried in the Waikumete Cemetery.

4/2/173 A.S.2.		Mrs. W. Abrahams (W).
		672 Manakau Road.
		AUCKLAND.

RS/NF

415510	:	Sergeant Vivian James ACKROYD
MOTHER	:	Mrs. E. Ackroyd of Temuka

Vivian James Ackroyd was born at Temuka on 8th June, 1922 and was educated at the Arowhenua Native School, Temuka, where he played football. He was also keen on swimming and shooting, and had built and flown model aeroplanes. Prior to enlistment he was employed by New Zealand Insulators, Temuka

Sgt. Ackroyd applied for aircrew training in July, 1940, was accepted, and enlisted at the Initial Training Wing, Levin on 5th October, 1941. On completion of his course he proceeded to Canada for training under the Empire Air Training Scheme. On arrival in Canada he was posted to No. 2 Wireless School, Calgary, Alberta, where he trained on Fairey Battle aircraft. In June, 1942 he was posted to No. 5 Bombing & Gunnery School, Dafoe, Saskatchewan, where he was awarded his Wireless Operator/Air Gunner's badge on 20th July, 1942. On 16th August, 1942 he proceeded to No. 32 Operational Training Unit, Patricia Bay, British Columbia, where for the following four months he was engaged on operational training on Avro Anson, Airspeed Oxford and Handley Page Hampden aircraft.

Sgt. Ackroyd crossed to the United Kingdon in January, 1943, and the following month was posted to No. 11 Radio School, Hooton Park, Cheshire, where he underwent a short refresher course. In March, 1943 he was posted to No. 306 Ferry Training Unit, Templeton, Pembrokeshire.

Sgt. Ackroyd was a member of the crew of a British Beaufort aircraft which crashed near Narberth, Pembrokeshire on the 1st April, 1943, Sgt, Ackroyd losing his life. He was buried in the Parish Churchyard, Robeston Wathen, near Narberth, Pembrokeshire.

5/2/6224/AS2		Mrs. E. E. Ackroyd (M)
146 hrs.as Wireless Operator/Air Gunner.		Milethorn Farm.
		Epworth, TEMUKA.

MR/NF 7.

41859	:	Flying Officer Donald Arthur ADAMS.
MOTHER	:	Mrs. F. M. Adams, Auckland.

Donald Adams was born at Auckland on September 11, 1918. He received his secondary education at the Auckland Grammar School, where he gained his University Entance in 1932 and a Junior University Scholarship in 1934. The following year he commenced work with the Bank of New Zealand. He was stationed at the Hamilton branch when he joined the RNZAF. In 1935 he commenced taking lectures at Auckland University College, where he gained his Bachelor of Commerce Degree and Professional Accountancy, and became a member of the Australasian Institute of Secretaries. When he applied for enrolment in the Air Force Civil Reserve in Septmber 1939 he required only one more subject for his Banking Diploma.

Flying Officer Adams applied for aircrew training in July 1940, but his entry into camp was deferred until February 9, 1941, when he was enlisted at the Initial Training Wing, Levin. After completing his initial training he was posted for flying instruction to No, 4 Elementary Flying Training School, Whenuapai, where he made his first solo flight on April 11, 1941. On May 2 he was posted to No. 3 Flying Training School, Ohakea for training on Oxford aircraft. He was awarded the flying badge on June 14, 1941. He completed his course at Ohakea the following month and was commissioned in the rank of Pilot Officer on July 27, 1941.

On 14 August, 1941 Flying Officer Adams left for the United Kingdom by way of Canada, disembarking in England at the end of September. He commenced flying with the RAF in January 1942 at No. 3 Advanced Flying Unit, South Cerney, Gloucestershire, where he completed a short period of training on Oxfords early in February, after which he underwent a course at No. 1516 Beam Approach Training Flight at Middleton, St. George, County Durham. His next move was to No. 21 (Bomber) Operational Training Unit, Morton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire, where he was engaged on operational training in Vickers Wellington bombers until early in June, when he was posted to No. 1443 Ferry Training Flight at Harwell in Berkshire.