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

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4212786	:	Flying Officer Reginald George David ADLAM.
PARENTS	:	Mr. & Mrs. G. N. Adlam of Auckland .

Reginald Adlam was born on the 19th September, 1921, at Auckland, and received his secondary education at Auckland Grammar School, where he gained his School Certificate and University Entrance. On leaving school in 1938 he commenced the study of music under Dr. S. K. Phillips, and, from 1940 up to the time of his enlistment in the Royal New Zealand Air Force, was a full time student at Auckland University College, where he studied for his Doctorate of Music Degree. The sports in which he was actively interested were hockey, swimming, and tennis. He served for a short time in the Territorials.

Flying Officer Adlam made application for aircrew training with the Royal New Zealand Air Force on the 17th July, 1940, but as he was graded temporarily unfit his acceptance was deferred. He was eventually enlisted at Hamilton on the 24th October, 1942, and was employed for several months at this station and at New Plymouth on ground duties with Aerodrome Defence Units. In April, 1943, he proceeded to Rotorua, and, on satisfactorily completing his initial training was posted to No. 1 Elementary Flying Training School, Taieri. During the course his flying training was terminated. He then proceeded to Rongotai where he was remustered to navigator. He shortly afterwards proceeded to Rukuhia, Hamilton. He was again posted to Rotorua in September and embarked for Canada in November, 1943.

On arrival in Canada F/O Adlam was posted to No. 7 Air Observers' School, Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, where, on the 13th December, 1943, he was promoted to the acting rank of Corporal. He was awarded the navigator's badge and commissioned in the rank of Pilot Officer on the 5th May, 1944. Six months later he was promoted to Flying Officer. Meantime he had embarked from Canada for the United Kingdom on the 25th May, 1944.

R. G. D. ADLAM.

2.

Shortly after his arrival at No. 12 (RNZAF) Personnel Reception Centre, Brighton, F/O Adlam was posted to No. 9 (Observer) Advanced Flying Unit, Llandwrog, North Wales, and thence - on the 8th August, 1944 - to No. 85 Operational Training Unit, Husbands Bosworth, Warwickshire. With the latter unit he carried out air exercises as navigator on Wellington bomber aircraft. Early in November he proceeded to No. 1662 Heavy Conversion Unit, Blyton, Lincolnshire, where he trained as navigator on Lancaster bomber aircraft. On complation of the course he was posted to No. 153 Squadron, Scampton, Lincolnshire, from which base he flew as navigator of a Lancaster bomber aircraft on six operational flights. The targets on these raids included Dresden, Chemnitz, Dortmund, Neuss and Mannheim, in Germany.

On the night of 5/6th March, 1945, F/O Adlam was navigator of a Lancaster bomber aircraft which took off from Scampton to attack the target of Chemnitz. The aircraft failed to return to its base and all the members of the crew, including F/O Adlam, were reported missing. Subsequently the death of F/O Adlam was officially presumed.

5/2/5793 AS2		Mrs. G. N. Adalm (M)
15 hrs. as pilot.		10 Kitirawa Road,
335 hrs. as navigator.		Remuera, AUCKLAND.

4212259		Leading Aircraftsman Alexander Spencer AGNEW.
WIDOW		Mrs I. L. Agnew of Gisborne.

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Alexander Agnew was born at Tolaga Bay on the 18th January 1899. He served in the 1st N.Z.E.F. with the 2nd Wellington Infantry Battalion from 1916 to 1919. For a number of years he was employed as a quarryman by the U.A.W.A. County Council, before enlisting as a patrolman at Harewood on the 16th October 1942. He served there in this capacity and also at Te Awamutu, after posting there in January 1943.

Leading Aircraftsman Agnew died suddenly on the 27th April 1943 and was buried in the Taruheru Soldiers' Cemetery, Gisborne.

5/3/25856 AS2.		Mrs I. L. Agnew (W)
		38 Wainui Road,
		Gisborne.

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428826	:	Pilot Officer Charles AGNEW.
WIFE	:	Mrs C. J. Agnew of Wanganui. (1 child)
PARENTS	:	Mr. & Mrs. E. Agnew of Australia.

Charles Agnew was born on the 18th March, 1919, at Lachore, Scotland, and received his primary education at the Guilford State School, Australia. He later attended classes in motor mechanics at Perth Technical College. He came to New Zealand in 1937 and was employed in the painting trade in Wellington for several years. His sporting interests were tennis, football, swimming and golf.

P/O Agnew made application for aircrew training on the 23rd November, 1940, and was enlisted at Rotorua on the 23rd July, 1942. On satisfactorily completing his initial training he proceeded to No. 2 Elementary Flying Training School, New Plymouth, where, at the conclusion of the course, his flying training was terminated. He was then posted to Rongotai for a short period, and on being remustered returned to Rotorua to commence training as an Air Observer.

P/O Agnew embarked for Canada on the 1st April, 1943, and, shortly after his arrival in that country, was posted to No. 5 Air Observers School, Winnipeg, Manitoba. On completion of his course at this school he was - on the 26th November - awarded the navigator's badge and promoted to the rank of Sergeant. He was promoted Flight Sergeant on the 26th November, 1943 and commissioned in the rank of Pilot Officer on the 10th October, 1944. On the 7th December, 1943, he was posted to No. 1 "Y" Depot, Halifax, Nova Scotia, for embarkation to the United Kingdom.

A short time after arrival at No. 12 (RNZAF) Personnel Reception Centre, Brighton, P/O Agnew was posted to No. 9 (Observer) Advanced Flying Unit, Llandwrog, North Wales. On completing the course at this unit he proceeded - on the 4th March, 1944 - to No. 19 Operational Training Unit, Silverstone, Northamptonhire, where he carried out air exercises as navigator on Wellington aircraft.

He was then posted to No. 1661 Conversion Unit, Winthorpe, Nottinghamshire, where he converted to Stirling Bombers. In August he carried out air exercises on Lancaster bomber aircraft at No. 5 Lancaster Finishing School, Syerston, Nottinghamshire, proceeding to No. 130 Squadron, East Kirby, Lincolnshire, on the 22nd of the same month. From the latter base he flew as navigator on 19 operational flights. The targets on these raids included Gladbach, Stuttgart, Kaiserslautern, Wilhelmshaven, Nuremberg, Dusseldorf and Konigsberg, in Germany; Brest, in France; Deelen, Flushing Island, in Holland; and Bergen and Trondheim in Norway.

On the night of the 22nd/23rd November,1944, P/O Agnew was navigator of a Lancaster aircraft which took off from East Kirby to attack a target in Trondheim. The aircraft failed to return to its base and all members of the crew, including P/O Agnew, were reported missing. Later information, received from Air Ministry, reported the aircraft to be found at Humber Bank, Sunk Island, Yorkshire, and the recovery of all the bodies. P/O Agnew was buried with full Service honours at the R.A.F. Regional Cemetery, Harrogate, Yorkshire. The two other RNZAF members of the crew were F/O G. Flood and F/Sgt. W. R. Ingram.

5/15/2449		Mrs. C. J. Agnew (W)
420 hrs. as Air Navigator.		46 Tinirau Street,
		Wanganui East, WANGANUI.