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

MR/NF 17/

414372	:	Sgt. Kenneth Roy AICKEN.
MOTHER	:	Mrs. Lilian Aicken, Westfield, Auckland.
WIFE	:	Mrs Maud Anne Addison, Te Puke.
SISTER-IN-LAW	:	Miss Mary Chadwick, Catholic Presbytery, Te Puna R. D. TAURANGA.
(Guardian of Son)

Kenneth Aicken was born at Ngaruawahia on December 29, 1917, and received his secondary education at the Otahuhu High School. His favourite sports were boxing , swimming and golf. At the time of his enlistment he was employed as a tinsmith by the Westfield Freezing Co., Auckland. He was very keen on flying and had flown a number of hours solo before joining the Air Force. He applied for enlistment in May 1940, but as married men were not accepted for aircrew at that time, he did not commence training as a pilot until he entered the Initial Training Wing at Levin in July 1941. Sgt. Aicken underwent his flying training at No. 2 Elementary Flying Training School, New Plymouth and at No. 2 Service Flying Training School, Woodbourne, where he trained on Airspeed Oxfords and was awarded his flying badge on November 29, 1941. He was promoted to Sergeant in January 1942 and embarked for the United Kingdom early in March. His flying training in England On his arrival in the United Kingdom he commenced in May at No. 15 Advanced Flying Unit, Leconfield, Yorkshire, where he completed an advanced course on Oxford aircraft at the end of June. He then went on to No. 25 (Bomber) Operational Training Unit at Finningly, Yorkshire where he was flying Wellington bombers. During his course at Finningly he did one operational trip to Essen in the Ruhr Valley as captain of a Wellington III bomber. In October 1942 he was posted to No. 49 Squadron at Scampton, Lincolnshire, for a conversion course to Avro Lancaster bombers. During the course he also flew the twin-engined Avro Manchester. At the conclusion of his course, Sgt Aicken was posted to No. 467 (Australian) Bomber Squadron at Bottesford, Leicestershire, where he commenced flying as captain of a Lancaster early in December.

He made his first operational flight with the squadron on January 2, 1943 when he was engaged in mining operations at Bayonne, and for the next fortnight made a number of missions to enemy territory.

On the night of January 17, 1943 Sgt. Aicken was pilot of a Lancaster which failed to return from a bombing mission to Berlin, all the crew being posted as mising. Sgt. Aicken, the only New Zealander in the crew, was later presumed to have lost his life.

5/3/13455		Mrs. M. A. Addison (W)
423 hrs. as pilot.		C/o Post Office,
		TE PUKE.

415279	:	Flying Officer John Albert AINGE.
SISTER	:	Miss N. E. Ainge of Dunedin.

John Ainge was born in Dunedin on October 19th, 1920. He was educated at St. Clair and at Otago Boys' High School where he passed the University Entrance Examination in 1936 with 80% in the subjects of Mathematics. Going on to Otago University the following year, he took the degree of Bachelor of Commerce and gained his professional accoutancy.

He was keen on sports, being a tennis club captain and a football captain.

On leaving High School, he was employed as Company Accountant by Mr. G. S. Kirby of Dunedin until his enlistment.

After completing the pre-entry course, John Ainge was mobilised at Levin in July 1941, and on November 10th commenced flying training at Taieri on Tiger Moth aircraft. Early in 1942, he went to Canada and was stationed at No. 14 Service Flying Training School at Aylmer, Ontario where he was awarded his Flying Badge on June 5th, 1942, commissioned as Pilot Officer and commenced a course as flying instructor at the Central Flying School. After being engaged as an instructor on Harvard, Cessna and Fleet aircraft for three months, he crossed the Atlantic in September 1942 and was posted to No. 9 Pilots Advanced Flying Unit at Errol in Scotland. Here he flew Master nd Hurricane aircraft as a preliminary to converting to Spitfire fighters, which he first flew solo on November 29th at No. 53 Operational Training Unit at Llandow. He completed training in March 1943 with the same unit at Rhoose in Wales where he had been employed as a staff pilot.

He had been promoted to the rank of Flying Officer on December 5th, 1942 and now, on March 19th, 1943 he became a Fighter Pilot of the famous No.485 (N.Z.) Squadron, then based at Westhampnett in Sussex. For the next six months, Flying Officer Ainge was engaged in a variety of fighter operations, including night patrols, high cover for medium bombers and close cover for shipping.

On several occasions he was one of escort formation for daylight raids by Fortress bombers against enemy channel ports and he often engaged in combat with enemy ME109's. After July he the Squadron was based at Biggin Hill.

On September 24th, 1943 Flying Officer John Ainge was flying with his Squadron as a Spitfire fighter pilot over enemy territory and failed to return. The International Red Cross later reported that he had lost his life and was buried in the English Military Cemetery, Les Vertus, near Dieppe.

His Commanding Officer has written - "John has proved himself efficient and reliable. He was one of the most popular members in the Squadron, and will be very much missed by all of us."

His name has been placed on the Roll of Honour in St. George's Chapel of Remembrance, Biggin Hill, Kent.

5/2/7127 A.S.2		Miss N. E. Ainge, (Sister)
560 hours.		10 Wycella Avenue,
		DUNEDIN.

SB/NF

405215	:	Sgt. Thomas Brian AINGER.
PARENTS	:	Mr. & Mrs. James Ainger of Christchurch.

Thomas Ainger was born at Christchurch on the 8th January, 1916 and educated at the Villa Maria Convent and St. Bedes College, Christchurch. He was interested in tennis, hockey, golf, badminton, soccer and shooting. His civil occupation was that of printer's machinist, being employed by Messrs. H. W. Bullivant & Co. Ltd., Christchurch.

He enlisted at RNZAF Station, Levin on the 22nd December, 1940 undergoing an initial training course as a pilot. After three months elementary flying training at No. 1 Elementary Flying Training School, Taieri, he embarked for Canada, commencing advanced flying training at No. 12 Service Flying Training School, Brandon, Manitoba on the 17th May, 1941. He was awarded the Flying Badge and promoted to Sergeant on the 8th August, 1941. His operational flying training was carried out on Vickers Wellington aircraft at No. 23 Operational Training Unit, Pershore, Worcestershire, England during the months of October, November and December. On December 8th just prior to the completion of training, he participated in an operation over Paris. On December 12th he was posted to No. 12 Squadron, Binbrook, Lincoln and the following month to No. 156 Squadron, Alconbury, Huntingdonshire where he participated in raids over Boulogne, Le Havre and St. Nazaire in addition to minelaying operations.

On April 19, 1942 he was a member of the crew of a Wellington bomber which failed to return from an operation. The crew, including Sgt. Ainger were classified as "missing" and later "presumed dead."

5/2/3680 A.S.2.		Mr. J. Ainger (F)
280 hrs.		19 Hamilton Avenue,
		Fendalton, CHRISTCHURCH.