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

R.A.F. 40873		Flying Officer Frederick Redfearn AINLEY.
Widow	:	Mrs. F. R. Ainley of WIRRAL, Cheshire, England.

Frederick Ainley was born at Preston, England, on the 26th January 1915, and received his secondary education at the Birkenhead Institute. He afterwards qualified at His Majesty's School, "H.M.S. Conway," for entry to the Merchant Navy and in 1932 entered the employ of the Federal Steam Navigation Company Limited, as a merchant navy cadet. In 1934, he commenced farming in Central Otago, and at the time of applying for a short service commission on the 14th December 1937, was in the employ of Thurlow Bros. of Lauder, Central Otago. His application was successful and he embarked by the Rangitata on the 6th April 1938 for the United Kingdom.

Flying Officer Ainley completed his elementary flying training at No. 4 Elementary and Reserve Flying Training School, Brough, Yorkshire, on the 16th May, and was confirmed in the rank of Pilot Officer. After completing a short disciplinary course at Uxbridge, Middlesex, during July 1938, he commenced his service flying at Ternhill, Shropshire. Here, he was awarded the flying badge before posting to the School of Navy Co-operation on the 13th May 1939. He served with No. 752 Squadron on loan to the Royal Navy, until proceeding to No.1 Operational Training Unit, Silloth, Cumberland, on the 25th April 1940. Here he converted to flying boats, before posting on the 27th November to No. 500 Squadron of Coastal Command. Early in January 1941 he proceeded on posting to No. 69 Squadron at Luqa, Malta.

Flying Officer Ainley was the pilot of a Glenn Martin aircraft engaged during the 29th March 1941 on a patrol east of Malta in a search for the remains of the Italian Fleet after the Battle of Cape Matapan. A message was received from British Air Headquarters in Greece that the aircraft had made a forced landing near Zante and that Flying Officer Ainley was killed. After the cessation of hostilities his body was concentrated to the Athens (Phaliron) Military Cemetery.

5/2/133 AS2		Mrs. F. R. Ainley (W),
		87 Princes Boulevard,
		Wirral,
		CHESHIRE.

424404	:	Flight Sergeant Herbert Clement AISLABIE.
PARENTS	:	Mr. & Mrs. C. Aislabie, Palmerston North.

Herbert Aislabie was born at Te Kuiti on July 31st, 1920.

He was educated at Shannon School, Makerua School and Palmerston North Technical High School, where he was a member of the 1st XV. After leaving school he played rugby for the Kia-Toa Club in the Manawatu and was also a member of the Ruahine Tramping Club. From 1937 until he enterd the Air Force he was employed as a fitter and turner by the Berry Engineering Works Ltd., Palmerston North. He was also studying marine engineering.

Flight Sergeant Aislabie applied for enrolment in the Civil Reserve in June 1939 and in July 1940 joined the Territorials, serving with the 1st Battalion of the Wellington West Coast Regiment until he entered the Air Force. He applied for aircrew training in March 1941, and was eventually enlisted as a pilot on May 2, 1942, when he commenced training at the Initial Training Wing, Rotorua. In July he was posted to No. 1 Elementary Flying Training school, Taieri, where he made his first solo flight on August 17.

He embarked for Canada at the end of October and continued his flying training at No. 6 Service Flying Training School, Dunnville, where he was awarded the flying badge and promoted to Sergeant on April 2, 1943. He proceeded in April to No. 1 General Reconnaissance School, Summerside, Prince Edward Island, where he underwent a navigation course on Avro Anson aircraft, completing the course early in June.

The following month Flight Sergeant Aislabie left Canada for England, where in August he commenced training at No. 14 Advanced Flying Unit at, Dallachy, Scotland on Oxford aircraft. He was posted to No. 9 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit in September for operational training on Bristol Beaufort bombers and Bristol Beaufighter fighter-bombers.

On January 12, 1944 Flight Sergeant Aislabie was the pilot of a Beaufighter aircraft which crashed during a training flight at Langhall, Dumfrieshire, both members of the crew being killed. He is buried at the Blacon Regional Cemetery for Dominion personnel in the City of Chester.

5/3/4530 AS2		Mr. C. Aislabie,
386 hrs. as pilot.		Fitzherbert West R.D.,
		PALMERSTON NORTH.

JC/NF

402974	:	Flight Sergeant Campbell Ewen Justin AITCHISON.
PARENTS	:	Mr. & Mrs. H. Aitchison of Manurewa.

Campbell Aitchison was born at Onehunga on the 4th July, 1919, and was educated at the Alfriston School. He played the usual sports whilst at school. At the time of his entry into the Air Force he was employed by the Kauri Timber Co.

F/Sgt. Campbell Aitchison applied for training as an air gunner in November, 1939, but he did not enter camp until September, 1940, when he reported at the Ground Training School, Levin. On the 8th October, 1940, he embarked on the "Aorangi" for Canada, for training under the Empire Air Training Scheme. In Canada he trained at No. 2 Wireless School, Calgary, Alberta, and No. 3 Bombing & Gunnery School, MacDonald, Manitoba. He ws awarded his Wireless Operator Air Gunner's badge and promoted to Sergeant on the 14th April,1941

On the 14th May, F/Sgt. Campbell Aitchison embarked for the United Kingdom, arriving at No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre, Bournemouth, early in June. A few days later he commenced operational training at No, 20 Operational Training Unit, Lossiemouth, Morayshire, on Wellington aircraft, On the completion of the course on the 18th August, 1941, he was posted to No. 75 (NZ) Squadron, Feltwell, Norfolk.

During the next seven months he was engaged as a Wireless Operator Air Gunner on Wellington aircraft, carrying out numerous operational flights over targets in Germany, including Berlin, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Kiel and in the Ruhr Valley, and also Ostend in Belgium and Brest and Boulogne in France. On the 1st November, 1941, he was promoted to Flight Segeant.

F/ Sgt Aitchison was reported missing on air operations on the 12th March, 1942, when the Wellington of which he was the front gunner failed to return from a raid on Kiel. This was his 24th operational flight. His death has since been presumed to have occurred on that date. Information later received through the International Red Cross stated that he is buried in the Garrison Cemetery at Schleswig, Germany.

5/3/8114 AS2		Mrs. L. E. Aitchison (M)
291 hrs. as Wireless Operator Air Gunner.		Great South Rd,. MANUREWA.

SB/NF

429286	:	Pilot Officer Richard Justin AITCHISON.
WIFE	:	Mrs. O. Aitchison of Papatoetoe, Auckland.
PARENTS	:	Mr. & Mrs. H. Aitchison of Manurewa.

Richard Justin Aitchison was born at Onehunga on the 29th June, 1916 and educated at Alfriston Primary School. He was interested in football and cycling.

He applied for enlstment in the RNZAF in April 1941 and was enlisted as a pilot at RNZAF Station, Omaka on the 31st July, 1942. For six months he was engaged on ground duties at Omaka and Woodbourne until on 4th January, 1943 he was posted to the Initial Training Wing, Rotorua. Two months later he commenced his elementary flying training at No. 3 Elementary Flying Training School, Harewood, taking his first solo flight on March 20th. In April he moved on to No. 1 Service Flying Training School, Wigram for advanced training, being awarded the Flying Badge on the 5th July, 1943 and promoted to Sergeant on 24th August, 1943.

Pilot Officer Aitchison embarked for the United Kingdom in October 1943, passing through No. 12 Personnel Reception Centre and arriving at No. 24 Elementary Flying Training School, Sealand, Wales, where he flew Tiger Moth aircraft. After two months he was posted to Honily, Warwickshire and was engaged on Army Co-operation Flights in Miles Master and Oxford aircraft. He was promoted to Flight Sergeant on the 24th February, 1944. His next move was to No. 6 Advanced Flying Unit, Little Rissington, Gloucester, where he carried out further exercises in Oxford aircraft. In June he spent a week on Beam Approach training at No. 1519 Beam Approach Training Flight, Feltwell, returning to his unit on June 14th.

On August 18th, 1944 Pilot Officer Aitchison went to No. 30 Operational Training Unit, Hixon, Staffordshire, where he converted on to Vickers Wellington aircraft, and in November to No. 1656 Conversion Unit at Lindholm, Yorkshire for a course on Halifax and Avro Lancaster heavy bombers. He was granted his commission on 23rd September, 1944.