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JC/NF 416419: Pilot Officer Ronald Gordon COLLENDER. MOTHER: Mrs. H. O. Hobbs of Wellington (Re-Married)
Born at Christchurch on the 9th September, 1923, Ronald Collender received his education at Waltham School and the School of Art, Christchurch. He furthered his education in evening classes at Christchurch Technical College. The sports in which he was actively interested included rugby and soccer. At the time of his making application for aircrew training - on the 22nd January, 1941, - he was employed as a motor body builder by Auto Body Builders, Christchurch. Prior to his enlistment he served for approximately 16 months in the Territorials.
P/O Collender entered camp in November, 1941, reporting at Levin. On the 8th January, 1942, he embarked for Canada for further training under the Empire Air Training Scheme. In Canada he trained at No. 3 Wireless School, Winnipeg, Manitoba and No. 2 Bombing and Gunnery School, Mossbank, Saskatchewan. At the latter school he was awarded his air gunner's badge and promoted to the rank of Sergeant on thr 31st August 1942. Early in June, 1943, he was promoted to Flight Sergeant and a year later to Warrant Officer. On the 12th September, 1944, he was commissioned in the rank of Pilot Officer. From the 14th September, 1942, to the 11th of the following month he was stationed at Burch, after which he proceeded to No. 34 Operational Training Unit, Pennfield Ridge, New Brunswick. At Pennfield Ridge, and later with a detachment at Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, he trained on Ventura aircraft.
On the 10th March, 1943, P/O Collender embarked for the United Kingdom, arriving at No. 3 Personnel Reception Center, Bournemouth, a week later. Towards the end of May he proceeded to No. 487 Squadron, Feltwell, Norfolk, where he carried out air exercises as a wireless operator air gunner on Ventura aircraft.
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R. G. COLLENDER
2.
Early in October he was posted to No. 11 Operational Training Unit, Westcott, Buckinghamshire. From Westcott, and the nearby satellite aerodrome of Oakley he trained on Wellington aircraft. On the completion of the course late in January, 1944, he was posted to No. 1657 Conversion Unit, Stradishall, Suffolk, where he trained as a wireless operator on Stirling aircraft. Early in April he proceeded to No. 3 Lancaster Finishing School, Feltwell, Norfolk, for training on Lancaster aircraft.
On the 18th April, 1944, P/O Collender was posted to No. 514 Squadron, Waterbeach, Cambridgeshire. From Waterbeach, as wireless operator on Lancaster aircraft, he took part in 27 operational flights. These included raids on targets of Essen, Dusseldorf, Kiel, Stuttgart, Bremen, Frankfurt, and Karlsruhe, in Germany; and Paris, Wissant, Le Havre, and Le Mans, in France. On the 6th June - "D" Day - he took part in air operations against the target of Lisieux, Normandy, France, in support of the Allied invasion of this area.
P/O Collender was a member of the crew of a Lancaster aircraft which took off from Waterbeach for the target of Frankfurt, on the the night of the 12/13th September, 1944, and failed to return to its base. All the members of the crew, including P/O Collender, were reported missing. This was P/O Collender's 28th operational flight. In December, information received from Air Ministry through the International Red Cross Committee, stated that P/O Collender lost his life on the 12th September, 1944. His death has since been presumed to have occurred on that date. F/Sgt K.V. Stafford, of Wellington, was the only other New Zealand member of the crew.
5/2/8170 AS2 464 hrs. as W.O.A.G.
Mrs H.O. Hobbs (M) 11 Stanley Street, Berhampore, WELLINGTON.
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412468 Sergeant Henry William Anner COLLETT Parents: Mr. and Mrs. H.C. Collett of Waipawa. Henry Collett was born at Napier on the 16th August 1922. He received his secondary education at the Waipawa District High School, passing the University Entrance examination and gaining a higher leaving certificate. He afterwards studied at Victoria University College, taking mathematics and psychology. He captained both his school 1st XV and 1st XI, and was a tennis and harrier champion. From the time of leaving school until applying for enlistment in aircrew on the 12th August 1946, he was employed in the office of the Public Service Commission at Wellington.
Sergeant Collett was enlisted at the Initial Training Wing, Levin, on the 12th April 1941, and embarked for Canada on the 18th June, for training unter the Empire Air Training Scheme.
Shortly after arrival there, he was posted on the 5th July to No. 6 Air Observer School, Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, and then on the 28th September to No. 3 Bombing and Gunnery School, MacDonald, Manitoba. Here, on the 8th November, he was awarded the Air Observer badge and promoted to the rank of sergeant. Next day, he proceeded to No.1 Air Navigation School, Rivers, Manitoba, being awarded the Air Navigator badge, at the end of the course, before posting on the 16th December to No. 1 'Y' Depot, Halifax, Nova Scotia, for embarkation to the United Kingdom.
Sergeant Collett arrived at No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre, Bournemouth, on the 30th January 1942 and remained there until commencing a refresher course at No.2 (Observer) Advanced Flying Unit, Millom, Cumberland, late in March. He was then posted on the 28th April to No. 11 Operational Training Unit, Bassingbourn, Hertfordshire, for crewing up and completion of his training as navigator of Wellington bomber aircraft, before joining No. 101 Squadron at Holme-on-Spalding Moor, Yorkshire, on the 21st July. With the
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-2squadron he converted to Lancaster four engined aircraft.
Sergeant Collett was a member of the crew of a Lancaster aircraft engaged in a training flight on the 16th November 1942 and which crashed at Llanelly, Wales, Seargent Collett losing his life. He was buried in the Towyn Cemetery, Meirioneth, Wales.
5/2/6253 A.S2. Mrs. A.M.Collett (M) No Log Book. Waipawa.
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R.A.F. 34232 Squadron Leader Wilfred Ira COLLETT. Parents Mr. & Mrs. E.A. Collett of Gisborne. Widow Mrs. D.W. Collett of Gisborne (one child).
Wilfred Collett was born at Lower Hutt on the 24th January, 1912, and received his secondary education at Gisborne High School and Gisborne Technical College where he passed his Matriculation examination. The games he played were rugby and cricket and he also took part in rowing, swimming and life saving. He joined the Hawkes Bay & East Coast Aero Club and succeeded in gaining his "A" Flying License. After leaving school he was employed for some two years in his father's motor business in Gisborne at the end of that period accepting an appointment with Gisborne Air Transport Ltd. In March, 1934, he applied for a Short Service Commission in the Royal Air Force and on being accepted he embarked on the "Avelona" on the 14th June to proceed to the United Kingdom.
On his arrival in England, Squardon Leader Collette reported to Air Ministry and was instructed to proceed on the 14th September, 1934, to the Royal Air Force, Depot, Uxbridge, Middlesex, for a short disciplinary course. This course completed, on the 29th September he was posted to No. 3 Flying Training School, South Cerney (was Arney), Gloucestershire, for further flying training prior to being posted on 5th September, 1935, to No. 14 (Bomber) Squadron operating in the Middle East. Squadron Leader Collett remained with this squadron until 8th January, 1936, when he was posted to No. 45 (Bomber) Squadron, also serving in the Middle East. While he was with No. 45 Squadron on the 14th April, 1937 he received his promotion to flying officer. His promotion to flight lieutenant was gazetted two years later on the 14th April, 1939, and he was appointed squadron leader on the 13th February, 1940. Meanwhile on the 21st April, 1937 he had been posted to No. 4 Flying Training School, Abu-Sueir, Egypt, for flying duties with the Advanced Training Squadron. During August, 1939, he embarked to return to England.
Back in England, Squadron Leader Collett was posted on the 28th August, 1939, to No. 38 Squadron. Then, on the 16th February, 1940, to No. 149 Squadron and on the 5th May, 1940, to No. 75 (N.Z.) Squadron