RNZAF Biographies of Deceased Personnel: 1939 - 1945, Co - Dy

2. another New Zealander, Sgt. R.D. Wallace, and the two other members of the crew of the aircraft losing their lives. The funeral of Sgt. Collins took place from the RAF Station, Thornaby, on the 12th June, 1943, and he was buried with Service Honours in the Thornaby Cemetery.

MRP/NF 414961: Sergeant Owen Eastwood COLLINS PARENTS: Mr. & Mrs. H.E. COllins of Tongaporutu, Taranaki.

Owen Collins was born in New Plymouth on the 29th May, 1919, and was educated at the Ahititi School, Taranaki. A keen sportsman he was actively interested in tennis, cricket, rugby, golf and badminton. Prior to his entry into the RNZAF, he was employed on the farm of Mr. W.A. Burton, at Tongaporutu, Taranaki.

Sgt. Collins applied for aircrew training on the 22nd July, 1940, and was eventually enlisted at Levin, in September, 1941. On the 18th October, having satisfactorily completed his initial training, he was posted to No. 2 Elementary Flying Training School, New Plymouth, and towards the end of the following month to No. 2 Flying Training School, Woodbourne. At the latter school he was awarded, on the 27th January, 1942, his flying badge, and a month later promoted to Sergeant. On the 8th March, in the same year, he embarked for the United Kingdom.

Sgt. Collins, on arrival in England, was posted, on the 16th May, 1942, to No. 6 Advanced Flying Unit, Little Rissington, Gloucestershire, and, in August, to No. 27 Operational Training Unit, Lichfield, Staffordshire, where he carried out air exercises on Wellington bomber aircraft. Early in November he proceeded to No. 150 Squadron, Kirmington, Lincolnshire, and during the two months spent with this squadron, as captain of a Wellington bomber aircraft, carried out one raid on the German town of Stuttgart, and two mine-laying operations near La Rochelle, and Lorient, on the coast of France. On the 27th January, 1943, he was posted to No. 166 Squadron, also at Kirmington, and with this squadron he took part in bombing attacks on the German town of Duisburg, and the enemy occupied French town of St. Nazaire.

One the night of the 29/30th March, 1943, Sgt. Collins was the captain of a Wellington bomber aircraft which took off on a raid on Bochum, in Germany, and failed to return to its base. All the members of the crew, including Sgt. Collins, were reported missing. Subsequently the death of Sgt. Collins was presumed to have occurred on the 30th March, 1943. 5/15/2067 A.S.2 414 hrs. as a pilot Mrs. A.E. Collins (M) Tongaparutu underlined TARANAKI.

JC/NF 416097: Sergeant Wilford John COLLINS. WIFE: Mrs. Z.F. Collins of Auckland. (Remarried ?) PARENTS: Mr. & Mrs. E.S. Collins, also of Auckland.

Born at Auckland on the 21st August, 1919, Wilford Collins received his secondary education at Seddon Memorial Technical College, where he gained his Senior Free Place. The sports in which he was actively interested included rugby, cricket, golf and tennis. At the time of his making application for enlistment he was employed by Whitcomb & Tombs Ltd., Auckland, in the firm's "Printing Orders" department, having previously served a six year's apprenticeship as compositor and linotypist.

Sgt. Collins applied for aircrew training in January, 1941, but did not enter camp until November, 1941, when he reported at Levin. On satisfactorily completing his initial training he was posted to No. 4 Elementray Flying Training School, Whenuapai, and thence - on the 7th February, 1942 - to No. 3 Flying Training School, Ohakea. A month later he proceeded to No. 1 Flying Training School, Wigram, where he was awarded his flying badge early in April, and two months later promoted to the rank of Sergeant.

On the 22nd January, 1942, Sgt. Collins embarked for the United Kingdom, arriving at No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre, Bournemouth, late the following month. On the 18th August he proceeded to No. 3 Advanced Flying Unit, South Cerney, Gloucestershire, and here carried out air exercises on Oxford aircraft. On the completion of the course in September he was posted to No. 14 Operational Training Unit, Cottesmore, Rutland, for operational training on Wellington aircraft.

W.J. COLLINS. 2. On the 6th December, 1942, Sgt. Collins was the pilot of a Wellington aircraft which took off on an operational training light and crashed at Barrow Village, near Cottesmore aerodrome, Sgt. Collins losing his life. He was buried in the Cottesmore Cemetery, Cottesmore Village, with Service Honours.

5/2/7774 AS2 231 hrs. as pilot. Mrs. Z.F. Collins (W) C/o Nurses' Home, Public Hospital, (underlined) AUCKLAND Mrs. L.M. Collins (M) 4 Brassey Road Birkenhead, (underlined) AUCKLAND.

391342 Flight Lieutenant Basil Gordon (underlined) COLLYNS D.F.C. Widow: Mrs. M.L. Collyns of Blenheim Mother: Mrs. P. Collyns of Double Bay, Sydney.

Basil Collyns was born at Greymouth on the 24th February 1913. He received his secondary education at Nelson College, afterwards attending Lincoln Agricultural College for two years. At school he played football in the First XV, and was fives champion. He was employed in farming from the time of leaving College, and when applying for enrolment in the Civil Reserve of Pilots, in June 1939, was in the employ of Mr. B.S. Trolove, of Kaikoura.

Flight Lieutenant Collyns was enrolled in the Civil Reserve in July and commenced his flying training with the Marlborough Aero Club, being mobilised for war service at the Initial Training Wing, Levin, on the 19th November 1939. He proceeded to Taieri on the 19th December for his elementary flying training, and then on the 13th February 1940 to New Plymouth in order to complete this part of his training. On the 11th April, he was posted to No. 2 Service Flying Training School, Woodbourne, Blenheim, where, on the 28th June, he was awarded the flying badge, and commissioned in the rank of Pilot Officer. While overseas, on the 28th June 1941, he was further promoted to Flying Officer, and to Flight Lieutenant on the 28th June, 1942. Meantime, on the 12th July 1940 he had embarked for the United Kingdom.

Flight Lieutenant Collyns arrived at No. 1 Depot, Uxbridge, Middlesex, during August and proceeded the same month to No. 60 Operational Training Unit, East Fortune, Scotland, afterwards serving with No. 238, Nos. 222. 485, 65 and 19 Squadrons.

Flight Lieutenant Collyns was the pilot of a Mustang fighter aircraft engaged during the 20th August 1944 in a sweep over Cherbourg Peninsula strafing enemy positions. A message was received over the radio