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12848 Vol. 4 EA-GW.
JC/NF
413828 : Flying Officer Vivian Roberts EADY. PARENTS : Mr. & Mrs. E.A. Eady of Auckland.
Vivian Eady was born at Auckland on the 24th October, 1920, and was educated at the Auckland Grammar School and the Auckland University College. At school he played rugby and was interested in swimming. He gained his University Entrance and Higher Leaving Certificate and studied for his Bachelor of Commerce Degree at the University.
He applied for aircrew training in July 1940 whilst a member of the territorials at Ngaruawahia, holding the rank of Lance Bombardier. He entered camp at the Initial Training Wing, Levin, in July 1941 and commenced flying training at No. 3 Elementary Flying Training School, Harewood in August. He made his first solo flight on August 26, and in September proceeded to No. 2 Service Flying Training School, Woodbourne for further training on Oxford aircraft. He was awarded his Flying Badge on November 8th and granted a commission in the rank of Pilot Officer on December 20th, 1941. In February he was posted to No. 3 (General Reconnaissance) Squadron, Harewood, and was engaged on routine flying duties until in March when he proceeded to the School of General Reconnaissance, Omaka. He was then posted to No. 8 (General Reconnaissance) Squadron, Whenuapai and for the next 7 months was engaged on flying duties with the Squadron at Whenuapai and Gisborne. In November he was posted to No. 1 (Bomber) Operational Training School, at New Plymouth and commenced flying Hudson aircraft. On completion of the course he proceeded to No. 1 (General Reconnaissance) Squadron, Whenuapai on January 1st, 1943 and was promoted to Flying Officer on the 31st January.
In February he proceeded overseas to No. 4 (General Reconnaissance) Squadron at Nausori, Fiji. For the next two months he was engaged on patrol work, until in May he proceeded to No. 3 Squadron at Espiritu Santo, and there to No. 9 Squadron the following day. He was engaged on combat training until 12th May when he went back to No. 3 Squadron and proceeded to Guadalcanal with the Squadron.
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For the next three months he was second pilot on a Hudson engaged on patrols and escort work, during which time they sighted a Japanese Mitsubishi aircraft and bombed a Japanese submarine with no results.
On July 7th, 1943 Flying Officer Eady was 2nd pilot of a Hudson engaged on flare dropping over Kahili airfield in South Bougainville. The aircraft did not return to its base and the crew were classified as missing. F/O Eady's death has since been presumed to have occurred on that date. The other members of the crew were - F/L W.O. Rutherford (Pilot), Sgt. L.G. Smith (N), Sgt. W.C. Lankshear (WOAG), Sgt. J.R. McDougall (WOAG).
792 hours. 5/2/6127 A.S.2.
Mr. E.A. Eady (F) 23 Selwyn Avenue, Mission Bay, AUCKLAND.
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422377 Pilot Officer Hugh EAGLESON. Widow: Mrs. N.M. Eagleson of Te Rapa, Hamilton. Parents: Mr. and Mrs. T. Eagleson of Taupiri.
Hugh Eagleson was born at Kilwinning, Scotland, on the 4th September 1919, and came to New Zealand with his parents at an early age. He received his secondary education at the Hamilton High School, passing the matriculation examination, and gaining a higher leaving certificate. He afterwaeds attended Auckland Training College and gained the Teachers "C" Certificate. He played football for his school 1st XV, and was captain of the Training College Baseball team. When applying for enlistment in aircrew, on the 20th May 1941, he was employed as a teacher by the Auckland Education Board.
Pilot officer Eagleson was enlisted at Rongotai on the 27th March 1942, and employed there and at Masterton on ground duties, until remustered to aircrew and posted to the Initial Training Wing, Rotorua, on the 3rd September. He proceeded to New Plymouth on the 13th October for his elementary flying training, moving with the Unit to Ashburton later in the same month and then on the 28th December to No.1 Service Flying Training School, Wigram. Here, in the 15th March 1943, he was awarded a distinguished pass. Later in May he commenced a flying instructors' course at Tauranga, qualifying there before posting on the 28th July to No.2 Elementary Flying Training School, Ashburton, for instructor duties.
Pilot Officer Eagleson was the pilot of a Tiger Moth aircraft engaged during the 5th November 1943 in a training flight, and which crashed near Dromore, Pilot Officer Eagleson losing his life. He was buried in the Hamilton East Cemetery. 5/2/11087 A.S.2 No log book.
Mrs. N.M.Eagleson (W), Te Rapa, HAMILTON.
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424231 SGT. Clutha Charles EALAM. Mother : Mrs. Margaret Ealam of Rangiora. Wife : Mrs. J.E.Ealam of Christchurch. (Married 29.4.44).
Clutha Ealam was born at Christchurch on July 22nd 19323. He was educated at Rangiora Primary School, where he played in the first XV and at Papanui Technical College. His favourite sport was baseball, which he played with the Rangiora Club. He was employed as a butcher by H.Hammond of Christchurch, when he applied for aircrew enlistment in March 1942. He was already a member of No. 17 Squadron of the A.T.C. in Christchurch. He entered the R.N.Z.A.F. camp at Levin at the end of May 1942, and, going to Rotorua Initial Training Wing in October, he was selected for training as Air Gunner.
In April 1943 he disembarked in Canada and trained at No. 2 Wireless and at No. 2 Bombing and Gunnery Schools, and at No. 9 Air Observers School at St. Johns, Quebec. On January 17th 1944 he became a Sergeant Wireless Operator / Air Gunner, and returned to New Zealand in April 1944. He married Miss Joyce Pepper of Papanui. In June 1944, Sgt. Ealam was posted to the School of General Reconnaissance at New Plymouth, where he was Wireless Operator in Anson aircraft on cross country flights. He became a Flight Sergeant in July. On October 12th he embarked for Fiji and became Wireless Operator on Catalina aircraft of the No. 5 Flying Boat Squadron which carried out anti-submarine patrols and photographic missions in the South West Pacific area. The crew was usually captained by F/L. Tuckett with P/O Wilkinson second pilot, and P/O. Albrecht as navigator.
On April 13th 1945, the Catalina in which they were flying, crashed after take off from Funafuti Lagoon, F/Sgt. Ealam losing his life.
"Although he had been in the Squadron only a comparatively short time, he was thought of very highly, not only by his Captain but by all members of his crew, and by all those who had been associated with him in any way."
5/2/15991 A.S.2.
Mrs.J.Ealam, (W) 29 Blighs Road, Papanui, CHRISTCHURCH.
532 hours as W/Tops.
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426083, Flight Sergeant Patton Mason East.
Mother: Mrs. R. East of Dunedin.
Patton East was born at Christchurch on the 14th November, 1913. He received his secondary education at the Otago Boys' High School, gaining a Senior Free Place. He was employed as a Factory Manager by Whitecombe and Tombs Limited at Dunedin, when applying for enlistment in aircrew on the 22nd January, 1942.
Flight Sergeant East was enlisted at the Initial Training Wing, Levin, on the 29th May, 1942, moving with the Unit to Rotorua on the 16th June. After completing the course, he embarked on the 2nd October for Canada to train under the Empire Air Training Scheme.
Shortly after arrival there, he was posted, on the 8th November, to No. 7 Air Observer School, Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, where on the 5th March, 1943, he was awarded the Air Navigator badge and promoted to the rank of Sergeant. While in the United Kingdom, on the 5th September, 1943, he was further promoted to Flight Sergeant. Meantime, on the 17th March, he had proceeded to No. 1 "Y" Depot, Halifax, Nova Scotia, for embarkation to the United Kingdom.
Flight Sergeant East arrived at No. 11 Personnel Despatch and Reception Centre, Brighton, on the 5th April, and proceeded on the 10th May to No. 2 (O) Advanced Flying Unit, Millom, Cumberland; then on the 15th June, to No. 11 Operational Training Unit, Westcott, Buckinghamshire. Here he crewed up and completed his raining as navigator of Wellington bomber aircraft. During September, he converted to Stirling four-engined aircraft at Stradishall, Suffolk, before posting on the 21st October to No. 75 N.Z. Squadron at Mepal, Cambridge, for operational flying.
Flight Sergeant East was a member of a crew of a Stirling aircraft which crashed at Mepal on return from an operational flight to a target in enemy territory, on the 24th October, 1943, Flight Sergeant East losing his life. He was buried in the Borough Cemetery, Cambridge.
52/14498 A. S. 2.
No log book.
Mrs R. East (W), 163 Maitland Street, DUNEDIN.