RNZAF Biographies of Deceased Personnel: 1939 - 1945, Ea - Gw

J. V. Gustofson.

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On arrival at No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre, Bournemouth, F/O Gustofson was posted to No. 1657 Conversion Unit, Stradishall, Suffolk, where he trained as air gunner on Stirling bomber aircraft. On the 30th April, 1943, he proceeded to No. 90 Squadron, West Wickham, Cambridgeshire.

On the 30th May, 1943, F/O Gustofson was a member of a crew of a Stirling bomber aircraft which, on returning from a raid over Wuppertal, Germany, crashed approximately two miles north of Stradishall, F/O Gustafson and all remaining members of the aircraft, excluding one R.A.F. member, losing their lives. This was F/O Gustafson's first operational flight. He was buried with Service Honours in the Haverhill Cemetery, Suffolk.

5/2/11627 AS2 190 hrs. as air bomber.

Mrs. M.E. Gustofson (W) 17 Pembroke Street, CARTERTON.

404637 FLIGHT SERGEANT Lionel Kesson GUTHRIE. Parents: Mr. and Mrs. K.C. Guthrie of Ohakune.

Lionel Guthrie was born at Wanganui on the 15th April, 1916. He received his secondary education at Ohakune District High School. His principal sports were football and swimming. At the time of making application for war service in the Royal New Zealand Air Force on the 20 th December, 1939, he was employed on his father's farm at Ohakune. Flight Sergeant Guthrie was enlisted for aircrew training on the 24th November, 1940, at the Initial Training Wing, Levin, and was posted on the 9th February, 1941, to No. 3 Elementary Flying Training School, Harewood, where he commenced his flying training. On 29th April, 1941, he embarked for Canada to conitue his training under de Empire Air Training Scheme. Shortly after arrival in Canada, Flight Sergeant Guthrie was posted on the 25th May, 1941, to No.12 Service Flying Training School, Brandon, Manitoba, where on the 8th August, 1941, he was awarded his flying badge and was promoted to Sergeant. He was promoted to Flight Sergeant on the 1st July, 1942. Meanwhile, on the 14th August, 1941, he had proceeded to No. 1 "Y" Depot, Halifax, Nova Scotia, to await embarkation to the United Kingdom. Flight Sergeant Guthrie arrived at No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre, Bournemouth, on the 15th September, 1941, and was posted on the 2nd October, 1941, to No.54 Operational Training Unit, Chruch Fenton, Yorkshire, where he crewed-up and completed his training on Blenheim and Beaufighter aircraft. On the 13th January, 1942, he was posted to No. 141 Squadron, Acklington, Northumberland. With this Squadron as pilot of Beaufighter aircraft, he carried out forty-four armed patrols around the English coast.

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Flight Sergeant Guthrie was pilot of a Beaufighter aircraft which crashed in the sea five miles due north of Shoreham, Sussex, at 12.15 a.m. on the 20th January, 1943. Flight Sergeant Guthrie's body was not recovered and he was classified as missing believed killed. In due course his death was officially presumed to have occurred on the 20th January, 1943.

5/15/666AS2. 545 hours as pilot.

Mrs. C.R. Guthrie (M.). c/- Post Office, Ohakune.

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