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AJM/NF
401756 : Pilot Officer John EARLE.
FATHER : Mr. J. K. Earle of Auckland.
John Earle was born at Auckland on the 1st January 1913. He received his secondary education at Auckland Grammar School, and passed the University Entrance Examination. He later studied with Hemingway's Correspondence School, Auckland, and was successful in passing the Professional Accountant's Examination. At school he played football, cricket and engaged in athletics, and later played golf for the Maungakiekie Club, Auckland, and the Te Kuiti Club. He was employed by the Lands and Survey Department at Te Kuiti and was still so employed when applying for aircrew on the 9th October 1939.
Pilot Officer Earle was enlisted at the Ground Training School, Levin, on the 2nd July 1940, and posted to No. 2 Elementary Flying Training School, New Plymouth, on the 27th of the same month for his elementary flying training. Here his pilot training was terminated and he was posted to Ohakea on the 4th September, where he was remustered to air observer and reposted to the I.T.W., Levin on the 27th October. He embarked for Canada under the Empire Air Training Scheme on the 5th December by the "Aorangi".
Shortly after arrival in Canada, P/O Earle was posted on the 23rd December to No. 4 Air Observers' School , London, Ontario, and thence to No. 4 Bombing and Gunnery School, where on the 20th April, 1941, he was awarded his air observer's badge and promoted to Sergeant/. He was commissioned in the rank of Pilot Officer on the 27th May 1941. Meanwhile on the 27th April he proceeded to No1 Advanced Navigation School, Rivers, Manitoba, where he was remustered to Air Navigator before posting on the 1st June to No. 1 "M" Depot, Debert, Nova Scotia, for embarkation to the United Kingdom.
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J EARLE
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P/O Earle arrived at No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre, Bournemouth, on the 16th July, 1941, after having touched at Iceland en route, and five days later was posted to No. 22 Operational Training Unit at Wellesbourne-Mountford, Warwickshire. Here he crewed up and completed his training on Wellington bomber air craft before posting on the 21st December to No. 75 (NZ) Squadron at Feltwell. With this squadron as navigator of/a/ Wellington bomber he took his part in 3 operational flights, to targets in enemy territory.
P/O Earle was the navigator of a Wellington bomber aircraft engaged on a raid over enemy territory on the night of the 12/13th March, 1942, and which failed to return to its base. All the members of the crew, inlcuidng P/O Earle, were classified as missing. In due course his death was presumed to have occurred on the 12th March, 1942.
5/2/3022 AS2 255 hrs. as navigator.
Mr. J.K. Earle (F) 8 Turama Road. Onehunga, AUCKLAND
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MRP/NF
415299 : Flight Sergeant Clifford Wayland EARLY. PARENTS: Mr. & Mrs. F. W. Early of Auckland.
Born in New Plymouth on the 17th April, 1920, Clifford Early received his secondary education at New Plymouth Boys' High School. His interests in sport were tennis, cricket and swimming. At the time of his entry into the RNZAF he was employed as a clerk by the Auckland Farmers Freezing Co. Ltd.
F/Sgt. Early applied for War Service training in aircrew in August, 1940, and was eventually enlisted at the Initial Training Wing, Levin, as an airman pilot on the 28th September, 1941. On the 9th November he was posted to No. 4 Elementary Flying Training School, Whenuapai, and on the 28th of the following month he embarked for Canada to continue his training under the Empire Air Training Scheme.
F/Sgt. Early arrived in Canada on the 20th January, 1942, and, shortly afterwards, was posted to No. 2 Service Flying Training School, Uplands, Ontario, where, on the 8th May, he was awarded his flying badge, and promoted to the rank of Sergeant. He was promoted to the rank of Flight Sergeant on the 1st June, 1943. Prior to this he served for a time in the acting rank of Flight Sergeant. Towards the end of May, 1942, he proceeded to No. 9 Bombing and Gunnery School, Mont Joli, Quebec, and at the conclusion of the course in March, 1943, embarked for the United Kingdom.
After arrival in England F/Sgt. Early was posted, on the 11th May, 1943, to No. 17 Advanced Flying Unit, Watton, Norfolk, and, in June, to No. 61 Operational Training Unit. With the latter unit at Rednal, Shropshire, and at the nearby satellite aerodrom at Montford Bridge, he carried out air exercises as pilot on Spitfire aircraft.
On the 26th August, 1943, F/Sgt. Early lost his life whilst bathing, during dinghy practice, at Lake Ellesmere,
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Shropshire. Later, information received form Air Ministry relating to the circumstances under which he lost his life stated that permission was given to airmen to go swimming whilst awaiting their turn to take part in the practice. F/Sgt. Early had apparently intended to swim from the shore to a raft which was approximately 400 yards out. He was seen to be in difficulties when some distance from the shore, and although other personnel immediately went to his assistance they were unable to rescue him. He was buried with Service Honours in the Blacon Cemetery, Chester, Cheshire.
5/15/2178 AS2 704 hrs. as a pilot
Mr. F. W. Early (F) 4 Te Marama Road Ellerslie, AUCKLAND SE 6.
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RV/NF 405371 : Flight Sergeant Herbert Henry EARNEY. PARENTS: Mr. & Mrs. S. H. Earney of Auckland.
Herbert Earney was born on the 14th September, 1920 at Auckland, and received his secondary education at Mt. Albert Grammar School. He later studied during evening classes at Auckland Technical School, and Druleigh College, Auckland. His main interests in sport were football and cricket. After leaving school he was employed for a short time on office duties with Walter Dawson, Auckland, and at the time of his enlistment with R.N.Z.A.F. was employed as a postman by the Post and Telegraph Department at Auckland.
Flight Sergeant Earney applied for aircrew training on the 26th December, 1939, and was enlisted at the Initial Training Wing, Levin, on the 22nd December, 1940, and on satisfactorily completing his initial training embarked for Canada on the 29th April, 1941.
Shortly after his arrival in Canada, F/Sgt. Earney was posted - on the 14th of May - to No. 6 Air Observers' School, Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. On the 3rd August, 1941, he proceeded to No. 5 Bombing and Gunnery School, Dafoe, Saskatchewan, where - on the 15th September, 1941 - he was awarded his air observer's badge and promoted to Sergeant. He was promoted to Flight Sergeant on the 1st October, 1942. In September, 1941, he was posted to No. 1 Advanced Navigation School, Rivers, Manitoba, where he carried out navigational exercises on Anson aircraft. On the 20th October he was posted to No. 1 "Y" Depot, Halifax, Nova Scotia, for embarkation to the United Kingdom.
F/Sgt. Earney arrived at No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre, Bournemouth, on the 3rd November, 1941, and the following month he was posted to No. 2 Advanced Flying Unit, Millon, Cumberland. On the 20th January, 1942, he proceeded to No. 11 Operational