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

H.H. EARNEY 2. Training Unit, Bassingbourn, Hertfordshire, where he trained on Anson aircraft. On the 1st April, 1942, he was posted to No. 15 Operational Training Unit, Harwell, Berkshire, and at this station and satellite aerodrome of Hamstead Norris he crewed up and completed his training on Anson and later Wellington aircraft.

He proceeded to Luqa airfield, Malta, by Wellington aircraft via Portreath, Cornwall, and Gibraltar, arriving at Luqa airfield on the 12th June, 1942. While in Malta he was posted to No. 221 Squadron, and with this squadron he carried out a number of flights as navigator on Wellington aircraft. Late in June he was posted to No. 104 Squadron, Middle East Forces, Kabrit, but for a short time he was attached to No. 108 Squadron. With this squadron he took part in raids on Tobruk, and enemy installations in the Battle Area, Western Desert. Early in August he returned to No. 104 Squadron, Kabrit, where he carried out a further fifteen operational flights as navigator and bomb aimer on Wellington aircraft. The targets included Tobruk, Matruh, Bardia, Fuka and enemy concentrations in the Battle Area.

On the 7th November, 1942, F/Sgt, Earney was a member of the crew of a Wellington aircraft which took off from Luqa airfield and crashed shortly after take off near Jebel Chantor, Malta. All the memberso f the crew, including F/Sgt. Earney, lost their lives. He was buried with Service Honours in the Royal Naval Cemetery, Cappucini, Bighi, Malta. This was his 17th operational flight. The crew included two other New Zealanders - Sgt. L.A. Craig, of Hunterville, and Sgt. K.L. Donald, of Paekakariki.

5/2/3568 AS2 413 hrs. as navigator Mr. S.H. Earney (F) 77 Blockhouse Road Avondale, AUCKLAND (underlined).

HW/NF 404345: Warrant Officer Samuel David EARWAKER. WIFE: Mrs. P.S. Spence, of Christchurch, PARENTS: Mr. & Mrs. W.S. Earwaker, also of Christchurch

Samuel Earwaker was born on the 25th December, 1916, at Christchurch, and received his secondary education at Christchurch Boys' High School, where he gained his University Entrance. The sports in which he was actviely interested were tennis, football, cricket, and soccer. He was also a boxing instructor at Christchurch Boys' High School. Prior to his enlistment in the RNZAF he underwent a short course, arranged by the RNZAF Educational Services, at Christchurch Technical College. At the time of his application for aircrew training with the RNZAF - on the 27th September, 1939 - he was employed as a clerk by Messrs. T.H. Green & Co. Ltd., of Chirstchurch.

Warrant Officer Earwaker was enlisted at Levin on the 24th November, 1940, and, on satisfactorily completing his initial training, was posted to No. 3 Elementary Flying Training School, Harewood. In March, 1941, he proceeded to No. 2 Flying Training School, Woodbourne, where - on the 14th April - he was awarded the flying badge, and - on the 24th May - promoted to the rank of Sergeant. He was promoted to Flight Sergeant on the 1st December, 1941, and to Warrant Officer on the 1st July, 1942. He embarked for the United Kingdom on the 18th June, 1941.

On arrival at No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre, Bournemouth, W/O Earwaker was posted, in August, 1941, to No. 10 Air Gunners' School as a staff pilot, and with this unit at Castle Kennedy, Wigtownshire, and at Walney Island, Barrow-in-Furness, Lancashire, was engaged on flying duties on Boulton Paul Defiant aircraft. On the 1st September, 1942, he proceeded to No. 53 Operational Training Unit, Llandow, Glamorganshire, where he carried out air exercises on Miles Master trainer and Spitfire fighter aircraft. On completion of the course he was posted to No. 122 Squadron, and with this unit at Fairlop and at Hornchurch, in Essex,

S.D. EARWAKER. 2. he carreid out 2 operational flights. These were sector reconnaissance flights.

On the 24th January, 1943, W/O Earwaker was pilot of a Spitfire fighter aircraft which was involved in an aircraft accident near Chelmsford, Essex. As a result of this he lost his life. His funeral took place at the Hornchurch Parish Church, Essex, and he was buried with Service Honours in the Special Services Plot in the Hornchurch Cemetery.

574 hrs. as pilot. 5/2/2517 A.S. 2 Mrs. W.S. Earwaker (M) 118 Sherborne Street, (underlined) CHRISTCHURCH.

JC/NF 412664: Pilot Officer Keith Henry Iveson EASTON. PARENTS: Mr. & Mrs. C. E. Easton of Auckland.

Born at Wellington on the 14th September, 1920, Keith Easton received his secondary education at the Mount Albert Grammar School where he gained his School Certificate and passed his University Entrance Examination. He later studied at evening classes at the Wellington Technical College, and the Gisborne High School, where he passed the Engineering Preliminary. He was a member of the hockey 1st XI at school and also stroked the Champion Rowing eight. He was also interested in swimming, running and hiking. He was keen on lifesaving, holding and Award of Merit, and was an Honorary Associate of the Royal Life-Saving Society. At the time of his applicatoin for aircrew training - on the 14tgh August, 1940 - he was employed as a draughtsman by the Lands & Survey Department, Gisborne.

P/O Easton entered cmap on the 3rd May, 1941, reporting at the Initial Training Wing, Levin. He underwent his flying training at No. 1 Elementary Training School, Taieri, and on the completion of his training in New Zealand embarked for Canada on the 14th August, 1941, to continue his training under the Empire Air Training Scheme. In Canada he trained at No.2 Service Flying Training School, Uplands, Ontario, where he was awarded his flying badge and promoted to Sergeant on the 21st November, 1941.

Shortly afterwards P/O Easton embarked for the United Kingdom. On his arrival early in December, he was posted to No. 17 Advanced Flying Unit, Watton, Norfolk, where he trained on Miles Master aircraft. On the completion of the course on the 17th March, 1942, he was posted to No. 56 Operational Training Unit, Sutton Bridge, Lincolnshire. From Sutton Bridge, and later from Tealing, near Dundee, in Angus, and at the nearby satellite aerodrome of Kinnel, he trained on Hurricane aircraft. Late in May, 1942, he proceeded to No. 32 Squadron, West Malling, Kent. With this

squadron he took part in combat exercises, sector reconnaissance flights, and an operational patrol.

P/O Easton lost his life when the Hurricane fighter aircraft of which he was the pilot crashed into the sea near Shoreham, Sussex, on the 28th July, 1942, during a training exercise. He was buried in the Royal Air Force Cemetery, Brookwood, Surrey, with Service Honours.

5/2/6250 AS2 275 hrs. as pilot. Mr C.E. Easton (F) 44 Symonds Street, Onehunga, (underlined) AUCKLAND.