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M. C. ECKHOLD
2.
After arrival in England, F/O Eckhold was posted, on the 3rd August, 1943, to No. 2 (Observer) Advanced Flying Unit, Millom, Cumberland. At the end of August he proceeded to No. 28 Operational Training Unit, Wymeswold, Leicestershire, where he trained on Wellington aircraft. Early in February, 1944, he was posted to No. 1662 Conversion Unit, Blyton, Lincolnshire, for a course on Halifax aircraft. Towards the end of the following month he proceeded to No. 1 Lancaster Finishing School, Hemswell, in the same county, for a short course on Lancaster aircraft. On the 10th April he was posted to No. 550 Squadron, North Killingholme, Lincolnshire, and from this base, as navigator on Lancaster aircraft, took part in a number of raids, the targets including Friedrichshaven, Aachen, Essen, Dortmund, and Duisberg, in Germany; and Aubigne, Calais, and Orleans, in France.
On the night of the 12/13th July, 1944, F/O Eckhold was a member of the crew of a Lancaster aircraft which took off on air operations for the target of Revigny, France, and failed to return to its base. This was his 50th operational flight. All the members of the crew, including F/O Eckhold, were reported missing. Later, information received from Air Ministry quoting advice received from the Mayor of Fains les Sources, France, stated that F/O Eckhold lost his life when the aircraft crashed near that town on the 13th July, 1944. In consequence of this F/O Eckhold was reclassified missing, believed killed in action. Subsequently his death was officially presumed.
The only other New Zealander in the crew was P/O Boocock, of Palmerston North.
4/2/2384 AS2 650 hrs. as air observer Mrs. E. Eckhold, (M) P.O. Box 38, Ngapara, Via OAMARU.
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AJM/KC 39003 Flight Lieutenant Charles EDDY M.B.E. PARENTS Mr. & Mrs. M.E. Eddy of Hamilton, AUSTRALIA
Charles Eddy was born in Hamilton, Australia, on the 31st July, 1914. He received his secondary education at the Hamilton High School, Australia. He took part in swimming, boxing and basketball. He came to New Zealand early in 1937 and was employed by the Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand as a painter, at the same time serving with the Wellington Fire board in their transport and fire section.
Flight Lieutenant Eddy was enlisted at Ohakea on the 14th September, 1939, as a Driver, Petrol, and served there and at Taieri and Wigram as a Firemaster reaching the rank of Flight Sergeant, until remustered to aircrew and posted to the Initial Training Wing, Levin, on the 27th September, 1941. After completing his initial training he proceeded to N. 1 Elementary Flying Training School, Taieri, on the 9th November for his elementary flying training, and to No. 1 Service Flying Training School, Wigram on the 20th December. At the latter station he was on the 24th April, 1942, awarded the flying badge and commissioned in the rank of Pilot Officer. He was promoted to Flying Officer on the 24th October, 1942 and to Acting Flight Lieutenant on the 29th March, 1944. Meanwhile during May, 1942, he embarked for the United Kingdom.
Flight Lieutenant Eddy arrived at No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre, Bournemouth on the 4th July, 1942, and a month later proceeded to No. 3 Advanced Flying Unit, South Cerney, Gloucestershire, and afterwards on the 8th September to No. 51, Operational Training Unit at Harwell and the satellite airfield of Hampstead Norris, and later again at Harwell, where he crewed up and completed his training as pilot of Wellington bomber aircraft. On the 14th January, 1943 he was posted to No. 1657 Conversion Unit Stradishall, Suffolk for conversion to Stirling bomber aircraft on the 23rd January to No. 75 Squadron, first at Newmarket, Suffolk and later at Mepal, Cambridgeshire. With
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C. EDDY 2. this Squadron as Pilot of Stirling bomber aircraft, he took part in seven operational flights, the targets including Essen, Nuremberg, Dortmund, Dusseldorf and Aachen in Germany; and two sea mining flights to the Frisian Islands. On the 19th March, 1943, Flight Lieutenant Eddy was wounded in the right leg by enemy action and admitted to the Royal Air Hospital, Ely. On return from the raid to Aachen, on the 13th July, the aircraft crashed, one member of the crew being killed, and Flight Lieutenant Eddy receiving serious injuries to the face and hands. On the 20th December, 1943, after discharge from the hospital, he was posted to No. 1483 Gunnery Flight at Newmarket, where he flew Wellington aircraft. During February he converted to Lancaster bomber aircraft at No. 1678 Conversion Unit, Waterbeach, Cambridgeshire, afterwards on the 20th March, 1944, being posted to No. 115 Squadron, Witchford, Cambridgeshire, as pilot of Lancaster aircraft he took part in a further four operational flights, the targets including Berlin in Germany; Villeneuve and Laon in France.
Flight Lieutenant Eddy was the pilot of a Lancaster bomber aircraft engaged on the 19th April, 1944, in an attack on Rouen. This was his eleventh operational flight. The aircraft was shot down by an enemy intruder near Beald Farm, Witchford, on return from the riad, and all of the crew including Flight Lieutenant Eddy lost thier lives.
Flight Lieutenant Eddy was buried in the Regional Cemetery at Cambridge.
After his death the award of the M.B.E. was announced (given) the Citation accompanying the award being as hereunder:-
"One night in July, 1943, Flight Lieutenant Eddy was the pilot of an aircraft which crashed when attempting an emergency landing and burst into flames immediately. He received concussion and injuries to his scalp and spine. Despite his injuries Flight Lieutenant Eddy remained in his aircraft and assisted the bomb aimer from the overturned second pilots seat. After getting clear of the aircraft, Flight Lieutenant Eddy, on learning that one member of his crew was absent, re-entered the blazing wreckage, and, assisted by a Medical Officer, in vain attempted to extricate the mid-upper gunner, who was trapped in his turret. It was not unitl heat, fumes, and smoke made a
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C. EDDY 3. continuance of rescue work impossible, the Flight Lieutenant Eddy was persuaded to abandon his efforts. His face was scorched whilst he was attempting to rescue the gunner, and he collapsed immediately after finally leaving the aircraft. Flight Lieutenant Eddy showed gallantry in dangerous circumstances and his unselfishness was instrumental in saving the bomb aimers life."
4/2/1072 AS2 584 hours as Pilot
Mr. M.E. Eddy (F) 26 Bree Road Hamliton, Victoria, AUSTRALIA (underlined)
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RV/NF 425793 : Pilot Officer Raymond Benjamin EDE. D.F.C. PARENTS : Mr. & Mrs. E. Mc.R. Ede of Ashburton.
Raymond Ede was born on the 11th February, 1922, at Ashburton. He received his secondary education at Ashburton Technical High School, where he gained his Senior Free Place. The sports in which he was actively interested were hockey, skating and shooting. Prior to his enlistment in the RNZAF he was employed as a cycle mechanic by H.E. Mooney, of Ashburton.
P/O Ede applied for aircrew training on the 15th January, 1941, and was enlisted at Blenheim on the 30th May, 1942, where he was employed on aerodrome defence duties. On the 24th August he proceeded to Rotarua to commence his initial training as an airman pilot. He embarked for Canada on the 10th November, 1942.
Shortly after his arrival in Canada, P/O Ede was posted to No. 8 Bombing and Gunnery School, Lethbridge, Alberta. On the 21st February, 1943, he proceeded to No. 2 Air Observers' School, Edmonton, Alberta, where, on the 2nd April, he was awarded his air bomber's badge and promoted to the rank of Sergeant. He was promoted to Flight Sergeant six months later, and commissioned in the rank of Pilot Officer on the 7th June, 1944. He embarked for the United Kingdom on the 14th April, 1943.
P/O Ede arrived in England on the 4th June, 1943, and on the 15th of the same month was posted to No. 9 (Observer) Advanced Flying Unit, Penrhos, Caernavonshire. The following month he was posted to No. 11 Operational Training Unit, Westcott, Buckinghamshire. From this base and the nearby satellite aerodrome of Oakley he carried out training exercises on Wellington aircraft. On the 8th October he proceeded to No. 1657 Conversion Unit, Straidshall, Suffolk, where he converted to Short Stirling aircraft. On the 13th December, 1943, he was posted to No. 149 Squadron, Lakenheath, Suffolk. With this squadron he took part in a number