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4215940 Flying Officer John Vesey Hamilton ROBINSON.
Parents: Mr. & Mrs. F.V.H. Robinson of BLENHEIM.

John Robinson was born at Christchurch on the 17th June 1923. He received his secondary education at Christs' College, Christchurch passing the matriculation examination and gaining a higher leaving certificate. He played for his College 1st Rugby XV, was a swimming representative, and also took part in cricket, tennis, fives, squash and shooting. From the time of leaving school until applying for enlistment in aircrew, on the 6th April 1942, he was employed in farming with his father at Lake Timaru, Blenheim.

Flying Officer Robinson was enlisted at Whenuapai on the 6th December 1942, and employed there and at New Plymouth on aerodrome defence duties, until remustered to aircrew and posted to the Initial Training Wing, Rotorua on the 22nd July 1943. He proceeded to Harewood early in September for his elementary flying training and then on the 19th November to No. 2 Service Flying Training School, Woodbourne, Blenheim. Here on the 19th March 1944, he was awarded the flying badge and commissioned in the rank of Pilot Officer. Later while serving in New Zealand as a flying instructor he was further promoted to Flying Officer on the 19th September 1944.

Meantime late in March he had commenced an officer's training course at Omaka, Blenheim, completing this before reporting to the Flying Instructors School, at Tauranga on the 8th April. After graduating as a flying instructor, he commenced instructional duties at No. 1 Service Flying Training School, Wigram where he was posted on the 18th August.

Flying Officer Robinson was the pilot of a Harvard aircraft which crashed near Cust, Canterbury on the 16th November 1944, during a training flight, Flying Officer Robinson losing his life. He was buried in the Bromley Cemetery, Christchurch.

Find a Grave link with a photo of F/O Robinson: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/98061982/john-vesey_hamilton-robinson
Auckland Museum link with more info: https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/C31385?n=john+vesey+hamilton&from=%2Fwar-memorial%2Fonline-cenotaph%2Fsearch&ordinal=0

5/2/15688 A.S.2.
No Log Book.

Mrs. F.V. Robinson (M) (right aligned)
Lake Timaru (right aligned)
BLENHEIM (right aligned)