RNZAF Biographies of Deceased Personnel: 1939 - 1945, Qu - Sl

412378 Leading Aircraftsman Arthur Louis SKINNER. Widow: Mrs. M.J. Skinner of DANNEVIRKE. Parents: Mr. and Mrs. L. Skinner of WOODVILLE.

Arthur Skinner was born at Dunedin on the 26th December 1914. He received his secondary education at the Woodville District High School, and St. Patrick's College, Silverstream. He played football for his College 1st XV, and was also a member of the Athletic team. Whe applying for enlistment in aircrew, on the 22nd June, 1940 he was employed as a manager of Yate's Cash Stores Limited at Dannevirke.

Leading Aircraftsman Skinner was enlisted at the Initial Training Wing, Levin on the 12th April 1941 and posted to New Plymouth late in May for his elementary flying training. After completing this, he proceeded to No. 3 Service Flying Training School, Ohakea, on the 5th July.

Leading Aircraftsman Skinner was the pilot of a Hawker Hind aircraft which crashed at Paraparaumu Beach on the 4th September 1941 as the result of fouling a target towed by another aircraft, Leading Aircraftsman Skinner losing his life. He was buried in the Dannevirke Cemetery.

Find a Grave link with a photo of LAC Skinner: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/39683943/arthur_lewis-skinner/photo Auckland Museum link with more info on LAC Skinner: https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/C27217?n=arthur+louis+skinner&from=%2Fwar-memorial%2Fonline-cenotaph%2Fsearch&ordinal=0

18/1/1550 A.S.2. No Log Book.

Mrs. M.J. Skinner (W), (right aligned) 4 Grant Street, (right aligned) DANNEVIRKE (right aligned)

425199 : Sgt. Bruce James SKINNER. PARENTS : Mr & Mrs. R.L. Skinner of Davenport, Auckland.

Bruce James Skinner was born at Palmerston North on the 24th September 1920. He was educated at (information redacted) Sporting activties included rugby, cricket and tennis. He enlisted at Levin on 30th May 1942 where he received ground training and then was posted to Initial Training Wing, Rotorua for initial training as a Wireless Operator Air Gunner. On August 1942 he arrived at No. 3 Wireless School, Winnipeg, where he commenced his training, passing on to No. 8 Bombing & Gunnery School, Alberta and finally a week before his death to No. 1 Central Navigation School, Rivers, Manitoba. On the 22nd June 1943 the aircraft in which Sergeant Skinner was (redacted a member of the crew) WOAG, crashed into the water at Lake Manitoba and disappeared. As his body was not recovered, Bruce James Skinner was presumed (redacted dead) to have lost his life on the above date.

5/2/12066 A.S.2. 5 hrs. as W.O.A.G.

Mr. R.L. Skinner (F) (right aligned) 9 Handley Avenue, (right aligned) Devonport, (right aligned) AUCKLAND. (right aligned & underlined)

HW/NF (right aligned) 42342 : Flight Sergeant Douglas Henry SKINNER. PARENTS: Mr. & Mrs. J.H. Skinner of Dunsandel, Canterbury.

Douglas Skinner was born on the 24th January 1922, and received his secondary education at Christchurch Technical College, where he gained his Senior Free Place. His sporting interests were cricket and rugby football. He was a member of his college 1st XV. At the time of applying for enlistment for aircrew training with the RNZAF - on the 15th November, 1940 - he was serving as a private in the 1st Canterbury Regiment, Territorial Army and was employed on his father's farm at Dunsandel.

Flight Sergeant Skinner enlisted at Levin as a Wireless Operator Air Gunner on the 25th January 1942 and having satisfactorily completed his initial training, embarked for Canada on the 2nd March.

Shortly after arrival in Canada, F/S Skinner was posted to No. 3 Wireless School, Winnipeg, Manitoba. On completion of his course at this school he proceeded to No. 5 Bombing and Gunnery School, Dafoe, Saskatchewan, where - on the 25th January, 1943 - he was awarded the air gunner's badge and promoted to the rank of Sergeant. He was promoted to Flight Sergeant on the 25th July, 1943.

On the 27th February, 1943, F/S Skinner was posted to No. 111 Operational Training Unit, Nassam Island, in the Bahamas, where, in continuation of his training, he carried out air exercises on Mitchell and Liberator bomber aircraft. On the conclusion of his training he returned to Canada.

On the 8th September, 1943, F/S Skinner left Dorval, Canada, for the United Kingdom by air, via Newfoundland, arriving at Prestwick, Scotland, late the same day. On the 13th of the same month he took off from Prestwick for India, calling at Ras El Ma, Cairo, Egypt; and Habbaniya, Iraq on route. Shortly after his arrival on 18th September, at Karachi, India, he was posted for a short period to No. 354 Squadron, and in December 1943, proceeded to No. 160 Squadron at Ceylon, where he flew as Wireless Operator Air Gunner in Liberator bomber aircraft on escort operations.

These flights included the escorting of HMNZS "Gambia". Other operational activities in which he participated included a bombing raid on Simalur Island, Dutch East Indies.

On May 6, 1944, F/S Skinner was a member of the crew of a Liberator bomber aircraft which took off to carry out air firing and depth charge dropping exercises. After the first exercises had been satisfactorily completed the aircraft proceeded out to sea West of Puttalam, Ceylon, dropping two depth charges from a low altitude. Following the two explosions the aircraft was damaged and made a forced landing on the sea. Two New Zealanders, F/O J. Dean and W/O T. Baker, were the only survivors. The remainder of the crew, including F/S Skinner, were reported missing believed killed. Subsequently the death of F/S Skinner was officially presumed.

Find a Grave link with a photo of F/S Skinner: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56235615/douglas-henry-skinner Auckland Museum link with more info on F/S Skinner: https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/C27219?n=douglas+henry+skinner&from=%2Fwar-memorial%2Fonline-cenotaph%2Fsearch&ordinal=0

5/15/2465 A.S.2. 397 hrs. as WOP/AG.

Mr. J.H. Skinner (F) (right aligned) Box 22, Dunsandel, (right aligned) CANTERBURY. (right aligned & underlined)

NZ41498 Flight Sergeant Phillip Holmes SKINNER. PARENTS: Mr. & Mrs. V.V.V. Skinner of Invercargill.

Phillip Skinner was born at Invercargill on the 13th November 1921. He received his secondary education at Southland Boys' High School and afterwards attended night classes at the Southland Technical College. His sports were football, cricket, swimming, running and golf. He joined the Territorial Forces and served in the 1st Southland Regiment. At the time of making applicaiton for war service in the R.N.Z.A.F in January 1940 he was employed as a clerk by Messrs. Carswell and Co., Ltd., of Invercargill, Produce Merchants.

Flight Sergant Skinner was enlisted for training as aircrew on the 19th January 1941 at the Initial Training Wing, Levin and on the 1st March 1941 he was posted to No. 1 Elementary Flying Training School, Taieri for elementary flying training. He was posted on the 12th April to No. 1 Service Flying Training School, Wigram where on the 8th May his flying training and posted back to the Initial Training Wing, Levin. On the 18th June 1941 he embarked (redacted for Canada) for Canada for training under the Empire Air Training Scheme.

Shortly after arrival in Canada, Flight Sergeant Skinner was posted on the 6th July, 1941 to No. 6 Air Observer's School, Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. He was posted on the 28th September, 1941 to No. 3 Bombing and Gunnery School, MacDonald, Manitoba, where on the 8th November, 1941 he was awarded his flying badge as an Air Observer and promoted from LAC to Sergeant. He was promoted to Flight Sergeant on the 1st February 1943. Meanwhile, on the 9th November 1941 he had been posted to No. 1 Air Navigation School, Rivers, Manitoba. On the 15th December, 1941 he proceeded to No. 1 "Y" Depot, Halifax, Nova Scotia to await embarkation for the United Kingdom.

Flight Sergeant Skinner arrived at No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre, Bournemouth on the 30th January 1942 and was posted on the 21st March to No. 2 (Observers) Advanced Flying Unit, Millom, Cumberland. He was posted on the 28th April, 1942 to No. 11 Operational Training Unit, Bassingbourn, Hertfordshire, where he crewed up and completed his training on Wellington bomber aircraft. On the 20th July he was