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

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members of the crew being classified as missing. Later information was received through the International Red Cross Committee quoting a German report and that the aircraft had crashed off the Friesland Coast all members of the crew losing their lives and consequently Sgt. Randle was reclassified to missing believed killed, and in due course his death was officially presumed to have occurred on the 30th June 1942. He was buried in the Cemetery at Holwerd, Friesland, Holland.

Other New Zealanders in the crew of the aircraft were Pilot Officer W.J. Monk of Wellington, Sergeant M.G. McGregor of Wanganui, and Sergeant S.E.F. Moncrief of Pukekohe, and Sergeant G.G. Hegan of Christchurch.

Find a Grave link with a photo of Sgt. Randle: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/13802951/douglas-haig-randle Auckland Museum link with a photo of Sgt. Randle: https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/C31063?n=douglas+haig+randle&from=%2fwar-memorial%2fonline-cenotaph%2fsearch&ordinal=0#sources_pnl

5/3/12997 AS2 301 hours as Navigator.

Miss B.P. Randle (S) (right aligned) 7 Ann Street (right aligned) Roslyn (right aligned) DUNEDIN (right aligned & underlined)

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416539 Flight Sergeant James Robert RANDLE. Mother: Mrs. S.J. Randle of Mataura.

James Randle was born in Invercargill on June 11th 1922 and received his secondary education at the Southland High School up to Matriculation standard. His civilian occupation was that of clerk in the employ of Messrs. Moffett & Co. Ltd., Invercargill.

He was enlisted at the Initial Training Wing, Levin as Airman/Pilot under training on November 30th. 1941 proceeding early in February 1942 to Taieri for his elementary flying training. On May 2nd he was posted to Wigram where he was awarded the Flying Badge on July 27th 1942, and promoted to the rank of Sergeant on October 17th, 1942. He was further promoted to Flight Sergeant in June 1943, when overseas. Meanwhile he had embarked for the United Kingdom on December 1st 1942.

On his arrival in England he disembarked at No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre, Bournemouth early in February 1943 and was posted on April 26th to No. 15 (Pilots) Advanced Flying Unit, Leconfield, Yorkshire. On June 15th he was transferred to No. 11 Operational Training Unit, Westcott, Buckinghamshire thence three months later to No. 1657 Conversion Unit (location redacted) for conversion to Wellington aircraft. On October 21st he was posted to No. 75 (N.Z.) Squadron, Feltwell, Norfolk.

Flight Sergeant Randle lost his life on air operations three days after his posting to No. 75 Squadron. He was buried in the Borough Cemetery, Feltwell.

Auckland Museum link with a photo of Flight Sergeant Randle: https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/C25847?n=james+robert+randle&from=%2Fwar-memorial%2Fonline-cenotaph%2Fsearch&ordinal=0

5/2/8418 A.S.2. No. Log Book.

Mrs. S.J. Randle (M) (right aligned) Main Street (right aligned) Mataura, SOUTHLAND (right aligned)

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JC/NF (right aligned) 423319 Flying Officer William Pitt RANGER. Parents: Mr. and Mrs. Ranger of Kamo, NORTH AUCKLAND.

William Ranger was born at Christchurch on the 9th May 1924. He received his secondary education at Marlborough College, Blenheim reaching matriculation standard. He was employed as a clerical cadet by the Lands and Survey Department at Blenheim at the time of applying for enlistment in the Royal New Zealand Air Force, on the 14th March 1942.

Flying Officer Ranger was enlisted at Rongotai on the 15th April 1942 as a Medical Orderley, and served at Blenheim, Omaka, Gisborne, and New Plymouth in this capacity until remustered to aircrew and posted to the Initial Training Wing, Rotorua on the 16th September 1943. He proceeded to Ashburton on the 13th November for his elementary flying training, afterwards embarking on the 11th February 1944 for Canada, to train under the Empire Air Training Scheme.

Shortly after arrival there he was posted to No. 6 Service Flying Training School, Dunnville, Ontario where he was awarded the Flying Badge and commissioned in the rank of Pilot Officer on the 20th October 1944. Early the following month, he proceeded to Lachine, Quebec for embarkation to New Zealand.

Flying Officer Ranger arrived at Auckland on the 1st January 1945 and was posted to Woodbourne, Blenheim on the 3rd February for an Officers Course of Instruction. After completing this he underwent a refresher course at Wigram during March and April, before posting to No. 2 Operational Training Unit, Ohakea on the 20th April. On this same date he was promoted to Flying Officer, and continued to carry out staff pilot duties.

Flying Officer Ranger was the pilot of a Warhawk aircraft which collided with another aircraft in mid-air on the 3rd August 1945 and crashed near Halcombe, Flying Officer Ranger losing his life. He was buried in the Cemetery at Maunu, Whangarei.

5/3/23962 A.S.2. No Logbook.

Mrs. D.I. Ranger (M) (right aligned) Kamo, (right aligned) NORTH AUCKLAND (right aligned)

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JC/NF (right aligned) 412526: LAC Alastair Logie RANKIN. PARENTS: Mr. & Mrs. F.G. Rankin of Queenstown.

Alastair Rankin was born at Fochabers, Scotland on the 27th February 1920 and came to N.Z. at the age of 7 years. He was educated at the Green Island School and Otago Boys' High School, where he was interested in rugby, tennis and cricket. He was employed in various farming jobs in Central Otago.

He applied for aircrew training in January 1940 but did not enter camp until April 1941 when he reported to Taieri. In August he was posted to the Initial Training Wing, Levin and commenced his flying training at No. 1 Elementary Flying Training School, Taieri in September 1941. He made his first solo flight on October 14 in a Tiger Moth.

In November 1941 he proceeded to Canada for training under the Empire Air Training Scheme as a pilot. On arrival he was posted to No. 6 Service Flying Training School, Dunnville, Ontario for further training on Yale and Harvard aircraft.

On April 17th 1942 LAC Rankin was pilot of a Harvard aircraft engaged on a training flight, when it crashed on a farm near Fisherville, Ontario. Both occupants of the aircraft were killed. He (redacted is) was buried in the Riverside Cemetery, Dunnville.

Auckland Museum link with a photo of LAC Rankin: https://media.api.aucklandmuseum.com/id/media/public/eca07225-7ed0-4346-846e-aa12d191ef3a/original.jpg

5/2/3956 A.S.2 197 hrs. as pilot.

Mrs. B.D. Rankin (M) (right aligned) P.O. Box 95 (right aligned) QUEENSTOWN (right aligned & underlined)

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R.A.F. 36180 Pilot Officer David Alexander RANKIN. Parents: Mr. and Mrs. D. Rankin of WELLINGTON.

David Rankin was born at Wellington on the 23rd November 1914. He received his secondary education at Rongotai Boys College, passing the University Entrance Examination. He afterwards studied with Entings' Commerical College, Wellington for the Professional Accountant's examination, and was successful in passing in four subjects. He played Senior Football for the Oriental Club in Wellington and later for the Old Boys' Club in Hastings. He was a prominent member of the Karori Rifle Club and won many successes with the Club. He was a member of the 1st Battalion of the Wellington Regiment, and the champion shot for a number of years in succession. After leaving school in 1930, he was employed by the D.I.O. Limited, Wellington for a number of years; but in 1935 entered the Public Trust office as a cadet. When applying for a short service commission in the Royal Air Force in April 1937 he was a clerk in this Department stationed at Hastings.

Pilot Officer Ranking was accepted for training in July 1937 and commenced his initial training with the Wellington Aero Club early in September. After completing the course, he was posted to Wigram for his service flying training, on the 15th November and granted the temporary rank of Pilot Officer. He completed the course and was granted the flying badge on the 23rd September 1938, afterwards embarking for the United Kingdom by the "Tainui" early in February 1939.

Pilot Officer Rankin was granted a short service commission in the Royal Air Force in the rank of Pilot Officer on the 15th March 1939 and posted to No. 115 Squadron at Marham, Norfolk for conversion to and completion of his training as pilot of Wellington bomber aircraft. He continued to serve with this Squadron after the outbreak of war, the Squadron later moving to Kinloss, Scotland.

He was captain of a Wellington bomber aircraft engaged with a formation of aircraft on the 11th April 1940 in an attack on the airfield at Stavanger in Norway. The aircraft was seen to crash

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