Attested for service in the New Zealand Military Forces at Opotiki as a Private.

Recruit Depot, Waimana, Bay of Plenty, pending training.

Applied for Aircrew in the NZRAF

Disembarked in the UK (port tbc)

Initial Training Wing, Rotorua.

Embarked from New Zealand, probably from Auckland (vessel not known but possibly the troopship John Ericsson).

Disembarked in Canada (or the USA, but probably Vancouver tbc).

No.1 Manning Depot, Toronto, Ontario (elsewhere reported as Debert, Nova Scotia).

No.4 Bombing and Gunnery School, 62 (Air Bomber) Course, Fingal, Ontario.

Battle, Nomad, Bolingbroke, Anson.

No.10 Air Observers School, 62 (Air Bomber) Course, Chatham, New Brunswick.

Anson

Awarded Air Bombers Flying Badge and promoted to Sergeant.

No.1 'Y' Depot, Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Embarked from Halifax, Nova Scotia (possibly on board the troopship John Ericsson tbc).

Disembarked in the UK (port tbc)

No.3 (RNZAF) Personnel Reception Centre, Bournemouth, Dorset.

No.10 (Observers) Advanced Flying Unit, 82 Course, Dumfries, Scotland.

Anson

Mo.28 Operational Training Unit, Wymeswold, Leicestershire. L R B Matthews crew formed.

Wellington

Promoted to Flight Sergeant

No.1662 Heavy Conversion Unit, Blyton, Lincolnshire.

Lancaster / Sterling / Halifax

No.101 Squadron, Ludford Magna, Lincolnshire. As part of the LRB Matthews crew, he flew the following operations:
27 Sep 43 - Hannover;
29 Sep 42 - Bochum: starboard engine faulty so arrived late over target;
03 Oct 43 - Kassel;
07 Oct 43 - Stuttgart;
22 Oct 43 - Kassel: abortive due to port outer engine failure and severe icing on the way to the target. Their 'Cookie' was jettisoned;
03 Nov 43 - Dusseldorf;
10 Nov 43 - Modane;
26 Nov 43 - Stuttgart;

Lancaster

No.576 Squadron, 'B' Flight, Elsham Wolds, Lincolnshire. Posted with the Matthews crew and other crews from 101 Squadron to form the nucleus of 'B' Flight of the newly-established 576 Squadron.

Lancaster

Lost in operations over Leipzig on the crew's first operation with 576 Squadron. The aircraft was hit by flak on way to the target in the vicinity of Burg at about 2300 hrs, and caught fire. Part of the bombload was jettisoned before the aircraft fell apart and crashed in two pieces, one near the brickworks in Stegelitz and the other in a field near Landhaus Zeddenick, near Möckern, 14 miles East of Magdeburg. The two villages are approximately 4 miles apart, which might suggest strong winds. Only one crew member (unknown) managed to bale out but he did not survive.

Lancaster

Personal Records Restricted - not available to the public

Personal Documents Restricted - not available to the public