RNZAF Biographies of Deceased Personnel: 1939 - 1945, Ib - Ly

DA/NF (right aligned) 421935 : Sergeant Owen Alfred INNES. PARENTS : Mr. & Mrs. A.H. Innes of Christchurch.

Owen Innes was born on the 3rd February, 1921, at Christchurch and received his secondary education at Christchurch Technical College. He played the usual sports at school. After leaving school he was employed as a shop assistant by Plimsols Ltd., Christchurch and was so employed at the time of his making application for aircrew training on the 8th March, 1941.

Sergeant Innes was enlisted at the Initial Training Wing, Rotorua, on the 21st March, 1942, and on the completion of his initial trianing he embarked on the 29th May, 1942, for Canada under the Empire Training Scheme.

Shortly after arrival in Canada Sgt. Innes was posted on the 22nd June, 1942, to No. 5 Air Observers' School, Winnipeg, Manitoba, where, on the 9th October, 1942, he was awarded his air navigator's badge and promoted to the rank of Sergeant. On the 20th of the same month he was posted to No. 1 "Y" Depot, Halifax, Nova Scotia, for embarkation to the United Kingdom.

Sgt. Innes arrived at No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre, Bournemouth, on the 5th November, 1942, and was posted on the 1st December to No. 1 (Observer) Advanced Flying Unit, Wigtown, Scotland, where he trained on Anson aircraft. On the 21st January, 1943, he proceeded to No. 11 Operational Training Unit, Westcott, Buckinghamshire, where he crewed up and completed his training as navigator on Wellington bomber aircraft. Late in April he was posted to No. 1657 Conversion Unit, Stradishall, Suffolk, where he converted to Stirling aircraft before posting on the 23rd May to No. 75 (NZ) Squadron, Newmarket, Suffolk. As navigator on Stirling aircraft, he carried out a minelaying operation to the Frisian Islands.

O.A. INNES. 2. (centre aligned)

On the 29/30th May, 1943, Sgt. Innes, on his second operational flight, was the navigator of a Stirling aircraft, which took off on an operational flight To Wuppertal, Germany (was over enemy territory) and failed to return to its base. All the members of the crew, including Sgt. Innes, were reported missing. No further news was received of Sgt . Innes, and in due course his death was officially presumed to have occurred on the 30th May, 1943.

5/2/8691 AS2 139 hrs. as navigator.

Mrs. H. Innes (M) (right aligned) 314 Stanmore Road, (right aligned) CHRISTCHURCH N.E. 1 (right aligned & Christchurch underlined)

MP/NF (right aligned) 40769 : Flying Officer Edgar Moyston INNES-JONES. SISTER : Mrs. R. Baker of Te Kuiti. MOTHER : Mrs. M.S. Innes-Jones, Te Kuiti.

Edgar Innes-Jones was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, on November 21, 1911, and came to New Zealand with his parents at an early age. He received his secondary education at King's College, Auckland, between the years 1924-1929, in 1927 gaining his University Entrance Examination. Keen at sport, he enjoyed rugby, cricket, golf, tennis, swimming and shooting. At college he was captain of the 2nd XV and at cricket a member of the 1st XI. From 1929-1933 he was an accountant in his father's employ, and from 1933 until his entrance into the RNZAF he conducted his own business as an accountant in Te Kuiti.

F/O Innes-Jones made application for aircrew on September 13, 1939. He enlisted at the Ground Training School, Levin, on March 12, 1940, and early in April was posted to No. 2 Elementary Flying Training School, New Plymouth to commence training. Two months later he was posted to No. 2 Flying Training School, Woodbourne, where he was awarded his flying badge on August 2. On September 23, 1940 he was commissioned in the rank of Pilot Officer. At the completion of his course in October he spent a short period at the Flying Instructor's School, Hobsonville, and then returned to Woodbourne as a Staff Pilot. Shortly afterwards he was posted to No. 3 Flying Training School, Ohakea, for a course of instruction. On November 6, 1940 he returned once more to Woodbourne for duty as a Staff Pilot and Flying Instructor. He remained at this station, gaining in September his promotion to Flying Officer, until he embarked for the United Kingdom on December 13, 1941.

F/O Innes-Jones arrived in England on February 8, 1942, and was posted to No. 52 Operational Training Unit, Aston Down, Gloucestershire, flying Miles Master and Spitfire aircraft. In May, 1942 he proceeded to No. 602 Squadron, Redhill, Surrey, where he carried out a number of short flights to and from RAF Station, Kenley. In late June and early July he took part in a number of convoy and defensive patrols with the Squadron.

On July 13, 1942, F/O Innes-Jones was pilot of a Spitfire aircraft which took off with the remainder of the Squadron on air operations over Occupied France. He failed to return to base and was reported missing. It was stated by his Squadron Commanding Officer that he was last seen between 10 and 15 miles off Berck-sur-Mer on the French coast north of Abbeville, when the squadron was chased by 25 Focke-Wulf FW190. F/O Innes-Jones was, at the time, some distance behind the remainder of the aircraft. He was later presumed to have lost his life.

5/2/1889 A.S.2. 971 hrs. as pilot.

Mrs. R. Barker (Sister) (right aligned) Mangapehi, TE KUITI. (right aligned & underlined)

405766 SGT. Leonard Allen INSALL Parents: Mr. & Mrs. A.B. Insall of Invercargill.

Leonard Insall was born at Knapdael, Southland on 6th January, 1921 and was educated at the Southland Technical College.

While at school he played football, cricket and tennis, and after leaving school, he played for the Pirates Football Club. He was afterwards employed as a Storeman by Mackerras & Haylett Ltd, and then by F.R. Insall as a plumber.

He first applied for Aircrew training in June 1940 - was accepted in December 1940 and went to Harewood, where he was engaged on General Duties and training, until he went to Levin in August 1941. He left for Canada in November 1941 and was posted to No. 2 Wireless & Gunnery School at Calgary, Alberta for training as a Wireless Operator. He passed his Wireless Operator's examination in April, 1942, and went to No. 8 Bombing & Gunnery School, Lethbridge, Alberta, the following month, for gunnery training, and passed his examination on the 20th May 1942. He was now a qualified Wireless Operator Air Gunner, and was promoted to Sergeant on the 25th May 1942.

He then went to No. 3 Air Observers School, Regina, the following month, and on the 21st August, 1942, while a member of the crew of an Anson engaged on Night Navigation exercises, he was killed with the rest of the crew, when the aircraft crashed into Chateau Lake.

He was (is) buried in the Cemetery at Regina, Saskatchewan.

5/2/5036 A.S.2.

Mrs. J. Insall, (Mother) (right aligned) 21 Princes St, (right aligned) INVERCARGILL (right aligned & underlined)