RNZAF Biographies of Deceased Personnel: 1939 - 1945, Ma - McW

40654 Sergeant Kenneth MANSON (surname underlined) Parents: Mr. and Mrs. N. Manson of Greymouth.

Kenneth Manson was born at Eiffleton on the 11th June 1920. His secondary education was received at Mount Albert Grammar School, Auckland, where he passed the matriculation examination and gained his School Certificate in 1936. After obtianing his Higher Leaving Certificate he proceeded to the Teacher's Training College, Auckland, to study for the teaching profession. In December 1938 he applied for a short service commission in the Royal Air Force, but was unsuccessful owing to the outbreak of hostilities. Accordingly, on the 18th September 1939 he applied for war service in the R.N.Z.A.F.

Sergeant Manson was enlisted for aircrew training on the 13th February 1940 at the Ground Training School, Levin, and was posted on the 14th March (redacted 1940) to No. 1 Elementary Flying Training School, Taieri, to commence his flying training. He proceeded on the 9th May (redacted 1940) to No. 1 Service Flying Training School, Wigram and while here on the 29th June (redacted 1940) was awarded his flying badge. (Redacted His promotion) He was promoted to sergeant (redacted was made) on the 24th August 1940 and following this on the 14th September he embarked on the "Tamaroa" at Wellington to proceed to the United Kingdom.

(Redacted Having arrived in England) On the 3rd November 1940, Sergeant Manson (redacted was held) arrived at the Royal Air Force Depot, Uxbridge, Middlesex, (redacted until) and was posted on the 17th November to No. 11 Operational Training Unit, Bassingbourn, Hertfordshire, to crew-up and complete his training on Wellington bomber aircraft. On the 14th March 1941 he was posted to No. 214 Squadron, Stradishall, Suffolk, and commenced operational flying. With this squadron as pilot of a Wellington bomber he took part in five operational flights including attacks on Cologne in Germany, Brest and Lorient in France and oil stores in Rotterdam, Holland.

On the 5th April 1941, Sergeant Manson was the pilot of a Wellington bomber engaged on operations.

The aircraft failed to return to its base and all the members of the crew, including Sergeant Manson were classified as missing. Due time having elapsed his death was officially presumed to have occurred on the 8th April 1941.

5/2/1141 A.S.2. 233 hours as pilot.

Mr B.H. Carter (Foster-parent) (right aligned) 128, Willis Street, (right aligned) ASHBURTON. (right aligned)

RV/NF (right aligned)

413102 : Sergeant Thomas Irvine MANSON. PARENTS : Mr. & Mrs. G. Manson of Dunedin.

Thomas Manson was born at Dunedin on the 23rd May, 1919. He received his secondary education at Otago Boys' High School, where he gained his School Certificate and University Entrance. He furthered his education by attending evening classes at King Edward Technical College, and also Hemingway's Correspondence School. His main interests in sport were tennis, cricket and rugby. At the time of making application for service with the R.N.Z.A.F. - on the 16th September, 1940 - he was employed as a clerk by the Dunedin City Corporation.

Sgt. Manson was enlisted at Levin on the 25th May, 1941, and on satisfactorily completing his initial training, was posted - on the 16th August - to No. 1 Elementary Flying Training School, Taieri. Late in September, 1941, he proceeded to No. 1 Flying Training School, Wigram, where - on the 8th November, 1941 - he was awarded his flying badge, and on the 20th December was promoted to Sergeant. He embarked for the United Kingdom on the 11th January, 1942.

Sgt. Manson arrived at No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre, Bournemouth, on the 13th March, 1942, and was posted on the 27th April, to No. 12 Advanced Flying Unit, Grantham, Lincolnshire, and at this unit continued his training on Oxford aircraft. On the 7th July he proceeded to No. 29 Operational Training Unit, North Luffenham, Rutland, and with this unit he crewed up and completed his training on Wellington aircraft. He also carried out one operational flight from there, which was to Bremen, Germany. On the 30th September, 1942, he was posted to No. 1654 Conversion Unit, Wigsley, Nottinghamshire, where he converted to Lancaster aircraft, and in December, 1942, to No. 57 Squadron, Scampton, Lincolnshire, where he carried out air exercises on Lancaster and Oxford aircraft.

T.I. MANSON. 2. (centre aligned)

On the night of December 17, 1942, Sgt. Manson was pilot of a Lancaster bomber aircraft which caught fire during flight and exploded. All the members of the crew, including Sgt. Manson, were killed. Sgt. Manson was buried with Service Honours at the Helston Churchyard, Maltin, Cornwall. There were no other New Zealanders in the crew.

5/2/86 AS2. 386 hrs. as pilot.

Mr. G. Manson (right aligned) 21 Royston Street, (right aligned) North East Valley, (right aligned) DUNEDIN. (right aligned & underlined)

42434 Sgt. F.H. MANZ. PARENTS : Mr. and Mrs. H.O. Manz, Otaki Railway.

Frederick Manz was born in Wellington on July 17th, 1915 and after completing his education at the Palmerston North Technical School in 1930, he went to work with his father on his dairy farm at Otaki Railway, where he remained until joining the RNZAF in January 1942.

His favourite sports were rugby, tennis, swimming and rifle shooting. After leaving school, he was an enthusiastic member of the Hautere Defence Rifle Club and the Otaki Minature Rifle Club.

In November, 1940 Sgt. Manz applied for enlistment in the RNZAF as a pilot and on January 11th, 1942 was enlisted at Levin. Later in the month, he was transferred with the Initial Training Wing, to Rotorua, where he successfully completed his initial training.

He was then posted to No. 1 E.F.T.S., Taieri where he commenced flying training on March 9th and made his first solo flight on March 17th, after slightly more than nine hours flying. On May 3rd, 1942 he proceeded to No. 2 Service Flying Training School, Woodbourne where he was awarded the Flying Badge on July 27th, 1942 and promoted to the rank of Sergeant on October 17th, 1942.

From Woodbourne, Sgt. Manz was posted in October to No. 2 Operational Training School, Ohakea for operational training on Kittyhawk fighters and in December, 1942 was transferred to No. 15 Squadron, the first New Zealand fighter squadron to proceed to the South Pacific Area. In December, he went with the squadron to Tonga, where he remained until February 20th, 1943 when the squadron was transferred to Espiritu Santo. He was engaged on combat training routine patrol and escort duties for the next two months on April 26th moved to Guadalcanal, then the most forward allied base in the Pacific.