ENPages
21
RAF87739 Flying Officer James Edward MAKGILL. MOTHER: Mrs. M.R. Makgill of Epsom, Auckland (Deceased).
James Makgill was born at Auckland on the 1st November, 1913 (was 1936). He left New Zealand for the United Kingdom in 1936 and was employed with engineering firms there up to the outbreak of war when he applied for enlistment in the Royal Air Force in aircrew.
He was enlisted on the 6th December (was October), 1939 and posted on the 28th of the same month to the Initial Training Wing at Cambridge. During May and June, 1940 he was engaged on Aerodrome defence duties at Wink, Scotland, returning on the 15th June to No. 22 Elementary Flying Training School, Cambridge to commence his flying training. On the 3rd August he proceeded to No. 3 Service Flying Training School, South Cerney, Gloucestershire, where on the 14th September he was awarded the flying badge and commissioned in the rank of Pilot Officer on the 19th October. A year later he was promoted to the rank of Flying Officer. Meantime, he was posted in October, 1940 to No. 2 School of Army Co-operation at Andover, Hampshire, for his operational training. Here he crewed up and completed his training as pilot of Blenheim aircraft before posting on the 19th February, 1941 to No. 59 Squadron at Thorney Island. From this base he took part in six operational flights being an air sea rescue flight, two convoy patrols, and three offensive patrols of the English channel from Boulogne to Le Havre. From the 2nd August until late in November he flew as pilot of Transport aircraft from the same base, and on the 2nd December he was posted to No. 248 Squadron at Bircham Newton, Norfolk. With this Squadron as pilot of Beaufighter aircraft, he took part in a further six operational flights being a fighter excort flight covering as combined raid on Vaagso and Maaloy Island, in Norway, three reconnaissance flights off the Dutch Coast from the Hook to Texil, and two air escort flights to Naval vessels. During February, 1942 he flew as pilot of Beaufighter aircraft in the Middle East by way of Gibraltar and Malta, reaching Egypt on the 14th of the month. He served there with No. 201 Group at Abu Sueir as Aerodrome Control Officer, test flying with No. 206 Group, and with No. 18 Maintenance Unit in routine
22
2. (underlined) James Edward Makgill. testing until posted on the 14th June to No. 272 Squadron.
On the 25th June, 1942 Flying Officer Makgill was the Pilot of a Beaufighter aircraft which took off on a road "straffing" mission. The aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire and crashed in the Mersa Matruh area, Flying Officer Makgill being classified as missing. In due course his death was officially presumed to have occurred on the 25th June 1942.
A post war casualty search revealed that he was buried beside the wreckage of the aircraft East of Sidi Barrani, Egypt, and later he was re-interred inthe Halfaya-Sollum Cemetery, Egypt.
4/9/20 AS2 483 hours as Pilot.
Mr. G.V. Devereaux (Executor of Mother's Estate) 17 Wapiti Avenue Epsom AUCKLAND S.E.3.
23
NZ414315 Flight Lieutenant George Keith MALCOLMSON (surname underlined) Parents Mr. and Mrs. R.G. Malcolmson of Christchurch Wife Mrs E.W. Malcolmson of Chirstchurch.
George Malcolmson was born at Timaru on the 8th July 1915. His secondary education was received at Christchurch Boys' High School. The sports in which he took part were cricket, football, golf, swimming and mountaineering. His civilian occupation was that of a clerk in the employ of Royds Bros and Kirk, Merchants, Christchurch, adn he was so employed when in May 1940 he applied for war service in the Royal New Zealand Air Force.
Flight Lieutenant Malcolmson was enlisted for aircrew training on the 27th July 1941, at the Initial Training Wing, Levin, and was posted on the 7th September 1941 to No. 3 Elementary Flying Training School, Harewood, to commence his flying training. He proceeded on the 18th October 1941, to No. 1 Service Flying Training School, Wigram, and while here on the 29th November 1941 he was awarded his flying badge. He was commissioned as a Pilot Officer on the 10th January, 1942. Later while overseas on the 1st September 1942, he was promoted to Flying Officer, and to Flight Lieutenant on the 10th January 1944. Menwhile on the 29th January 1942 he had embarked for the United Kingdom.
Having arrived in England on the 15th March 1942, Flight Lieutenant Malcolmson was held at No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre, Bournemouth, until posted on the 27th April 1942 to No. 14 (Pilots) Advanced Flying Unit, Ossington, Nottinghamshire. From here he was posted on the 23rd July 1942 to No. 2 Flying Instructors' School, Dalcross, Inverness-Shire, Scotland. From here, he proceeded on the 15th September 1942 to No. 5 Flying Instructors' School, Perth, also in Scotland, and having completed his course here, was posted on the 1st October 1942 to No 24 Elementary Flying Traning School, Sealand.
24
Cheshire, for duty as an instructor. He returned on the 24th April 1943, to No. 2 Flying Instructors' School now at Montrose, Angus, Scotland, for a brief refresher course prior to being posted on the 16th (unreadable) to No 5 (Pilots) Advanced Flying Unit, Ternhill, Shropshire, for (unreadable) as staff Pilot. His next posting was on the 21st September 1943 (missing) the Royal Air Force College, Cranwell, Lincolnshire, whre he was similiarly employed, and following this on the 1st October 1943 he re(missing) his duties with No. 5 Advanced Flying Unit, now at Tatenhill, Staffordshire, and later at Chetwynd, Shropshire.
On completing his tour of duty as an instructor on single (missing) aircraft. Flight Lieutenant Malcolson was next posted on the (missing) September, 1944 to No. 41 Operational Training Unit, first at (missing) warden, Flintshire, Wales, later at Poulton, Derbyshire, also in (missing) and finally at Andover, Hampshire. He proceeded on the 20th (missing) 1944 to No. 84 Group Support Unit, Lasham, Hampshire, prior to (missing) posted on the 17th January 1945 to No. 2 Squadron, operating from (missing) airfield to Holland.
On the 8th February 1945, Flight Lieutenant Malcolmson was (missing) of a Spitfire fighter which crashed near Hunbetgen, Holland, while (missing) on an artillery reconnaissance flight. The crash was due to a (missing) landing owing to shortage of petrol in which Flight Lieutenant (missing) lost his life. He was buried on the 9th February in the Can-(missing) Cemetery at Bergin-Op-Zoom, Holland.
5/2/4677 AS2 1289 Hours as Pilot.
Mrs. E.W. Malcolmson (W) (right aligned) 36 Creyke Road, (right aligned) Fendalton, (right aligned) CHRISTCHURCH. (right aligned & underlined)
25
436918: F/Sgt. James George Gardiner MALLETT. PARENTS: Mr. & Mrs. W.A. Mallett of Taranaki.
James Mallett was born at Waitara on the 4th October, 1921 and was educated at the New Plymouth Boys' High School. At school, he was a member of the first eleven and also played football for Tara 1st fifteen. He also took part in swimming and tennis. After leaving school, he was employed by the New Zealand Railways, Marton as a clerk.
He served in the Army for two years before transferring to the RNZAF in June 1943 and enlisted for aircrew training in the same month. After completing his elementary ground training, he commenced training at Ohakea in February 1944 as an Air Gunner qualifying in March. He then went to No. 1 Operational Training School for crew training and became part of the crew of a Ventura.
In October, he was posted overseas with No. 1 Squadron and was engaged on patrol work and anti-submarine searches, moving on to Green Island and Guadalcanal where he took part in patrols over enemy occupied territory in New Britain.
He was promoted to F/Sgt. on 3rd October, 1944.
He took part in further strikes on enemy positions on Rabaul and Vunakunau etc. until he returned to New Zealand in January 1945. After his leave, he was engaged on local flying training until in March he went back overseas to Guadalcanal with No. 1 Squadron his Pilot still being Flying Officer Benton. Until May, his aircraft was engaged on dawn patrols, anti-submarine searches and other flying duties. He then went ot Emirau with the squadron and took part in strikes over Rabaul and other enemy targets. On the 9th June, 1945 the Ventura in which he was part of the crew failed to return from a leaflet raid over New Ireland. The wreckage of the aircraft was later located near Lamerika East Central, New Ireland.