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

412455 : ACl Edward James MANNELL. MOTHER : Mrs. K. Mannell of Masterton.

Edward Mannell was born at Masterton on 23rd May 1921. He was educated at St. Patricks at Masterton and at Wairarapa College where he specialised in engineering, gaining his Senior Free Place and Post & Telegraph entrance examination. He continued studying metal work, engineering, theory and instrumental drawing at night classes, at the same time being employed as Junior Mechanician in the Masterton Telegraph Office. He also took interest in Radio as a hobby.

He first applied for enlistment in the RNZAF as a Radio Operator or Mechanic in June 1940, was accepted and mobilised in April 1941. Going to Wigram in May, he was trained as a Wireless Operator, qualifying in September 1941. As a member of No. 1 General Reconnaissance Squadron at Whenuapai, he was in a Hudson crew engaged on photographic and local patrols, and ACl Mannell was employed as the Wireless Operator or Photographer on these flights. On February 25th, 1942 Edward Mannell was Wireless Operator in a Vildebeeste aircraft which during a training flight, dived into the sea on Muriwai Beach near Helensville. The pilot, Sgt. A.W. Todman and ACl Mannell both lost their lives.

5/15/1775 A.S.2. 203 hrs. as W/Opr.

Mrs. K. Mannell (M) (right aligned) 9 Elizabeth Street, (right aligned) MASTERTON (right aligned & underlined)

Wing Commander Nelson Reuben MANSFIELD D.F.C. (surname underlined) Mr. & Mrs. H.R. Mansfield of Christchurch. Mrs P.M.J. Mansfield of London, England

Born in Christchurch on the 21st October, 1912, Nelson Mansfield received his secondary education at Christchurch Boys' High School, attaining Matriculation standard. He was senior tennis champion while at School and was also outstanding at swimming sports. After leaving school he accepted an appointment with Francis Holmes Ltd., Wellington. February, 1939 he applied for a Short Service Commission in the Air and on being accepted was posted with the rank of pilot officer the 20th September, 1939 to the Ground Training School, Rongotai. the conclusion of this preliminary training, in December, 1939 he posted to No. 1 Flying Training School, Wigram, to commence his training. While here, on the 10th February, 1940 he was awarded his ying Badge. On the 26th April he embarked on the "Rangitiki at ckland to proceed to the United Kingdom.

On arriving in England, Wing Commander Mansfield reporte to Air inistry and was granted a Short Service commission in the Royal Air Force or five years from the 8th June, 1940 with the commencing rank of pilot fficer. He was instructed to proceed to the Royal Air Force Depot, xbridge, Middlesex, on the same date for a short disciplinary course, ollowing, which he was given a two weeks' refresher flying course before eing posted on the 29th June, to No. 13 Operational Training Unit. At he conclusion of his operational training he was posted on the 24th August, 1940 to No. 128 Squadron and commenced operational flying. After completing his tour of flying duties with this squadron he was promoted to flying officer on the 12 May, 1941 and posted to No 23 Operational Training Unit for duty as an instructor. During his service with this unit on the 16th August, 1941 he was promoted to flight lieutenant, and on the 28th March, 1942, to squadron leader. Later, when engaged in a further tour of operational flying, on the 16th September, 1943 he received his promotion to wing commander. Wing Commander Mansfield remained with the Operational Training Unit, until the 20th July, 1942, when he was attached to No. 1501 Beam Approach Training Flight for an instrument flying course. This was followed by a period of leave at the conclusion of which on the 31st May, 1943 he was posted to No. 97 Squadron.

-2- (centre aligned) next month on the 17th June, 1943, he was posted to No. 156 Squadron, Boys, Huntingdonshire. While with this squadron on the 22nd October, 3 he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the citation read- as follows:

"This officer has undertaken a large number of sorties during which many well defended and far distant targets have been attacked with success. His efforts have been featured by outstanding determination while on more than one occasion his great skill has been responsible for the safe return of his aircraft in the face of difficulties. Squadron Leader Mansfield has at all times displayed great devotion to duty."

On the 14th January, 1944, Wing Commander Mansfield was the captain of Lancaster heavy bomber which took off to attack the target of Brunswick. aircraft failed to return to its base and all the crew was classified missing. Later, information was received from the International Red oss that the aircraft had crashed in Holland and after due time had apsed, Wing Commander Mansfields death was officially presumed to have curred on the 14th January, 1944, as the result of air operations. post war casualty search established that he had been buried in the itish Military Cemetery, Bergen-Op-Zoom, Holland.

5/2/703 AS2. No log book.

Mr. H.R. Mansfield (F), (right aligned) 40 Manchester Street, (right aligned) CHRISTCHURCH (right aligned & underlined)

41387, Flight Lieutenant Wallace Roy Mansill. (underlined) Widow: Mrs B. Mansill of Herne Bay, Auckland (underlined) Mother: Mrs I.S. Judd of Whakatane. (underlined)

Wallace Mansill was born at Fukehoke on the 5th January, 1920 and obtained his secondary education at the Auckland Grammar School. He played football for his school 1st XV, and was also senior athletic champion. He afterwards played senior football for Auckland Grammar School Old Boys' Club. From the time of leaving school in 1935 until applying for enlistment in aircrew on the 11th November, 1940, he was employed by Milne and Choyce Limited at Auckland.

Flight Lieutenant Mansill was enlisted at the Initial Training Wing, Levin, on the 6th July, 1941, and posted to Harewood on the 17th August for his elementary flying training. He proceeded to No. 1 Service Flying Training School, Wigram, on the 27th September, where he was awarded the flying badge on the 8th November, and commissioned in the rank of Pilot Officer on the 20th December. He was further promoted to Flying Officer on the 1st October, 1942, and to Flight Lieutenant on the 3rd July, 1944. Meantime, on the 1st January, 1942, he was posted to Levin for duty as a Staff Pilot. He proceeded to Woodbourne, Blenheim, late the same year, for similar duties, and on the 24th April, 1943 was posted to the Flying Instructors' School, Tauranga, for a course completing this early in July before returning to Woodbourne. During January, 1944 he proceeded to the Operational Training Unit at Ohakea for conversion to Kittyhawk aircraft, before posting to No. 16 Squadron at Ardmore early in March. Flight Lieutenant Mansill embarked for overseas in the Pacific area on the 6th March, 1944 and served at Guadacanal and Bougainville before completing his first operational tour and returning to New Zealand on the 21st May. He again embarked on the 7th August, this time with No. 17 Squadron, for service at Espiritu, Santos, Guadacanal and Bougainville, arriving back in New Zealand on the 3rd November. He was appointed a Flight Commander in the Squadron for a further tour of operations from the 31st December until his final repatriation on the 25th March, 1945, during which he flew from Espiritu, Santos and Green Island. After a period of leave, he was posted to Ohakea for duty as an Instructor.

(2) (centre aligned)

Flight Lieutenant Mansill was the pilot of a Kittyhawk aircraft which collided with another aircraft over Halcombe on the 3rd August, 1945, during a formation training flight, Flight Lieutenant Mansill losing his life in the crash. He was buried in the Waikumete Cemetery, Auckland.

5/2/6821 A.S.2. No log book.

Mrs. B. Mansill, (W), (right aligned) 12 Wallace Street, (right aligned) Herne Bay, (right aligned) AUCKLAND. (right aligned & underlined)