RNZAF Biographies of Deceased Personnel: 1939 - 1945, Na - Py

NZ40422 Flight Lieutenant Eric Kingsley NECKLEN. Parents: Mr. & Mrs. C. Necklen of Frankton Junction.

Eric Necklen was born at Wanganui on the 17th January, 1920. His secondary education ws received at Te Kuiti District High School. The games he played were cricket and football. Joining the Territorial Forces in 1939 he served for two years in the 16th Waikato Regiment. His civilian occupation was that of a grocers' assistant with the Farmers' Trading Co., Hamilton. In December, 1939 he applied for war service in the Royal New Zealand Air Force.

Flight Lieutenant Necklen was enlisted on the 26th January, 1940 at R.N.Z.A.F. Station, Levin where he was employed on ground duties while awaiting training for aircrew. He was posted on the 23rd February to R.N.Z.A.F. Station Ohakea, where he was similarly employed. On the 30th November, 1941 he was remustered as a pilot under training and posted to the Initial Training Wing, Levin.

His flying training started on the 12th January, 1942 when he was posted to No. 4 Elementary Flying Training School, Whenuapai. On the 8th March he embarked for Canada to continue his training under the Empire Air Training Scheme.

Shortly after his arrival in Canada Flight Lieutenant Necklen was posted on the 14th May to No. 9 Service Flying Training School, Summerside, Prince Edward Island. Following this he was posted on the 7th July to No. 8 Service Flying Training School, Moncton, New Brunswich, and while here on the 14th August he was awarded his flying badge and promoted to Sergeant but this was by his being commissioned a pilot officer with effect from the same date. On the 14th February, 1943 he was promoted to Flying Officer and on the 14th August, 1944 to Flight Lieutenant. Meanwhile, on the 19th September, 1942 he had been posted to No. 1 Flying Instructors' School, Trenton, Ontario. After completing this course he was posted on the 24th October, to No. 31 Service Training Flying School, Kingston, Ontario, for

duty as an instructor. He remained at Kingston until the 15th July, 1943 when he was posted to No. 1 Operational Training Unit, Bagotville, Quebec. On the 20th October, 1943 he proceeded to No. 1 "Y" Depot, Halifax, Nova Scotia, to await embarkation for the United Kingdom.

Having arrived in England on the 10th November, Flight Lieutenant Necklen was held at No. 12 Personnel Reception Centre, Brighton, until posted on the 28th December to No. 59 Operational Training Unit, Milfield, Northumberland, where he trained on Hurricane fighter aircraft. This was followed by his posting on the 21st January, 1944 to No. 57 Operational Training Unit, Eshott, Northumberland, to train on Spitfire fighter aircraft. He was next posted on the 2nd May to No. 3 Tactical Exercise Unit, first at Annan, Dunfriesshire, Scotland, and later at Honiley, Warwickshire, and following this on the 4th July for a short course with No. 84 Group Support Unit, Aston Down, Gloucestershire. On the 9th July he was posted to No. 197 Squadron then at Hurn, Hampshire, and later operating from airfields in France and Belgium in the wake of the invasion forces. With this Squadron as pilot of a Typhoon fighter he engaged in seventy one operational flights mostly low level attacks on enemy objectives, but including seven armed reconnaissance flights, three fighter sweeps, one leaflet raid, one offensive patrol, one shipping strike and one flight affording close support to ground forces.

On the 21st November, 1944 Flight Lieutenant Necklen was pilot of a Typhoon fighter returning from attacking a target in the Amersfoot area, Holland which collided with another aircraft in cloud and crashed, Flight Lieutenant Necklen losing his life. He was buried with Service Honours on the 24th November in the Schooselhof Cemetery, Antwerp, Belgium.

4/2/2858 AS2 1053 hours as pilot.

Mr. C. Necklen (F), 53 Norton Road, FRANKTON JUNCTION.

31469: SQUADRON LEADER RICHARD JOHN COURTENEY NEDWILL A.F.C. Mother: Mrs. C.L. NEDWILL of CHRISTCHURCH.

Richard Nedwill was born at Christchurch on the 2nd June, 1913. He received his secondary education at Christ's College, where was a house prefect. He took prominent part in all branches of sport and played football for his school first fifteen. He was runner up for the school heavy-weight boxing championship. Other sports of his were rowing, sculling and swimming. After leaving school he joined the Canterbury Aero Club as an active member and succeeded in obtaining his "A" Licence. In June, 1933 he applied ofr a short service commission in the Royal Air Force and in January, 1934 he proceeded to England at his own expense.

Shortly after arrival in England Squadron Leader Nedwill presented himself before the Royal Air Force Selection Committe on being selected for a short service commission, he was posted on the 16th March, 1934 to the Royal Air Force Depot, Uxbridge, Middlesex, with the rank of Pilot Officer. From here he was posted on the 3rd April, 1934 to No. 3 Flying Training School, Grantham, Lincolnshire, where on the 7th February, 1935 he was awarded his Flying Badge. On the 4th March, 1935 he was posted to No. 25 (Fighter) Squadron then at Hawkinge, Kent and later at Sutton Bridge, Lincolnshire. On the 20th May, 1935 he was attached to the Royal Air Force Station Henlow, Bedfordshire, for a parachute course, and on the successful completion of the course he returned to No. 25 Squadron. He was posted on the 9th March, 1936 to No. 1 Flying Training School, Leuchars, Fife, Scotland, where he did a conversion course on fleet fighter aircraft. He was posted on the 6th May, 1936 to Royal Air Force Station Calshot, Southampton, for a short course in floatplane training and on the 13th May, 1936 he proceeded to Royal Air Force Station Gosport, Hampshire, for final deck landing training. This was followed on the 6th June, 1936, By an attachment of H.M.S. "Furious" for further deck landing experience and at the completion of this attachment he returned to No. 25 Squadron. During this period his assessment as a fighter pilot was noted in

his log book as "Exceptional". On the 16th September, 1936 he was promoted Flying Officer and on the 16th September, 1937 to Flight Lieutenant. His promotion to Squadron Leader was made on the 9th September, 1939. Meanwhile, on the 1st May, 1938 he had been posted to Central Flying School, Upavon, Wiltshire, for the flying instructor's course and on the conclusion of the course he proceeded in October 1938 to Egypt on posting to the Middle East.

On arrival in Egypt, Squadron Leader Nedwill was posted on the 10th November, 1938 to No. 4 Flying Training School, Abu Sueir, for duty as an instructor. At the end of August, 1939 No. 4 Flying Training School, moved by air to Habbaniya, Iraq, proceeding via Lydda in Palastine. In Iraq, Squadron Leader Nedwill was an advanced flying instructor for the war courses which were given at No. 4 Flying Training School. Early in 1941 Squadron Leader Nedwill was posted to No. 112 Squadron operating in support of the British forces in Greece.

On the 26th March, 1941 Squadron Leader Nedwill went out on a defensive patrol to relieve another pilot and on returning his aircraft became out of control and crashed at the edge of the aerodrome, killing him instantly. A few days previously he had been awarded the Air Force Cross in recognition of his meritorious service. He was buried at the Phaliron Military Cemetery, Athens, Greece.

18/1/527 AS2 2003 hours as Pilot.

Mrs. C.L. Nedwill. (M) (right aligned) 51 College Street, (right aligned) MASTERTON (right aligned & underlined)

RV/NF (centre aligned) 402238 : Sergeant Cyril John NEIGHBOUR. WIFE : Mrs. I.M. Bishell of Mokau, New Plymouth (Remarried) MOTHER : Mrs. E.F. Neighbour of New Plymouth.

Cyril Neighbour was born on September 1st, 1916, at Middlesex, England, and came to New Zealand with his parents in 1923. He received his secondary education at New Plymouth Boys' High School, where he gained his Matriculation. The sports in which he was actively interested included cricket, cycle racing and swimming. Prior to his enlistment he was employed by Messrs. Newton King Ltd., New Plymouth as a shipping clerk.

Sergeant Neighbour was enrolled in the Civil Reserve of Pilots on the 20th September, 1938, holding his "A" Licence. He was a member of the New Plymouth Aero Club.

Sgt. Neighbour was enlisted at Levin on the 28th July, 1940, and, on satisfactorily completing his initial training, was posted - on the 24th of August - to No. 2 Elementary Flying Training School, New Plymouth. On the 26th October he was posted to No. 3 Flying Training School, Ohakea, where - on the 15th January, 1941 - he was awarded his flying badge, and, on the 8th February, he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant. He embarked for the United Kingdom on February 27th, 1941, on the "Awatea".

Sgt. Neighbour arrived at No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre, Bournemouth on the 10th May, 1941, and was posted on the 26th of the same month to No. 54 Operational Training Unit, Church Fenton, Yorkshire, where he carried out air exercises on Blenheim aircraft.

On the 18th July, 1941, Sgt. Neighbour lost his life as the result of a flying accident at Church Fenton, while engaged on night flying exercises. The aircraft failed to maintain equilibrium and went into a diving turn, from which it failed to recover. He was buried in the Kirby Wharf Cemetery, near Church Fenton, Yorkshire.

5/1/406 AS2 214 hrs. as pilot.

Mrs. I.M. Bishell (W) (right aligned) Mokau, NEW PLYMOUTH (right aligned & town underlined)