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

RAF. 118473 S/L. William Alexander Stevenson NEIL. Mother: Mrs. E. Neil of Auckland.

William Neil was born at Melbourne, Australia, on the 11th October 1912, and came to New Zealand with his parents at the age of one year. He received his secondary education at the Mt. Albert Grammar School, Auckland, and at the age of sixteen joined the staff of the Auckland Gas Company as and Engineering apprentice. He remained with this firm for nine years, and in 1938, as a fully trained engineer, worked his passage to England on the S.S. "Surrey" in order to gain further experience in his profession. On arrival he took up a position in the chemistry department of the Glasgow Corporation Gas Works and later joined the firm of Babeux and Willcox as a constructive engineer.

Squadron Leader Neil was enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve on the 17th October 1940, being remustered to pilot under training on the 13th June 1941 and posted to No. 20 Elementary Flying Training School, Yeadon, Yorkshire to commence his flying training. On the 29th August he proceeded to Canada to continue his flying training at No. 33 Service Flying Training School, Carberry, Manitoba and while at this Unit he was awarded the Flying Badge on the 5th December 1941. On the same date he was granted a commission as Pilot Officer in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, later being promoted to Flying Officer on the 1st October, 1942, to Flight Lieutenant on the 5th December 1943 and to Squadron Leader on the 4th October, 1944. Meanwhile, he had returned to the United Kingdom, arriving at No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre, Bournemouth, on the 19th December, 1941, and remaining attached there until his posting on the 13th February, 1942 to No.4 Flying Instructors School, Cambridge. On completion of this course he proceeded on the 15th April to No. 6 Elementary Flying Training School, Sywell, Northhamptonshire for duties as Flying Instructor. He was employed in this capacity until the 18th January, 1944 when he was posted to No. 6 (Pilots) Advanced Flying Unit, Little Rissington, Gloucestershire, for training on Oxford aircraft, prior to commencing his operational training on Wellington bomber aircraft on the 2nd May at No. 14 (was 10) Operational Training Unit, Market Harborough, Leicestershire. He then converted to Stirling aircraft at No. 1661 Conversion Unit, Winthorpe, Nottinghamshire, and later on the 19th September to Lancaster aircraft at No. 5 Lancaster Finishing School, Syerston, also in Nottinghamshire. He was then posted to East Kirkby, Lincolnshire, on the 3rd October 1944 and

2. (centre aligned) commenced operational flying as a member of No. 57 Squadron. From this base as pilot of Lancaster aircraft he took part in five operational flights, the targets being Nuremburg, Bergen, Dortmund, Heilbronn , and Geissen in Germany.

From this latter operation undertaken on the night of the 6th December 1944, the aircraft failed to return to its base and all the members of the crew, including Squadron Leader Neil were classified as missing, and in due course, when no further news was received, his death was officially presumed to have occurred on the 6th December 1944.

A post war casualty search conducted by the Royal Air Force Missing Research and Enquiry Service revealed that the aircraft had crashed near Mornshausen in Germany, all members of the crew being killed, and Squadron Leader Neil, together with the remainder of the crew was buried in the cemetery there.

On the cessation of hostilities his body was re-interred in the British Military Cemetery at Hanover (Limmer).

4/9/153 AS.2 1692 hours as Pilot.

Mrs. E. Neil (M), (right aligned) 40 Clarence Road, (right aligned) Northcote, (right aligned) AUCKLAND. (right aligned & underlined)

404088: (underlined) FLIGHT SERGEANT BERRY ARTHUR NEILL Parents: (underlined) MR. & MRS G.A. NEILL OF GISBORNE.

Arthur Neill wsa born at Gisborne on the 3rd April, 1917. He received his secondary education at the Marist Brothers School, Gisborne. His sports were swimming, tennis and cricket. He was employed as a hotel steward by Stonex Bros. Ltd., Auckland, when in September 1939, he applied for war service in the Royal New Zealand Air Force.

Flight Sergeant Neill was enlisted in aircrew on the 27th October, 1940 at the Ground Training School, Levin. On the 5th December, 1940 he embarked on the "Aorangi" at Auckland to proceed to Canada for training under the Empire Air Training Scheme.

Shortly after arrival in Canada, Flight Sergeant Neill was posted on the 23rd December, 1940 to No. 2 Wireless School, Calgary, Alberta. He proceeded on the 26th May, 1941 to No. 5 Bombing & Gunnery School, Dafoe, Saskatchewan, where on the 23rd June, 1941 he was awarded his Wireless Operator/Air Gunner's Badge, and promoted to the rank of Sergeant. He was promoted to Flight Sergeant on the 1st January, 1942. Meanwhile, on the 30th June, 1941 he had proceeded to No. 1 "M" Depot, Debert, Nova Scotia, to await embarkation for the United Kingdom.

Flight Sergeant Neill arrived at No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre, Bournemouth, on the 28th July, 1941 and was posted on the 6th August, 1941 to No. 2 Electrical & Wireless School, Yatesbury, Wiltshire, and thence on the 7th October, 1941 to No. 20 Operational Training Unit, first at Lossiemouth, Morayshire, Scotland, later at Lakenheath, Norfolk, and then finally at Lossiemouth. At these stations he crewed-up and completed his training on Wellington bomber aircraft.

Flight Sergeant Neill was a member of the crew of a Wellington bomber which crashed on the 2nd April, 1942, Flight Sergeant Neill losing his life. He was buried on the 7th April in the Lossiemouth New Cemetery, Morayshire, Scotland.

5/15/147 AS.2. 154 hours as WIRELESS OPERATOR/AIR GUNNER (underlined)

Mr. M.G. Neill (B) (right aligned) 21, Ruakiwi Road, (right aligned) HAMILTON (right aligned & underlined)

JC/NF (right aligned) 40423 : Acting Flight Lieutenant James Gillespie NEILSON. D.F.C. PARENTS : Mr. & Mrs. J. Neilson of Feilding.

Born at Auckland on the 24th August, 1913, James Neilson received his secondary education at Palmerston North Boys' High School. The sports he played at school included football and cricket; and he was a school junior swimming champion. He later played golf, becoming a member of the Te Awamutu Golf Club. From December, 1929, to July, 1932, he was employed as a clerk by Kingston Motors Ltd., of Fielding, and from July 1932, up to the time of his enlistment, held a postiion of clerk/salesman with Craik Motors Ltd., of Te Awamutu.

A/F/Lt. Neilson applied for enlistment in the ground staff of the RNZAF in December, 1939, and entered camp on the 26th January, 1940, reporting at the Ground Training School, Levin. Late the following month he proceeded to Ohakea, where, on the 19th June, 1940, he applied for training as a pilot. He was employed on ground staff duties at Ohakea until early in September, 1941, when he was posted to the Initial Training Wing, Levin, to commence his initial training as an airman pilot.

A/F/Lt. Neilson underwent flying training in New Zealand at No. 2 Elementary Flying Training School, New Plymouth, and No. 2 Flying Training School, Woodbourne. At the latter school - on the 12th January, 1942 - he was awarded his flying badge - and late the following month was commissioned in the rank of Pilot Officer. On the 1st October of the same year, he was promoted to Flying Officer, and on the 28th January, 1943, to Acting Flight Lieutenant.

A/F/Lt. Neilson proceeded to the United Kingdom in March, 1942, arriving at No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre, Bournemouth, on the 20th of the following month. On the 27th May he was posted to No. 3 Advanced Flying Unit, South Cerney.

J.G. NEILSON. 2. (centre aligned)

Gloucestershire, where he trained on Oxford aircraft. Early in July he proceeded to No. 11 Operational Training Unit, Bassingbourne, Hertfordshire, for operational training on Wellington aircraft. On the completion of the course in September he proceeded to No. 218 Conversion Flight, Marham, Norfolk, where he converted to Stirling aircraft. Early the following month he was posted to No. 218 (Gold Coast), Squadron, Downham Market, Norfolk. With this squadron he carried out four operational flights, the targets including Aachen, Osnabruck, and Krefeld, Germany. On the 13th October he proceeded to No. 1657 Conversion Unit, Stradishall, Suffolk, for further training on Stirling aircraft, returning to No. 218 Squadron at Downham Market, early in November, from which base, as a pilot on Stirling aircraft, he carried out a further 21 operational flights. The targets included Frankfurt, Mannehim, Cologne, Wilhelmshaven, Nurmeburg, Essen, Berlin, Duisburg, Rostock and Kiel, in Germany; Turin, in Italy' and Lorient and Bordeaux, in France.

On the 18th May, 1943, A/F/Lt, Neilson proceeded to No. 1657 Conversion Unit, Stradishall, for duties as a flying instructor on Stirling aircraft. The same month he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Corss for meritorious service with No. 218 Squadron. The citation to the award states:- (indented) "Flight Lieutenant Neilson has served with his present squadron since October, 1942 and has completed many successful sorties. On one occasion in December, 1942 when participating in an attack against a target at Frankfurt, his aircraft was subjected to intense anti-aircraft fire and one engine was rendered useless. Nevertheless, Flight Lieutenant Neilson continued his mission and pressed home his attack successfully. On another occasion, despite severe damage sustained by his aircraft, this officer made 2 runs over his target to ensure that his bombs were placed accurately. Flight Lieutenant Neilson has at all times displayed enthusiasm and devotion to duty of a very high standard."

A/F/Lt. Neilson was pilot (instructor) of a Stirling aircraft which took off from Stradishall on the 20th January, 1944