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

J.G. NEILSON. 3. (centre aligned)

and crashed shortly afterwards, A/F/ Lt. Neilson and the other members of the crew - with the exception of the rear gunner - losing their lives. A/F/Lt. Neilson was buried with Service Honours in the Borough Cemetery, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire.

4/2/2869 AS2 949 hrs. as pilot.

Mrs. R.L. Neilson (M) (right aligned) 120 Kimbolton Road, (right aligned) FEILDING. (right aligned & underlined)

42336. Flight Sergeant Kenneth McGregor, NEILSON. Parents: Mr. and Mrs. W.A. Neilson of ROTORUA.

Kenneth Neilson was born at Whakatane on the 8th September, 1920 ans received his secondary education at the Rotorua High School. The sports in which he was actively interested, included football and swimming. His civilian occupation was that of coachbuilding and was so employed by Mr. S.M.Kingsland of Rotorua, when on the 7th November, 1940 he made application for training for Aircrew in the R.N.Z.A.F.

Flight Sergeant Neilson was enlisted at the Initial Training Wing, Levin on the 25th of January, 1942 and on the completion of the initial course he embarked on the 2nd March, 1942 for Canada to continue his training under the EMPIRE AIR TRAINING SCHEME.

Flight Sergeant Neilson arrived at No.2."M" Depot, Brandon, Manitoba, on the 5th April, 1942 and proceeded one week later to No.3. Wireless School, Winnipeg, Manitoba. On the conclusion of the course at this latter station he was posted on the 24th October, to No.5. Bombing and Gunnery School, Dafoe, Saskatechewan, where on the 23rd November, 1942 he was awarded the Wireless Operator Air Gunners' Badge, and promoted to the rank of Sergeant. He was further promoted to Flight Sergeant on the 1st June,1943. Meanwhile on the 5th December, 1942 he had proceeded to No.1. 'Y' Depot, Halifax, Nova Scotia to await embarkation to the United Kingdom.

Flight Sergeant Neilson arrived at No.3. Personnel Reception Centre, Bournemouth on the 19th December, 1942 and proceeded on the 5th February, 1943 to No.2. (Observer) Advanced Flying Unit, Millom, Cumberland, and thence on the 6th April, to No.11. Operational Training Unit. Oakley, Buckinghamshire. At this latter station he crewed up and completed his training on Wellington bomber Aircraft and on the 17th June, he was posted to No.1657. conversion Unit, Stradishall, Suffolk where he converted to Sterling Bomber Aircraft. On the conclusion of this course he proceeded to No.620 Squadron, Chedburgh, Suffolk, and with this Squadron as the Wireless Operator of Stirling bomber aircraft he participated in 7 Operational flights including attacks on the following targets, Boulogne, Montlucon, and Modane in France, Hanover in

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Germany, and 2 minelaying operations to the Frisian Islands off Holland. He was reposted on the 13th October, to No.1657 Conversion Unit, now at Waterbeach, Cambridgeshire, where he furthered his training on Stirling Bomber Aircraft, and on the 5th November he proceeded to No.622. Squadron, Mildenhall, Suffolk. With this Squadron as Wireless Operator of a Sterling Bomber he resumed operational flying.

Flight Sergeant Neilson was the Wireless Operator of a Stirling Bomber Aircraft which took off on the 15th February, 1944 to attack the target of Berlin, and failed to return to its base and all the members of the crew including Flight Sergeant Neilson were classified as missing. Later, information was received from a German source, through the International Red Cross Committee, stating that Flight Sergeant Neilson had lost his life and he was in consquence, reclassified to missing believed killed in Action. Information was subsequently received from the same source that he had been buried in the New Gaaz Cemetery, twenty miles west of Ronstock, Mecklenburg, Germany. In due course his death was officially presumed to have occured on the 15th February, 1944.

5/15/2385 AS.2. 316 hours as WIRELESS OPERATOR/AIR GUNNER.

Mrs. E.A. Neilson (M) 81, Amahou Street, ROTORUA.

NZ412476 Sergeant George NELSON Parents Mr. and Mrs. J. Nelson of Christchurch

George Nelson was born at Christchurch, on the 20th May 1921. He received his secondary education at the Christchurch Technical College reaching Matriculation standard. From the time of leaving school in 1937 until applying for enlistment in aircrew, on the 6th January 1940, he was employed as a fitter and turner at the Railway Workshops at Addington.

Sergeant Nelson was enlisted at the Initial Training Wing, Levin, on the 13th April 1941, and embarked on the 18th June for Canada, to train under the Empire Air Training Scheme.

Shortly after arrival in Canada he was posted on the 6th July to No 6 Air Observers School, Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, then on the 28th September to No 3 Bombing and Gunnery School, Mac-Donald, Manitoba, where on the 8th November he was awarded the Air Observers badge and promoted to the rank of Sergeant. Next day he proceeded to No 1 Advanced Navigation School, Rivers, Manitoba, and proceeding on the 6th February 1942, to No 1 "Y" Depot, Halifax, Nova Scotia, for embarkation to the United Kingdom.

Sergeant Nelson arrived at No 3 Personnel Reception Centre, Bournemouth, on the 10th March 1942, and proceeded to No 2 (Observers) Advanced Flying Unit, Millom, Cumberland, at the end of the next month, then to No 11 Operational Training Unit, Westcott, Buckinghamshire, on the 23rd June. Here he trained as Navigator of Wellington bomber aircraft, and was posted on the 9th September to No 115 Squadron, Mildenhall, Suffolk.

On his first operational flight, undertaken against Dusseldorf, on the night of the 2nd/3rd October 1942, the aircraft failed to return, and all the crew including Sergeant Nelson were

classified as missing. Later, information was received from a German official source through the International Red Cross, that he had lost his life, and was buried in the Ninth Military Cemetery, Dusseldorf. In consquence he was reclassified to missing believed killed in action, and in due course his death was officially presumed to have occurred on the 2nd October 1942.

5/2/4974 As2. 222 hours as Navigator.

Mrs. M.S. Nelson (M) 45 Sydney Street, CHRISTCHURCH.