168

L.B. MAUNSELL.
2. (centre aligned)
F/Sgt. Maunsell embarked for the United Kingdom on the 25th September, 1942 arriving at No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre, Bournemouth, early in October. Late the same month he proceeded to No. 40 Operational Training Unit, Hixon, Staffordshire, where he trained on Wellington aircraft. Early in April, 1943, he was posted to No. 1656 Conversion Unit, Lindholm, Yorkshire, for training on Lancaster aircraft. On completion of the course - on the 13th May - he proceeded to a detachment of No. 100 Squadron at Waltham, Lincolnshire. From this base - prior to his being reposted as missing - he made on operational flight to Germany, the target being Dortmund.

On the 25th May, 1943, F/Sgt. Maunsell was the rear gunner on a Lancaster aircraft which carried out a raid on Dusseldorf. This was his 2nd operational flight. The aircraft failed to return to its base and all the members of the crew, including F/Sgt. Maunsell, were classified as missing. Information later received from Air Ministry through the International Red Cross Committee stated that F/Sgt. Maunsell lost his life on the 26th May, 1943, and that he was buried in the Military Cemetery at Venlo, Holland. Subsequently his death was officially presumed. Sgt. A.T.W. Moore, of Te Kuiti, who was the only other New Zealander in the crew, who also lost his life.

Find a Grave links with photos of the deceased: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/13827293/leslie-cormac-maunsell
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/137501280/leslie-cormac-maunsell

5/2/8713 AS2
193 hrs. as pilot.
181 hrs. as Air Gunner.

Mr. L.B. Maunsell (F) (right aligned)
"Milford" (right aligned)
Opaki R.D., MASTERTON (right aligned & town underlined)