DUMBO DIARY Index to Ships

2 May 1943: S.S. Phoebe A. Hearst, S.S. William Williams, HMIJS I-19.
5 May 1943: S.S. Phoebe A. Hearst, S.S. William Williams, U.S.S. Catalpa YN-5.
7 May 1943: S.S. William Williams, U.S.S. Catalpa YN-5, U.S.S. Dash AM-88.
16 May 1943: S.S. William K. Vanderbilt, HMIJS I-19.
17 May 1943: S.S. William K. Vanderbilt, U.S.S. Dash AM-88, HMIJS I-19.
5 June 1943 S.S. Sommelsdijk
25 June 1943 S.S. Benjamin Holt
27 June 1943 S.S. Henry M. Rice
2 July 1943 U.S.S. Tallulah AO-10
8 July 1943 S.S. Matua, U.S.S. Talamanca AF-15.
12 July 1943 U.S.S. Curtis AV-4, U.S.S. Gamble DM-15.
20 July 1943 S.S. Rona, U.S.S. John Penn APA-23, S.S. Matua.
27 July 1943 S.S. Matthew Lyon, U.S.S. Talamanca AF-15.
28 July 1943 U.S.S. Rio Grande AOG-3.
31 July 1943 U.S.A.T. Will H. Point Rio Grande AOG-3, U.S.S. John Rodgers DD-574.

This list will continue to grow as time permits

http://bit.ly/yUJP4K

DUMBO DIARY Published

DUMBO Diary Index to Names No.3

31 October 1943
FLTLT R. McHardy, FGOFF W. Martin, FGOFF M. Fearn DFM, FLTSGT M.Davies, FLTSGT H. Neville, SGT A. Perryman, SGT E. Cranch, SGT R. Duthie, SGT L. Death, FGOFF G. Hitchcock, FLTSGT A. Wilkinson, FLTSGT R. Clarke, FLTSGT I. Lloyd, SGT W. Mence, SGT A. Strother, SGT L. Stewart, SGT T. McPherson, PLTOFF L. Brown, FGOFF D. Beauchamp, PLTOFF J. Porteous, PLTOFF C. Best, FLTSGT R. Corkill, FLTSGT W. Clarke, SGT B. Murphy, SGT M. Watson, SGT R. Wickett, FGOFF J. Broughton, FGOFF J. Hendry, FGOFF G. Scholes, PLTOFF L. Berg, SGT A. Lane, FLTSGT T. Hamilton, SGT R. Warner, SGT D. Pritchard, SGT J. Cranston, SGT R. Steel, FGOFF D. Gudsell, SGT W. Horgan, SGT R. Pooley, FLTSGT B. McLean, FLTSGT T. Hennessey, SGT G. Howard, SGT W. Stokes, SGT V. Gibb, SGT K. Aldridge, FLTSGT J. Monk, SGT R. Lowther, SGT A. Oliver, FLTSGT M. McCormick, FLTSGT L. Henderson, SGT L. Boatwood, SGT G. Rough, SGT J. Crookshanks, SGT T. Durant, FLTLT T. Brewer, PLTOFF I. Watt, FGOFF J. Lockington, FLTSGT D. Foster, FLTSGT A. Harris, SGT M. Robinson, SGT J Hogg, SGT H. Undrill, FLTSGT G. Bailey, FGOFF D. Sheehan, FLTSGT C. Regan, FGOFF J. Kirk, FGOFF R. Krissensen, SGT W. Perry, SGT E. Wilson, SGT T. Porter, SGT A. McGregor, SQLDR J. Agar, FGOFF F. Campbell, SGT N. Stewart, LAC J. Stokes, LAC K. Langford, CPL P. Maras, LAC E. Taylor, AC1 L. Goldstone, AC1 A. Patchett, LAC G. Gibson, LAC C. Withers, CPL I. Saville, LAC J. Whiteman, LAC I Marriott, AC2 C. Adams, LAC R. Rains, AC1 A. Geary, AC1 B Ashton, CPL T. Harper, LAC S. Morris, AC1 A. Rogers, LAC P. Scott, LAC E. Harrison, LAC K. Otter, CPL A. Tudehope, LAC K. Jacka, LAC F. Short, AC2 Courtney.

31 October 1943
FGOFF Eric Burgess, FLTSGT M. Jennins, FLTSGT R. Cowern, SGT L. Stewart, SGT W. Frame, SGT Shattock, FLTSGT J. Copas, FLTSGT Kingston, FLTSGT Malcolm, Jim Wilkinson, FGOFF J. Hendry, FGOFF G. Scholes, PLTOFF L. Berg, SGT A. Lane, FLTSGT T. Hamilton, SGT R. Warner, SGT D. Pritchard, SGT J. Cranston, FLTSGT R. Steel, SQLDR R. Makgill, FLTLT Francis, SGT Cowern, FGOFF George Hitchcock, FGOFF Dave Sheehan, FGOFF Beattie, Governor of Fiji, Sir Phillip Mitchell M.C., Lady Mitchell

1 November 1943
FGOFF G. Hitchcock, FGOFF D. Sheehan, Governor of Fiji, Sir Philip Mitchell, FGOFF J. Hendry, PLTOFF L. Berg, FLTSGT R. Steel, FLTSGT J. Monk, FLTSGT R. Lowther, FLTSGT Oliver, FLTSGT W. Leadley, FGOFF R. Scott, SGT Hutchins, FGOFF Murray

2 November 1943
FGOFF J. Hendry, FGOFF G.A. Scholes, PLTOFF L.C. Berg, SGT J. Cranston, SGT D.K. Pritchard, SGT R.A. Warner, FLTSGT A. Lane, FLTSGT J.D. Hamilton, FLTSGT R.J. Steel, FGOFF W. Mackley DFC, SGT R. Freeman, SGT E. Alexander, FLTLT Brewer, FGOFF Watt, FGOFF Lockington

3 November 1943
FLTLT R. McHardy, FGOFF W.R. Martin, FGOFF M. Fearn DFM, SGT A.L. Peryman, FGOFF G. Gudsell, SGT G. Howard, SGT W. Stokes, SGT Gibbs, FLTSGT B. McLean, FLTSGT T. Hennessey, SQLDR Makgill, FLTLT Francis, SGT Cowern, FGOFF G. Hitchcock, FLTSGT A. Wilkinson, FLTSGT R. Clarke, FLTSGT I. Lloyd, SGT W. Mence, FLSGT A. Strother, SGT L. Stewart, SGT T. McPherson, PLTOFF L. Brown, FGOFF J. McGrane, SGT H. Farmiloe, FGOFF R. Laurenson, FLTSGT W. Leadley.

7 November 1943
NZ428611 LAC P. Scott, NZ43936 LAC E.G. Harrison.

8 November 1943
NZ40457 T/CPL E.W. Wilson, NZ4311014 AC2 F.I. Graham, NZ4310733 AC2 E.G.W. Radd, NZ4311204 AC2 E.D. Symond, NZ4310336 AC2 G. Clulow, NZ439645AC2 C.C. Wilson, NZ4310990 AC2 D.P. Cochrane, NZ4311221 AC2 W.G. Wilson, NZ4311224 AC2 E.A. Welsh, NZ4310712 AC2 J.V.C. Whall, FGOFF John McGrane, SGT Walter Leadley, SGT Harry Farmiloe, PLTOFF Ross Laurenson, FLTSGT Abb Ormesby, FLTSGT Larry Heath, SGT Ralph Rigger, SGT Noel Melville, SGT Jake Wakeford.

10 November 1943
FGOFF D. Sheehan, FLTSGT C. Regan, FLTLT A. Henry, FLTSGT I. Donaldson, FGOFF Fraser, FGOFF W. Burgess, FLTSGT M. Jennins, FLTSGT C. Bailey, SGT W. Frame, FGOFF G. Hitchcock, FLTSGT Wilkinson, FLTSGT Clark, FLSGT A. Strother, SGT Goldie, SGT McPherson, FLTSGT Hamilton, FLTSGT Mence, PLTOFF Brown, FGOFF D. Beauchamp, FGOFF J. Porteous, FGOFF Best, NZ422941 FLTSGT G.M.D. Findlay, NZ422406 SGT C.G. Jackson, NZ411759 FLTSGT R.C. Irving, NZ422771 FLTSGT C.A. Bailey, NZ405296 FLTSGT H.R. MacIntosh, NZ414497 FLTSGT G.D. Cox, NZ402985 FLTSGT H.T. Dalton, NZ425407 FLTSGT G.H. Bailey, NZ403772 FLTSGT A.A. Batty.

DUMBO Diary Index to names No.2

Being unable to see how DUMBO DIARY, my history of RNZAF No.6 Flying Boat Squadron 1943 to 1945, could have an index that isn't almost the same size as the book, ie 429 pages. I am going to list here the names of men mentioned. Some names, particularly those of aircraft captains, eg Arthur Manz, Dave Sheehan, John Agar, etc., occur throughout the book so reference in an index would be almost pointless.Other names appear only once or twice, they are the LAC and AC1s who get a mention when posted to the Squadron or report to the Base Dispensary. But one mention among thousands of names will be too difficult to index and too difficult to find. So I will try this method, recognising this is just no.2 of possibly very many.
1 October 1943: FGOFF G. Hitchcock FLTSGT Wilkinson FLTSGT Clark W/O Lloyd SGT Mence FLTSGT McLaughlan SGT Rough PLTOFF Brown FGOFF G. Gudsell SGT W. Horgon SGT R. Pooley FGOFF R. McVicker FGOFF J. Aitken FGOFF W. Smith FLTSGT D. Hutchison FLTSGT E. Brown SGT H. Richards SGT J. Clarke SGT M. Watson SGT R. Foote LAC N.W. Brailey LAC J. Carr CPL T.W.L. Williamson LAC F.R. Hansen LAC J. Henry LAC D.B. Patterson LAC A.P. Russell AC1 R.J. Waterhouse LAC J.L. Impey LAC W.E. Shearer AC1 W.R. Williams LAC W.H. Young FGOFF R. Scott FLTSGT D. Hutchins FGOFF W. Murray FLTSGT H. Thoroughgood FLTSGT H. Carlyle SGT H. Holstead SGT Hilliam SGT L. Goldie SGT J.D. Smith (WOAG) CPL D.J. Fortune AC1 C.E. Goile LAC M.D. King SGT C.M. Jeffery SGT R.G. Harris LAC J.A. Bell LAC T. Sargent LAC E.L. Barclay LAC O.I. Butler LAC Griffin LAC P. Meikle LAC V.C. Thornton FGOFF J. McGrane SGT H. Farmiloe PLTOFF R. Laurenson FLTSGT A. Ormsby FLTSGT L. Heath SGT D. Melville SGT J. Wakeford SGT G. Aston SGT W. Leadley FGOFF J. Kennedy FGOFF D. Russell FGOFF D. White PLTOFF J. Worden LAC J.L. Atkinson AC2 W. McPhail CPL J.B. Mockett CPL J.P. Duncan LAC T. Sinclair LAC A. Taylor FGOFF W. Burgess FLTSGT M. Jennins FGOFF G. Johnston SGT W. Frame SGT R. Malcolm FLTSGT J. Copas FLTSGT R. Kingston SGT D. Shattock SGT K. Bracey
LAC C.T. Morgan AC1 F. O’Dowd LAC A.D. Parton, W/MECH CPL M. Douglas, ARM CPL J. Wilkinson LAC T.H. Marshall LAC R. Kerr LAC R.N. Taylor AC1 E.F. Marker AC1 F.C. Jespersen, M.B.C. AC2 D. White, I/RPR AC2 W.A. Maras SQLDR I. Scott FLTLT H. Francis SGT R. Cowern PLTOFF A. McConnell FLTSGT H. Haberfield SGT R. Snodgrass SGT P. Gardiner SGT J. Aspray SGT F. Pepper SGT I.W. Walther LAC B. Manning LAC B. Davis CPL S.J. Hough CPL W.R. Croft LAC R.M. Buchanan LAC H.T. Gordon AC1 R.D. Wright LAC K.R. Cossar LAC W.C. Robertson AC1 C.R. Taylor FGOFF A. Henry FGOFF J. Fraser SGT L. Pomeroy SGT R. Harrison SGT A. Mence SGT I. Donaldson FLTSGT R. Smith SGT J. Bartlett SGT J. Hogg LAC W.F.T Hackett LAC H.C. Robson AC1 N.V. Hotham AC2 C.N. Wallis AC1 L.S. Collins LAC M.H. Robinson LAC R.G. Brown LAC D.P. Mitchell LAC W.K. Stagg FLTSGT E.W. Hardaker LAC J.C. Malzard LAC T.R. Hodgson
4 October 1943: AC1 H. Buckingham AC2 A. Upland LAC R. Lunny LAC N. Scott
30 October 1943: FGOFF A. Henry SGT I. Donaldson FGOFF Fraser SGT W. Frame SQLDR J. Agar FGOFF D. Beauchamp FGOFF J. Porteous WGCDR Stead G. Gudsell SGT W. Horgan SGT R. Pooley SGT K. Aldridge FLTSGT B. McLean FLTSGT T. Hennessey SGT G. Howard SGT W. Stokes SGT Bracey FGOFF J. McGrane SGT H. Farmiloe PLTOFF R. Laurenson FGOFF G. Hitchcock FGOFF D. Sheehan FGOFF Beattie Sir Phillip Mitchell M.C. FLTSGT Monk SGT R. Lowther FLTSGT Oliver FLTLT Brewer PLTOFF Watts FGOFF Lockington SGT H. E. Undril SGT J.D. Crookshanks

DUMBO Diary Index to names No.1

I do not see how my history of RNZAF 6 Squadron can have an index that isn't almost the same size as the book, ie 400 pages.
In order to make names findable I am going to start blogging them here. Some names, particularly those of aircraft captains, eg Manz, Sheehan, Agar, etc., occur throughout the book so reference in an index would be almost pointless.
Other names appear only once or twice, they are the LAC and AC1s who get a mention when posted to the Squadron or report to the Base Dispensary. But one mention among thousands of names will be too difficult to index and too difficult to find.
So I will try this method, recognising this is just no.1 of possibly very many.
12 April 1943: SQLDR A. Jury FGOFF R. McHardy FGOFF D. Beauchamp FGOFF G. Hitchcock FGOFF J. Hendry FGOFF R. Scott FGOFF J. McGrane PLTOFF Bentley SGT O’Neill SGT Smith SGT Stephenson CPL Gibbs CPL A. Strother CPL G. Howard
20 April 1943: WGCDR G. Stead SQLDR R. McGregor SGT J. Monk FGOFF T. Brewer (Nav.) FGOFF K. Day LAC Grant LAC J. Bartlett SGT M. McCormick
22 May 1943: D. Mitchell
29 May 1943: FGOFF T. Brewer FGOFF Lockington LAC Grant A/CPL Bartlett FLTSGT Bond FLTSGT Lloyd Sgt Pepper FLTLT Stewart SGT Wilkinson FGOFF Fraser CPL Boatwood A/CPL Holsted SGT Foster SGT Hutchison SGT Bailey PLTOFF D. Wood SGT M. Jennins FGOFF M. Fearn DFM LAC Richards LAC Murphy SGT MacLean SGT J. Copas Sgt Malcolm FGOFF A. Henry SGT I. Donaldson FGOFF Morison LAC Shattock LAC McGregor FLTSGT Adie SGT Davies Sgt Mence
2 June 1943: LAC O. Waddell LAC P. Addison CPL E. Stewart LAC M. Williamson LAC W. Harvie AC1 B. Manning AC1 B. Davis AC1 W. Young AC1 J. Malzard AC1 R. Clarke AC2 N. Tamarua SGT S. Eade.
4 June 1943: AC2 C. Adams, SGT E. Crichton, AC1 H. Gulde, AC1 W. Hackett, LAC C. Holland, AC1 E. Holmes, LAC E. Malcolm, CPL R. McGrath, AC1 K. McNaughton, CPL H. Oxford, AC1 J. Petrie, LAC H. Robson, SGT N. Stewart, AC1 W. Shearer, AC1 J. Sigvertsen, CPL T. Williamson
8 June 1943: LAC C. Chamberlain, AC1 L. Collins, LAC K. Cossar, AC1 R. Ferguson, AC1 R. Fielding, AC1 A. Geary, LAC D. Goodwin, AC1 H. Gordon, AC2 C. Hall, SGT T. Hennessey, LAC P. Leitch, AC2 K. Mulcahy, FLTSGT J. Niven, SGT. A. Oliver, AC1 G. Pike, LAC A. Taylor.
11 June 1943: SGT K. Aldridge, SGT F. Appleton, LAC N. Ashby, PLTOFF C. Best, AC1 N. Brailey, SGT N. Brooks, SGT E. Brown, FLTSGT V. Cairns, SGT. H. Carlyle, AC1 J. Elliottyson, SGT R. Foote, FLTLT H. Francis, FGOFF E. Garnett, LAC G. Gibson, AC1 L. Goldstone, AC2 N. Hotham, SGT D. Hutchins, PLTOFF J. Kirk, LAC K. Langford, CPL P. Maras, FGOFF R. McVicker, LAC G. Morgan, SGT H. Neville, PLTOFF C. Perrett, LAC E. Pinder, PLTOFF J. Porteous, AC1 F. Read, LAC M. Robinson, CPL J. Stewart, SGT J. Smith, FGOFF W. Smith, LAC S. Tatton, FLTSGT H. Thoroughgood, AC2 R. Waterouse.
28 September 1943: FLTLT W. Williams, FGOFF J Bentley, PLTOFF S. Williamson, PLTOFF E. Malzard, PLTOFF C. Perrett (Engineer Officer), FLTSGT J. Niven, SGT P. Walsh, LAC I. Friskin AC1 J. Watts LAC B. McLean, AC1 W. Ambridge, AC2 R. Couchman SGT E. Sheppard CPL F. McGrath CPL J. Butterfield CPL V. Baker, CPL H. Cambie LAC A. Ellis AC2 F. Ayres AC2 R. Connelly LAC W. Dredge, LAC W. Pepper

6 Squadron updates

It seems to be almost a year since I added to this blog but that does not mean nothing has been happening - far from it.

I returned to New Zealand in May/June and October 2010 to meet with 6 Squadron veterans and conduct more research.

There are some highlights from the trip on my Flickr page www.flickr.com/photos/Adelaide_Archivist/4906240157 and my Youtube Channel www.youtube.com/user/ADLArchivist

I am now spending 2011 writing the Squadron history. I would VERY much appreciate hearing from anyone who may have memoirs, memorabilia, photos, diaries, letters, or log books that mention or relate to RNZAF 6 Squadron in the SW Pacific 1943 to 1945. My email address is on the Flickr page.

Walter 'Bill' Leadley 1924-2009 (Part IV)

Memoirs of NZ429151 W/O Walter 'Bill' Leadley as told to Jenny Scott, 1992.

The loss of PBY-5 Catalina NZ4002/B

The morning of the 23rd Artie Day, the station Warrant Officer, informed me that I would be Duty Sergeant for the day. After breakfast I took some books and paper work down to the main gate where the Duty Sergeant hut was situated. Settled in and carried out Duty Sergeant chores for the remainder of the morning that was. After lunch I received the night flying detail and found that Flying Officer McGrane's crew was flying a night navigation exercise, full crew, and Squadron Leader Higgins was using a skeleton crew to do night circuits and bumps.

After reading this report I found the station Warrant Officer at headquarters and asked for a replacement Duty Sergeant as I was night flying. He promptly relieved me of duty and said I was to come down to the duty office in the morning to pick up my papers and bits and pieces. 'OK' said the SWO we will look after that. Then I promptly went to my quarters to get some shut eye.

The NATS Barge was waiting at the jetty when we arrived and also Squadron Leader Hill [JS Note: Bill means 'Higgins' here] and part of his crew. We all boarded the NATS Barge and headed out to Higgins aircraft first. It turned out his Chief Engineer had not turned up so Johnny McGrane lent him our 2nd Engineer. After warming up our own aircraft we started taxiing out to take up point when the NATS Barge approached with our 2nd Engineer. It turned out the missing Chief had turned up.

Airborne at 1800 hours, onboard we had an extra, Squadron Leader McGill who gave us a course to fly for the next three hours with many many changes of course en route. Then he climbed into a bunk and promptly went to sleep. He arose some three hours later to find a pitch black night, not a star in the sky. So away he went, we were totally lost. The WAG got a couple of fixes and we finally arrived over base at 0030 hours.

Control gave us permission to land but then cautioned us to watch out for wreckage. It wasn't until we had buoyed up and climbed into the NATS Barge that we learnt of the tragedy earlier in the evening.

The aircraft Squadron Leader Higgins was flying dived into the sea from approximately 250 feet and exploded shooting a ball of flame some 70 feet into the air, there were no survivors. Approximately an hour later we were having a meal in the Officers Mess when the C.O. came in. Told us to carry on with our meal and then came down and spoke to each one of us. He was very upset, the second PBY loss in only three months. Squadron Leader McGregor with 14 onboard disappeared on a flight back to New Zealand.

On the 24th at 0930 hours I arrived outside the duty hut. I was pleased to get away from my own hut with the two empty beds. Laughter and the joy were gone. Vic's bed was on the left of mine and Cowan's opposite. I thought of the picture of Vic's wife on the chest of drawers between our beds. Anytime now she would be getting a telegram notifying her of her husband's death. I found it hard to accept that quiet spoken friendly guy from Timaru was no more and I had a lump in my throat for the next three days.

I stepped into the doorway of the duty hut and the sun was behind me and slightly above over my right shoulder. I stood there for a moment, eyes getting used tot he gloom inside the hut. Artie Day, the station Warrant Officer was sitting at the desk in front of me writing and without looking up he said impatiently "yes". I was feeling a bit dejected so I replied in a quiet voice, "I've come for my papers Artie". He stopped his writing and looked up at me, then rose slowly to his feet, his face was white as chalk. He spoke in a husky voice, "There were no survivors". From his point of view I was silhouetted by the sun which had given me a ghostly look. I stepped inside and turned sideways and then said "There were two aircraft flying last night Artie." Artie heaved a mighty sigh of relief and said, "Don't ever do that to me again." I just stared at him, "Perhaps I had better re-phrase that" he said, then made polite but sympathetic conversation.

That was Artie Day, our Station Warrant Officer.

[JS Note: 23 September 1943. 6 Squadron PBY-5 Catalina NZ4002/B took off from Lauthala Bay on circuits and bumps night flying exercise. Climbed to 250 feet then crashed back into water killing all on board. Captain NZ1061 Sq. Ldr. Lancelot Higgins (29), 2nd Pilot NZ38108 Flt. Sgt. Vickers Cairns (28), Flight Engineer NZ401038 Sgt. William Cowan (27), Flight Engineer NZ403751 Sgt. Allan Wilson (36).