Archive Report: Allied Forces

Compiled from official National Archive and Service sources, contemporary press reports, personal logbooks, diaries and correspondence, reference books, other sources, and interviews.
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258 Squadron Hurricane IIb Z3180 F/O. Victor Breton de La Perrelle

Operation: Circus 10

Date: 21st May 1941 (Wednesday)

Unit: No. 258 Squadron (motto: In medias re - 'In the middle of things')

Type: Hurricane IIb

Serial: Z3180

Code: ZT-D

Base: RAF Kenley, Greater London.

Location: Base

Pilot: F/O. Victor Breton de La Perrelle 36211 RAF Age 22. Injured

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off at 16:55 hrs with 10 others o led by Sq/Ldr, Wilfred Greville Clouston (1) flying Hurricane IIb Z3250 ZT-V on a Circus over France.

During the operation they were attacked bt Me109's the Sq/Ldr. was hit and wounded but managed to return landing at RAF Manston at 18:10 hrs.

F/O. Victor Breton de La Perrelle 36211 was also wounded during the action but managed to return to base.

P/O. Richard Arthur Rumbold White (2) NZ/40249 flying Hurricane IIa Z2699 was also hit. He baled out and taken PoW.and transported to Stalag Luft Sagan with PoW No: 1350

In 1939:

Whilst with 1 Service Flying Training School, during training on the 09th June 1939 flying Vildebeest NZ104 three trainee pilots were injured. On a low level staffing exercise the aircraft hit the water on Lake Ellesmere in the Canterbury region of the South Island of New Zealand. Although the aircraft was recovered it was a write off. The three pilots survived with slight injuries. Victor Breton de La Perrell 36211, Robert Millar Stewart 1257 and James Chilton Francis Hayter 36207.

Above in same order, different fate L-R: Robert Millar Stewart (4), Victor Breton de La Perrell and James Chilton Francis Hayter (6)(Courtesy Air Museum, New Zealand)

Above Vildbeest NZ104 (Courtesy Air Museum, New Zealand)

(1) Wilfred Greville Clouston DFC retired as Group Captain. Born on the 15th January 1916. (Battle of Britain pilot)Taken PoW in Singapore by the invading Japanese. Died on the 24th May 1980 age 64. His brother, Sq/Ldr. John Greville Clouston was taken PoW on the 06th June 19442 and killed on the 211st June 1944 when the vehicle he was travelling in was staffed by allied fighters. Further details here.

(2) Richard Arthur Rumbold White retired as a Fl/Lt. the only son of Captain and Mrs A. R. C. White, formerly of Burnham, and later of George street, Blenheim. He was educated at the- Cathedral Grammar School and Christ’s College. At the outbreak of war he was a student at Canterbury Agricultural College. He went to Levin in January, 1640, later going to Taierj and Wigram.

(3) Victor Breton de La Perrelle retired as a Sq/Ldr. (Battle of Britain pilot) Born on the 07th May 1919 in Winton, Southlands. Enlisted in November 1938, In October 1938 he learned to fly at the Otago Aero Club and in November joined the RNZAF on a short service commission. Awarded his wings on 19th April 1939, he completed his training and left for the UK in the Tamaroa on 14th July. On the voyage he developed pneumonia and was grounded. He was posted to RAF Uxbridge for administrative duties and later went to RAF Padgate. He went to 258 Squadron on 25th November 1940 and was made a Flight Commander in mid-August 1941. The squadron was posted overseas in October and on the 30th the pilots, minus their aircraft, went to Abbotsinch and sailed in HMS Athene for Gibraltar, where they spent five weeks before sailing again. They finally reached Takoradi on 1st January 1942.

The pilots were flown to Port Sudan and there embarked on the carrier HMS Indomitable. After sailing south for nearly three weeks they flew Hurricanes off on 28th January to Kemajoran, Java, moving on to Palembang, Sumatra after refuelling. The same afternoon de la Perelle led his flight to Seletar airfield, Singapore to face the Japanese. After a few days the order came to withdraw and the serviceable remnants of 258 Squadron returned to Palembang. De la Perelle temporarily commanded the airfield in mid-February until a Japanese invasion drove 258 away to Java, leaving six pilots behind to help reform a very much-depleted 605 Squadron at Tjillitan.

Taken PoW in Singapore by the invading Japanese on the 20th March 1942 and released on the 17th September 1945.

Served in the Korean War was seconded to US Air Force (1951) and then in later years seconded to the USAF in the United States.

Son of Philip Aldborough (remarried to Lindsay née McLean in 1932 - died 07th December 1935 age 62) and Annie Louisa de La Perrelle (née Grant - died 10th January 1929, age 49).

(4) Robert Millar Stewart continued with serving in the RNZAF and survived the war. He passed away on the 07th January 1994, age 74. Buried in the Kelvin Grove Cemetery. Whanganui, New Zealand, plot D04A-051. We have been unable to find out any further details.1257 RNZAF

(5) James Chilton Francis Hayter DFC and bar, MiD. (Battle of Britain pilot) Born on the 18th October 1917 in Timarru. Enlisted in November 1938. Awarded his wings on the 19th April 1939. Served in several squadrons both in England and the middle east.Survived the war as a Sq/Ldr and listed as a fighter ace with 5 enemy aircraft destroyed,, one probably destroyed and 3 others shared.

DFC Citation 17th October 1940:

Since June 1941, this officer has completed 48 operational flights over enemy territory and during the period has destroyed 4 and damaged a further 4 hostile aircraft. Flight Lieutenant Hayter participated in the fighting in France in 1940 and later fought in the Battle of Britain. He has displayed great skill and leadership and has contributed materially to the high standard of morale in his unit.

He returned to New Zealand in September 1945 and took up farming. In 1978 he was found guilty of cultivating cannabis on his property in Golden Bay, despite claiming his innocence. At his sentencing, he was fined $500. He died on the 03rd October 2006, age 88 and cremated at Wakapuaka Cemetery, Nelson, New Zealand. Son of Graham Goodenough Hayter (died 01st July 1967, age 86) and Edith Melville Hayter (née Clifford - died 06th November 1979, age 92) of Nelson, New Zealand. Husband of Eleanor Patricia née Coote married At Harrow-on-the-Hill, on 16th November 1940.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to the extensive research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, New Zealand Cenotaph, Weekly News of New Zealand, Air Museum of New Zealand, Museum of Transport and Technology, Auckland, National Archive Kew. AIR 27-.1530-9/10. Battle of Britain London Monument.

Other pages that may interest you:

Pages regarding 1941 losses

Pages detailing RNZAF losses

Other sources as quoted below:

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