• Kracker Archive
• Allied Losses
• Archiwum Polish
• Paradie Canadian
• RCAF
• RAAF
• RNZAF
• USA
• Searchable Lists
Operation: Training
Date: 03rd August 1941 (Sunday)
Unit: No. 52 Operational Training Unit (81 Group)
Type: Hurricane I
Serial: W9149
Code: Not known
Base: RAF Debden, Essex
Location: Great Sampford
Pilot: Sgt. Ian McDonald Cheyne NZ/404335 RNZAF Age 24. Killed
REASON FOR LOSS:
During a fighter attack exercise Hurricane W9149 collided with another, R4183 (1) during a dogfighting exercise.
The other pilot 20 year old, Sgt. William Fleming NZ/403852 RNZAF also lost his life. It is recorded in the publications of Errol Martyn QSM that these two pilots were the first New Zealand graduates under the Empire Air Training Scheme (2) in Canada to be killed.
(1) Some sources state that it could have been R4101.
(2) Empire Air Training Scheme (EATS) often referred to as simply "The Plan", was a massive, joint military aircrew training program created by the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, during the Second World War. EATS remains as one of the single largest aviation training programs in history and was responsible for training nearly half the pilots, navigators, bomb aimers, air gunners, wireless operators and flight engineers who served with the Royal Air Force, Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm, Royal Australian Air Force, Royal Canadian Air Force and Royal New Zealand Air Force during the war. (Wikipedia)
Burial details:
Sgt. Ian McDonald Cheyne. Saffron Walden Cemetery. Compt. 40. Grave 16. Son of James Auchinleck Cheyne and Maria Irving Cheyne, of Kumeroa, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. A total of 215 flying hours logged.
Sgt. William Fleming. Saffron Walden Cemetery. Compt. 40. Grave 17. Son of Joseph and Margaret Fleming, of Nelson, New Zealand. A total of 181 flying hours logged.
Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to the research by Errol Martyn QSM and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, Auckland War Memorial Museum, Weekly News of New Zealand, other sources as quoted below:
KTY - 06.06.2018
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember
them. - Laurence
Binyon
All site material (except as noted elsewhere) is owned or managed
by Aircrew Remembered and should not be used without prior
permission.
© Aircrew Remembered 2012 - 2024
Last Modified: 15 March 2021, 14:19