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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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08th September 1942 7 Pilots AFU Master II DL841 Sgt. Craig

Operation: Training

Date: 08th September 1942 (Tuesday)

Unit: No. 7 Pilots Advanced Flying Unit. 21 Group

Type: Miles Master II

Serial: DL841

Code: -

Base: RAF Peterborough, Cambridgeshire

Location: Relief airfield for Sibson

Pilot: Sgt. Alan James Craig NZ/415062 RNZAF Age 20. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

During a solo circuit and landing practice exercise and after carrying to an overshoot at Sibson executed a series of turns and dives before diving into the ground at 03:30 hrs.

No cause established.

Burial and personal details:

Sgt. Alan James Craig. Peterborough (Eastfield) Cemetery. Div. 4. Block 4. Grave 1616. Born on the 07th November 1921 at Auckland. Worked as a farmer on his fathers farm at Mangaohutu prior to service. Enlisted on the 07th September 1941 at Levin. Trained at No. 2 Elementary Flying Training School joining on the 18th October 1941. With No. 3 Service Flying Training School joining on the 20th December 1941 but injured in a flying accident on the 30th December 1941. Further training with No. 2 Service Flying Training School joining on the 07th March 1942. Pilots badge awarded on the 04th April 1942 and promoted to sergeant on the 16th June 1942. Embarked for England on the 22nd June 1942. At Personnel Centre on the 30th June 1942. Joined No. 7 Pilots Advanced Flying Unit on the 24th August 1942. Son of Thomas (died 30th June 1961) and Janet Clement Craig (nee Gemmell - died 20th January 1954, age 68), of Taumarunui. New Zealand.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to the extensive research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, Auckland Library Heritage Collection, Weekly News of New Zealand, other sources as quoted below:

KTY 21-08-2021

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Acknowledgements
Sources used by us in compiling Archive Reports include: Bill Chorley - 'Bomber Command Losses Vols. 1-9, plus ongoing revisions', Dr. Theo E.W. Boiten and Mr. Roderick J. Mackenzie - 'Nightfighter War Diaries Vols. 1 and 2', Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt - 'Bomber Command War Diaries', Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Tom Kracker - Kracker Luftwaffe Archives, Michel Beckers, Major Fred Paradie (RCAF) and MWO François Dutil (RCAF) - Paradie Archive (on this site), Jean Schadskaje, Major Jack O'Connor USAF (Retd.), Robert Gretzyngier, Wojtek Matusiak, Waldemar Wójcik and Józef Zieliński - 'Ku Czci Połeglyçh Lotnikow 1939-1945', Archiwum - Polish Air Force Archive (on this site), Anna Krzystek, Tadeusz Krzystek - 'Polskie Siły Powietrzne w Wielkiej Brytanii', Franek Grabowski, Norman L.R. Franks 'Fighter Command Losses', Stan D. Bishop, John A. Hey MBE, Gerrie Franken and Maco Cillessen - Losses of the US 8th and 9th Air Forces, Vols 1-6, Dr. Theo E.W. Boiton - Nachtjagd Combat Archives, Vols 1-13. Aircrew Remembered Databases and our own archives. We are grateful for the support and encouragement of CWGC, UK Imperial War Museum, Australian War Memorial, Australian National Archives, New Zealand National Archives, UK National Archives and Fold3 and countless dedicated friends and researchers across the world.
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