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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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RNZAF Crest
25.03.1943 No. 15 (RNZAF) Squadron P40E Kittyhawk 41-25100/12 Sq/Ldr. Crighton

Operation: Training

Date: 25th March 1943 (Thursday)

Unit: No. 15 Squadron (RNZAF)

Type: P40E Kittyhawk

Serial: 41-25100/12

Code: -

Base: Nadi, Fiji

Location: South Pacific Ocean

Pilot: Sq/Ldr. Allan Crighton NZ/1124 RNZAF Age 32. Missing - believed killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

During an escort exercise with the US Navy Carrier Group (can-11) struck the tail of VB-11SBD-3 Dauntless 06589 whilst trying to evade a diving attack.

The crew and that of the Kittyhawk spun in from 10,000 ft 20 miles off Nadi on the Island of Fiji at 09:45 hrs - all three aircrew missing.

We are indented to Bryan Cox for photographs and information supplied by Errol Martyn.

Bryan has published three books:

'Too Young To Die'. Published by Hutchinson (1987) ISBN 13: 9780813802053

'Pacific Scrapbook 1943-1947'. Published by McGraw Hill, Sydney (1997) ISBN 13: 9780074705599

'Cats Have Only Nine Lives'. Published by Author Pub (2004)

Burial details:

Sq/Ldr. Allan Crighton. Bourail Memorial. Panel 3. Son of Hendry Hugh and Dorah Birch Crighton and husband of Christina Margaret Crighton of Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to the research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, Auckland War Memorial Museum, Weekly News of New Zealand, Mr Bryan Cox ex 16 Squadron RNZAF ex 16 Squadron RNZAF, other sources as quoted below:

KTY 23.10.2018

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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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