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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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2 Squadron Crest
29.11.1942 No. 2 Squadron Mustng I AP164 F/O. Cunningham

Operation: Reconnaissance

Date: 29th November 1942 (Sunday)

Unit: No. 2 Squadron. 34 Wing. Army Cooperation Command (motto: 'Hereward – Guardian of the Army. nickname: 'Shiny two')

Type: Mustang I

Serial: AP164

Code: XV-?

Base: RAF Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire

Location: Lost without trace - North Sea

Pilot: F/O. Godfrey Melville Cunningham NZ/414260 RNZAF Age 25. Missing - believed killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off at 14:09 hrs to carry out low level photo reconnaissance between the Hook and Westkapelle in the Netherlands (see map)

F/O. Cunningham had completed the operation and was provided a course for home by the leader. Although he was seen to be following the route five minutes earlier he failed to reply - AP164 was not heard from again and it is thought that he may have gone down in the North Sea.


Left: Memorial 2 Squadron at Sawbridgeworth

Burial details:

F/O. Godfrey Melville Cunningham. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 114. Born on the 24th September 1917 at Mangateretere, the son of Elizabeth Alice Cunningham and stepson of Ernest A. Flanders, of Mangateretere, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand. A labourer prior to service at Whakatu Freezing Works. A total of 393 flying hours logged.

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, other sources as quoted below:

KTY 25.07.2019

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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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