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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04th July 1945 33 Squadron Tempest F.V series II SN160 Fl/Lt. Dall DFC

Operation: Test flight

Date: 04th July 1945 (Wednesday)

Unit: No. 33 Squadron (motto: 'Loyalty'). 135 Wing. 84 Group

Type: Tempest F.V series II

Serial: SN160

Code: 5R-?

Base: B109, Quakenbruck, Germany

Location: Dedelstorf, Germany

Pilot: Fl/Lt. Robert James Dall DFC. NZ/41535 RNZAF Age 32. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

The pilot of this aircraft was making a farewell flying display over B155 Dedelstorf as he was soon to be leaving for a posting to Burma.

When inverted during a slow roll at an estimated height of 1,300 feet over the airfield the pilot lost control. The Tempest spun into the ground bursting into flames. The plane was totally destroyed and the pilot (an Australian who had joined the RNZAF) lost his life.

Noni Wright interviewing RNZAF aircrew. Fl/Lt. Robert James Dall DFC seated 2nd sitting on the right wearing forage cap (Courtesy David Stewart)

Burial and personal details:

Fl/Lt. Robert James Dall DFC. Celle War Cemetery. Grave 2.D.2. Born on the 15th November 1912 in Victoria, Australia. An engineer for A.E. Herbert in AucklandMoved to New Zealand in 1938. Enlisted as an air observer at Levin on the 19th January 1941 - remastered as pilot U/T on the 21st March 1941. Trained in Canada. Awarded his pilot badge 02nd September 1941 and promoted to sergeant. Joined 61 Operational Training Unit on the 21st October 1941. Commissioned on the 16th May 1942. Test pilot for D. Napier and Sons at Luton on the 13th April 1944. Embarked for New Zealand on the 02nd October 1944 returning on the 22nd March 1845. Son of Clarence Christian and Catherine Charlotte Dall (nee Rosser, later Duthie) of Hawkesburn, Victoria, Australia. Husband of Nancy Russell Dall (nee Henderson) of Merrivale, Christchurch, New Zealand. A total of 991 flying hours logged. 222 operational sorties with 486 squadron, 45 with 198 squadron and 19 with 33 squadron. Credited with 1 enemy aircraft destroyed, 2 shared destroyed, 4 damaged, 2 destroyed on the ground, 1 damaged on the ground and 5 shared damaged.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to David Stewart for photograph, Jenifer Lemaire and 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:

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