Operation: Training

Date: 23/24th December 1941 (Tuesday/Wednesday)

Unit: No. 12 Service Flying Training School. No. 2 Training Command

Type: Crane I

Serial: 7773

Code: -

Base: RCAF Brandon, Manitoba, Canada

Location: At Brandon

Pilot: LAC. Henry George Deery NZ/413387 RNZAF Age 27. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off at 00:50 hrs on a solo night training exercise.

Almost immediately lost height during a right-hand turn and crashed half a mile southeast of the airfield.

Burial and personal details:

LAC. Henry George Deery. Brandon Cemetery. Lot 107. Block A. Sec. 27. Born on the 07th October 1914 in Auckland. Educated at Mt. Albert Grammar School. A warehouse storeman for A.J. Electrician, Sims and Company in Auckland. Enlisted at Levin as a pilot under training on 15th June 1941. With No.4 Elementary Flying Training School 28th July 1941. Embarked for Canada on the 22nd of September 1941. With No. 12 Service Flying Training School on the 11th October 1941 flying the Crane. A total of 122 flying hours were logged with 59 solo and 36 on the Crane.

Son of Percy Alexander (died 26th April 1964, age 88)and Lillian Adelaide Florence (née Keefe - died 13th July 1970, age 87) Deery, of Laingholm, Auckland, New Zealand. Epitaph: 'Rest In Peace, One Of The Brave, The Very True'.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot, 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, Air Museum of New Zealand, Museum of Transport and Technology, Auckland, other sources as quoted below: