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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25th February 1942 605 Squadron Hurricane I BG821 Fl/Lt. Dobbyn

Operation: Interception

Date: 25th February 1942 (Wednesday)

Unit: No. 605 Squadron (motto: Nunquam Dormio - 'I Never Sleep').

Type: Hurricane I

Serial: BG821

Code: UP-?

Base: Tjilatjap, Java

Location: Krawang, Java

Pilot: Fl/Lt. Henry Augustine Dobbyn NZ/391831 RNZAF Age 22. Killed (1)

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off with four others to intercept a morning raid on Jakarta. Two failed to return.

Fl/Lt. Dobbyn was shot down and crashed in a swamp near Krawang.

The Invasion of Java was a battle of the Pacific theatre of World War II. It occurred from 28th February - 12th March 1942. It involved forces from the Empire of Japan, which invaded on 28 February 1942, and allied personnel. Allied commanders signed a formal surrender at Japanese headquarters at Bandung on 12 March.

With the Allied surrender in Java, the Japanese had attained, in just over three months, an empire in the Pacific and Southeast Asia. It was to take over three years of war to drive them from it.

Above believed to be 258 Squadron pilots:

L-R: Charles Roy Bush NZ/42691, George Montgomerie Marshall NZ/391841, unknown, Anderson, John Greville Clouston NZ/40218, Wilfred Greville Clouston 39223, Denis John Thomas Sharp NZ/42729, Henry Augustine Dobbyn, unknown.

Above: No. 4 War Course, RNZAF Station Woodbourne, 1940 (Awards placed but earned later)

Rear: George Montgomerie Marshall DFM. NZ/391841 (killed 30th July 1941, age 23 - see here), Maurice Richard Clarke MiD. DFC. NZ/391824 (died 11th August 2002, age 82), Robert Ewen Ernest Fotheringham NZ/391833 (missing 16th July 1941, age 29 - see here), Ian Laurie Reid NZ/391846 (missing 03rd July 1941, age 23), Mervyn Evans NZ/391832 (killed 24th July 1941, age 25), Henry Augustine Dobbyn NZ/391831 (missing 25th February 1942, age 22).
Centre: Charles Campbell White NZ/391854, T.M. De Denne NZ/3918, G.H. Francis DFC, Phillip Ronald Coney NZ/391825, Richard Webb NZ/391853 DSO. DFC. Freeman Jesse Steel NZ/391370 (died 12th July 2004, age 86 - see here), W.H. Birtwistle.
Front: Allen Gerald Sievers NZ/391848 (died 19 February 1992, age 77), A.G. Shaw, H.L. Thomas, Arthur Joseph Hyams NZ/391837 (missing 25th June 1943, age 31), John Rae Hutcheson DFC. NZ/39967 (Died 14th July 1985, age 73), Oswald Arthur Matthews NZ/391842 (killed 07th July 1941, age 20), Cristen Stewart Greager NZ/391836 (/PoW Stalag Luft Heydekrug), Nelson Blake NZ/2132 (died 15th March 1990, age 74)

Burial details:

(1) The pilot was buried at the scene of the crash, post-war searches could not locate his grave, now commemorated on the Singapore Memorial.

Fl/Lt. Henry Augustine Dobbyn. Column 421. at Singapore Memorial, Singapore. Born on the 12th August 1919 air Dublin, Eire. Moved to New Zealand at an early age. Educated at Sacred Heart College in Auckland. Enlisted in the RNZAF at Levin on the 18th December 1939. Training with No. 2 Elementary Flying Training School on the 15th January 1940 the with No. 2 Flying Training School on the 08th April 1940. Pilots badge was awarded on the 10th June 1940 and commissioned on the 27th July 1940.

Embarked for England on the 11th of August 1940. Further training at 57 Operational Training Unit on the 19th October 1940. Joined 258 squadron on the 02nd December 1940. Was to leave for Malta but diverted due to the sinking of the Ark Royal to travel by sea to the Gold Coast and then by air to Sudan. So left on the carrier HMS Indomitable leaving England on the 01st November 1940. Flew off the ship near Christmas Island to Java on the 28th of January 1942.

258 squadron was then absorbed by 232 and 605 squadron, Fl/Lt. Dobbyn joining 605. Son of Joseph John and Alice Mary Dobbyn (née Tuite), of Grey Lynn, Auckland, New Zealand. Credited with 1 enemy aircraft destroyed. Very good friends with Nelson Blake after initially training with him.

Above left, Nelson Blake with Henry Dobbyn - no pilot 'wings' on Nelson? Find out more on his page here.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to 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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