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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
1 Elementary Flying Training School Tiger Moth II NZ832 LAC. Downie

Operation: Training

Date: 22nd March 1944 (Wednesday)

Unit: No. 1 Elementary Flying Training School

Type: Tiger Moth II

Serial: NZ832

Code: -

Base: RNZAF Taieri, New Zealand

Location: As described

Pilot: LAC. Andrew Scot Downie NZ/439804 RNZAF Age 18. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

During a powered approach and landing practice collided with another Tiger Moth (NZ871) both flying solo.

The lower starboard wing of NZ872 collapsed and the aircraft spun in and caught fire a mile northeast of the airfield at 16:00 hrs.

LAC E,C Ridley who had just taken off and at the last moment sighted NZ832 above him and to his left in the direction of the sun. He banked sharply to the right and dived away, but it was too late to avoid the collision. However, he managed to retain control and land safely with no injuries.

NZ832 was written off on the 15th April 1944 whilst NZ831 continued in service to be issued to a civilian flying club in 1949 as ZK-ASF.

Burial details:

LAC. Andrew Scot Downie. Waikumete Cemetery. Prot. Soldiers Area G, Row 6, Grave 69. Born on the 22nd April 1925 in Gisborne. Educated at Seddon Memorial Technical College. A blacksmith for A and G Price Ltd in Auckland. Served 3 years with Air Training Cadets. Enlisted on the 16th July 1943 as aircraft hand but remastered as a pilot under training on the 03rd March 1943. With No. 1 Elementary Flying Training School on the 04th March 1944. A total of 3 hours flying solo logged. Son of 2/Lt. Robert Grant Downie (died 25th April 1929, age 38) and of Maria Annie Downie (née Parsond - died 01st November 1955, age 71), of 20 Raymond Road, Point Chevalier, Auckland, New Zealand.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with 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:

KTY 30-06-2022

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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 Captain 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', Andrew Mielnik: Archiwum - Polish Air Force Archive (on this site), Anna Krzystek, Tadeusz Krzystek - 'Polskie Siły Powietrzne w Wielkiej Brytanii', Franek Grabowski, Polish graves: https://niebieskaeskadra.pl/, PoW Museum Żagań, 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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