Operation: Escort

Date: 17th November 1942 (Tuesday)

Unit: No. 253 Squadron 323 Wing. 242 Group. (motto: 'Come one, Come all')

Type: Hurricane IIc

Serial: HV958

Code: -

Base: RAF Maison Blanche, Algiers

Location: Mediterranean Sea

Pilot: Sgt. Harold Leonard Francis Goggin NZ/414279 RNZAF Age 22. Missing - believed killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off at 14:30 hrs to escort a DC-3 to Oran.

After safely escorting the transport aircraft, disappeared on his return to base.

Burial and personal details:

Sgt. Harold Leonard Francis Goggin. Malta Memorial. Panel 5, Column 2. Born on the 28th of April 1920 in Christchurch. Educated at St. Bede's College in Christchurch. A clerk for Cassidy, Amoddeo and Jacobson lawyers.

Enlisted as a pilot under training at Levin on the 27th of July 1941. With No. 3 Elementary Flying Training School on the 07th September 1941. First solo on the 23rd September 1941. With No. 1 Flying Training School on the 18th October 1941. The pilot badge was awarded on the 29th of November 1941 and promoted to sergeant on the 10th of January 1942.

Embarked for England on the 30th of January 1942. With No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre 14th March 1942. 5 Pilot Advanced Flying Unit 21st April 1942. 52 Operational Training Unit 12th May 1942 flying the Spitfire. With 485 squadron on the 14th July 1942 and carried out 5 operational sorties.

Joined 252 squadron 03rd September 1942, carried out a further 7 operational sorties. With the squadron to Algiers around the between 13th October - 08th November 1942. A total of 319 flying hours were logged.

Son of Leonard Robert Goggin (died 20th February 1963), and Evelyn Maria Goggin (née Haughey - died 21st April 1921, age 30) stepson of Helen Aloysius Goggin (née Doran - died 30th January 1973), of St. Albans, Christchurch, New Zealand.

Above L-R: Rear; W.J Birchall, H.L Gregory, Sydney Treyton Francis Downie, T.D Blewitt, W.F Charters, James Hugh McCaw NZ/414311, I.G Grant, E.W.J Powe, Colin Frederick Penfold NZ/414335, F.E Livesay.

Centre; Harold Leonard Francis Goggin NZ/414279, Malcolm Kirk Jackson NZ/414297, Noel Buchanan Daniel NZ/414262, G.K Malcomson, Maurice Raymond Blank NZ/411554, K.W Robinson, W.H Tombs, A.G Millar, H.B Parker, Harrison Weir NZ/413917.

Front; Alan Trevor Little NZ/413862, L.B Gordon, R.L.W Bezett, D.J Galbraith, F.M Downs, J. Russell, Trevor Winston Peek NZ/414334, James Bruce Murdoch NZ/414326, Frederick George Shears NZ/413489, D.L Shears. (Courtesy Air Museum of 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:

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
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