Operation: Anti-submarine patrol

Date: 30th October 1942 (Friday)

Unit: No. 7 Squadron (NZ)

Type: Vildebeest IV

Serial: NZ122

Code: UW-?

Base: RNZAF Waipapakauri, New Zealand

Location: Tasman Sea, New Zealand

Pilot: F/O. Charles Henry Gunn NZ/41193 RNZAF Age 22. Missing - believed killed

Obs: F/O. Stanley Gordon Bromley NZ/391325 RNZAF Age 29. Missing - believed killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: F/O. Robert Dent NZ/413741 RNZAF Age 29. Missing - believed killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off on an Anti-submarine patrol at 10:03 hrs. for USS Crescent City en route from Wellington to Guadalcanal carrying troops and equipment to reinforce the beachhead, then returned to Espiritu Santo to unload material to set up a new forward base to supply the Guadalcanal operations. When the offensive began to swing north through the Solomon Islands in early 1943, she continued her transport duty to the base established on hard-won Guadalcanal. On the 13th August, while unloading, she aided in repelling an air attack in which USS John Penn was sunk.

The objection was to carry outer patrol near the ship for three hours. The Crescent City state the proceeding at 15 knots on course 330° true, then 341° true, could not be located by N2122, which signalled at l4:30. Six minutes later it acknowledged an instruction to return to base, being expected back by 15:30 hrs. was not heard from or seen again.

A search began soon after 16:40 and that evening two unusual white lights we seen about 15 miles off the coast and to the south of Cape Reinga. Shortly after midnight, another white light was seen to rise from the sea's surface about 10 miles SW of Scotts Point, 10 miles SE of Cape Maria van Diemen each aircraft dropped a flare in the area soon afterwards but no further lights or activity were seen. Later a wheel from the Vildebeest washed ashore between the two capes.

Burial details:

F/O. Charles Henry Gunn. Wellington Provincial Memorial. Born on the 02nd February 1920 in Wataroa. Educated at Waitaki Boys High School. Worked as a labourer for T. O'Neil, of Te Taho. Enlisted at Wigram on the 06th July 1941. Trained at Np. 1 Elementary Flying Training School on the 16th August 1941 then with No. 1 Flying Training School on the 28th September 1941. Pilot badge awarded on the 08th November 1941 and commissioned on the 20th December 1941. Joined 3 Squadron on the 01st January 1942. Then 1 squadron on the 11th February 1942. Joined 7 squadron on the 20th February 1942. 440 flying hors logged and completed 20 operational sorties.

Son of William and Sarah Wilhelmina Gunn, of Hokitika, Westland New Zealand.

F/O. Stanley Gordon Bromley. Wellington Provincial Memorial. Born at Greymouth on the 22nd December 1913. Educated at Wellington Technical College and Harle's College of Accountancy for the Professional Accountant's examination. Employed in a clerical capacity by the Bank of New Zealand. Enlisted at Levin on the 20th November 1939. Trained at No. 1 Air Observer School. Ir observer badge awarded on the 08th April 1940 and promoted to sergeant. Embarked for England on the 26th April 1940. No. 12 Operational Training Unit, Chipping Warden, Oxfordshire on the 29th April 1940. No. 15 Operational Training Unit, Harwell, Berkshire, until posting on the 23rd January 1941, when he was posted to No.40 Squadron. embarked from Harwell by air for the Middle East early in April, and was posted on arrival to No. 37 Squadron in Egypt, with which Squadron he flew until returning to the United Kingdom during February 1942. Late in March he was posted to No.23 Operational Training Unit at Pershore, Worcestershire for his rest period, serving there until proceeding to No.2 Personnel Despatch Centre, Wilmslow, Lancashire on the 1st July for repatriation. He arrived in New Zealand in September and was posted to Waipapakauri on the 23rd October for flying duties. Joined 7 squadron (Vildebeest) on the 23rd October 1942. Served on bombers in the Middle East and completed an operational tour prior to returning

Son of Walter and Alice Bromley (née Evans), of Raumati South, Kapiti Coast. Paraparaumk, New Zealand.

F/O. Robert Dent. Wellington Provincial Memorial. Born in Westport on January lst 1914. Educated at the Westport Primary School. After leaving school he became a carpenter, employed as a Foreman-carpenter by C.S, Luney Ltd at New Plymouth. From Levin he went to No. 3 Wireless School, Canada on the 14th August 1941 and then to No. 7 Bombing and Gunnery School at Paulson, Canada. Awarded his Air Gunners Badge on the 11th June 1942, and was granted a temporary Commission to Pilot Officer in May 1942. Joined 7 General Reconnaissance Squadron at Waipapakauri and was commissioned as Flying Officer on the 29th October 1942. 137 flying hours logged.

Son of William (died 04th June 1924, age 56) and Ellen Gunn Dent (married 20th December 1892. née Broadfoot - died 17th May 1954, age 86), of 208 Devon Street West, New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to the extensive research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, New Zealand Cenotaph, Weekly News of New Zealand, Air Museum of New Zealand, Museum of Transport and Technology, Auckland, National Archive.

Other pages that may interest you:

Pages regarding 1942 losses

Pages detailing RNZAF losses

Other sources as quoted below:

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