Operation: Anzio beach head cover

Date: 07th February 1944 (Monday)

Unit: No. 93 Squadron (Ad arma parati - 'Ready for battle). 314 Wing. XII Tactical Air Command

Type: Spitfire IX

Serial: MA509

Code: HN-?

Base: Lago, Italy

Location: Anzio beach

Pilot: Fl/Sgt. Henry Ivor Herbert NZ/415189 RNZAF Age 20. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

On the 02nd March 1943 he was shot down by 'friendly' anti-aircraft fire snd received slight injuries after baling out. Then, on the 07th May 1943 he was shot down by flak and baled out. Taken PoW but released by the advancing allied forces, returning to his unit on the 09th May 1943.

Taking off at 15:55 hrs to provide cover over Anzio beach head.

Just 45 minutes later thee pilot radioed that he was experiencing engine trouble and that he was going to force land his Spitfire on the beach.

During his attempt he struck some trees and crashed next to the field hospital. Th pilot suffered severe head injuries and died shortly after admission to the hospital.

Burial and personal details:

Fl/Sgt. Henry Ivor Herbert. Anzio War Cemetery. Grave II.C.7. Born on the 19th March 1923 at Morrinsville. Worked on his fathers farm. Enlisted at Levin as a pilot under training on the 07th September 1941. With No. 4 Elementary Flying Training School on the 20th October 1941. With No. 3 Flying Training School on the 29th November 1941. Pilots badge awarded on the 28th February 1942 and promoted to sergeant.

Embarked for England on the 08th April 1942. With No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre 11th May 1942. Attached to No 5 Pilot Advanced Flying Unit on the 22nd July 1942. With No. 53 Operational Training Unit on the 01st September on Spitfires. By air to Tunisia in December 1942. Joined 93 squadron on the 21st December 1942 where he completed 165 operational sorties. A total of 503 flying hours logged. Son of Henry Stephen (died 27th October 1967, age 80 - NZ Army WW1 Marine Gun Corps - 13/358A) and Olive Muriel Priscilla Herbert (née Gray - died 21st November 1989, age 94) of Morrinsville, Auckland, New Zealand.

Above L-R: Rear; Ronald Alfred Walter Abrahams NZ/391792, A.E. Jackson, J.T. Madsen, T.W. Parker, A.J. Faulkner.
Centre; H.S. Anderson, P.G. Ellis, Gordon Stanley Booth, Bruce Allen McHardie NZ/413441, Henry Ivor Herbert NZ/415189, Eric Snowden Kelly NZ/391525
Front; L.J. Bryant, John Richard Marsh NZ/414999, David Maurice Adamson NZ/415052, F.A. Edin, James Edgar Norman Corin NZ/414963. (Courtesy Air Force 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:

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