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Operation: Escort
Date: 27th January 1944 (Thursday)
Unit: No. 18 Squadron RNZAF
Type: P-40N Warhawk
Serial: NZ3200
Code: -
Base: Torokina, Bougainville, Solomon Islands
Location: Cape Gazelle, Solomon Islands
Pilot: Sgt. Clifford William Douglas Knight NZ/425910 RNZAF Age 25. Missing - believed killed
REASON FOR LOSS:
Taking off at around 07:15 hrs with 11 others from the squadron as lower cover for US Marauders that were to bomb Lakunai airfield at Rabaul.
Sgt. Clifford Knight was one of two seen to be flying very low over the water near Cape Gazelle with 3 Japanese fighters in pursuit at about 09:15 hrs. Both pilots never returned.
The other, 33 year old, Fl/Lt. Clive Dudley Alfred Highet NZ/401273 flying Warhawk NZ3183. The remainder of the squadron returned safely.
Above left, during training in New Zealand. Right: shaving his moustache. Taken on DC3 flight back to New Zealand before his wife Alma sees it after first tour with 18 Squadron. (courtesy relatives)
Above: 18 Squadron pilots with Sgt. Clifford Knight shown rear row fifth from right (courtesy relatives)
Burial details:
Sgt. Clifford William Douglas Knight. Bourail Memorial Panel 7. Born on the 14th February 1918 at Temuka, the son of William Edgerton and Beatrice Knight (née Edgler) and husband of Alma Elizabeth May Knight (née Yeatman) of Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand. A total of 568 flying hours logged and on his second tour of operations in the South Pacific theatre.
Fl/Lt. Clive Dudley Alfred Highet. Bourail Memorial Panel 3. Born on the 26th April 1910 at Wellington, the son of Gilbert Campbell and Mabel Catherine Highet (née Henry) of Wellington, New Zealand. Husband of Beatrice Delamere Highet (née Cholmondeley) A Draftsman prior to service. Educated at Wellington College and Victoria University. A total of 1,700 flying hours logged and on his second tour of operations in the South Pacific theatre.
Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to Jenifer Lemaire and to the 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:KTY 21.10.2019
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them. - Laurence
Binyon
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