Operation: Transport Flight

Date: 23rd April 1945 (Monday)

Unit No: Utility Flight

Type: Hudson III

Serial: NZ2012

Code: -

Base: RNZAF Henderson Field, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands

Location: RNZAF Piva North Airfield, Bougainville Island

Pilot: Flt Lt. Robert Henderson Lamason 413433 RNZAF Age 30. Killed (1)

Obs: Fg Off. Wilfred Cleland Hall 4212752 RNZAF Age 24. Killed (2)

WOp/Air Gnr: WO. Peter Ronald Doody 413253 RNZAF Age 23. Minor injuries (3)

Passenger: LAC. John Arthur Medhurst 4215534 RNZAF Age 20. Serious injuries (4)

Passenger: LAC. Reginald Charles McAinch 457858 RNZAF Age 33. Minor injuries (5)

Above left to right: Flt Lt. Robert Lamason, Fg Off. Wilfred C. Hall and LAC. John Medhurst

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off at 07:00 hrs and at about 20 feet on final approach to Piva North at 09:24 hrs, in clear conditions just after full flap was lowered, suddenly zoomed to about 80 feet at an angle of between 45 degree and 75 degrees at top of the zoom the Hudson's port wing dipped steeply and the aircraft dived wing-down to crash on the runway edge it then fell onto its back, the rear fuselage breaking off behind the cabin door and the forward part of the cabin bursting into flames.

The captain and navigator died in the crash, while one of the two passengers died of his injuries later that day.

Above: Piva North Airfield (courtesy Air Museum of New Zealand)

WO. Peter R. Doody with moderate injuries and LAC Reginald C. McAinch with only minor injuries were thrown clear as the fuselage broke in two.

On duty at the time was medical officer Flt Lt. Basil Marmaduke de Lambert 22071. He hurriedly wrapped himself in a blanket and, with complete disregard for his own safety, walked into the flames where he found one of the injured men lying beside the wreckage encircled by fire. With the aid of an asbestos-suited fireman he transferred the injured man to a stretcher and carried him to safety. For his courageous and gallant action de Lambert was in 1946 awarded the George Medal.

Citation: George Medal 5th March 1946:

'The highest qualities of self-sacrifice and complete disregard of his own safety were shown by Flight Lieutenant de Lambert when he deliberately entered an area of flames to reach an airman who, though gravely injured, appeared to be still alive following the crash of a transport aircraft of the RNZAF at Bougainville on 23rd April, 1945. On duty as strip Medical Officer, Flight Lieutenant de Lambert hurried to the scene of the crash, and found a man, encircled by flames from the blazing aircraft, lying beside the wreckage. Without delay he wrapped himself in a blanket, walked deliberately into the flames, and, with the aid of an airman wearing an asbestos suit, transferred the injured man to a stretcher and carried him to a safe area. The Medical Officer suffered first-degree burns to both forearms, but on arrival at hospital with the airman, he refused treatment in view of the more urgent needs of the crash victim. Flight Lieutenant de Lambert's conduct throughout was courageous and gallant in the extreme'.

Basil Marmaduke de Lambert was born in Queenstown, Otago, New Zealand on the 6th July 1920. NZ Army (RAMC) December 1942, RNZAF from the 9th September 1943 to 11th January 1946. Died Dunedin, 11th September 1994. Son of Richard de Lambert (died 20th January 1949, age 67) and Louise Wingate (née Middleton - died 15th August 1968) de Lambert. Brother of John Richard de Lambert B.E. (died 27th November 1990, age 77) and Robert Middleton de Lambert M.B CH.B (died 1996, age 79. Husband of Suzanne Vernon (née Rout, later Murray - died 2012, age 90) married 1943 (to 1976) in New Zealand.

Also at the scene LAC. Stanley Mervyn Rawlinson 64842 RAAF who was serving with the RAAF No.10 Local Air Supply Unit. He was responsible for a particularly meritorious act, with just a blanket as protection, after three attempts, he was instrumental in removing a seriously injured member of a crashed New Zealand Hudson aircraft from the precincts of the burning plane.

For his actions he was awarded the George Medal (GM) which was awarded to him and an investiture on the 10th September 1947 by the Governor-General of Australia at Government house, Canberra.

Above LAC. Stanley Mervyn Rawlinson from his service record

Citation reads

‘LAC. Stanley Mervyn Rawlinson 64842 RAAF while a member of the Local Air Supply Unit on Piva North Airstrip, Bougainville on the morning of April 13, 1945 a New Zealand Air Force aircraft crashed and in a matter of seconds generated into a blazing inferno. Two members of the crew were thrown clear, but a third, LAC Medhurst, was lying apparently seriously injured in the burning wreckage. Rawlinson with a blanket wrapped around made two desperate but unsuccessful efforts to drag the man to safety, flames forcing him to retreat on both occasions. Men with asbestos suits. led by Rawlinson, then carried Medhurst to a waiting ambulance. Leading Aircraftsman Rawlinson Displayed valour and courage of the highest order in keeping with the best traditions of the RAAF’.

Stanley Mervyn Rawlinson was born on the 14th January 1923 in Rockdale, Sydney, New South Wales. He enlisted in the RAAF on the 18th May 1942 and was trained as an Instrument Repairer. He was discharged from the RAAF as an LAC. on the 29th April 1946. Stanley passed away on the 22nd June 1995 in Sydney, New South Wales.

(1) Robert Henderson Lamason was educated at Brooklyn School. He enlisted in June 1941. First solo on the 5th August 1941. Pilot Wings awarded in November 1941. A total of 1844 flying hours logged with 575 on the Hudson. At the time he was on his third South Pacific tour.

(2) Wilfred Cleland Hall was educated at the Napier Boys' High School. Employed as a clerk by the Stevenson Trading Co. Ltd., Napier. Enlisted in June, 1942. Trained in Manitoba, Canada. Awarded his air observer Bevet and promoted to Sgt. on the 29th October 1943. Promoted to Flt Sgt. on the 29th April 1944. Appointed to a commission in September 1944. Promoted to Fg Off. on the 15th March 1945. A total of 762 flying hours logged an on his second South Pacific tour. Known to have completed 68 operational sorties on his first tour.

His brother Brian Eric Hall 4213975 RNZAF was killed in a mid-air collision whilst under instruction aboard Tiger Moth II NZ784 on the 25th August 1943.

(3) Peter Ronald Doody died 29th December 1965, age 43. Buried Waikumete Cemetery and Crematorium. Service Persons Area K, Row 4, Plot 84.

(4) John Arthur Medhurst was educated at the Dargaville and Whangarei High Schools, Enlisted on the on the 27th May 1942. Had left New Zealand only three days earlier, was beginning his second South Pacific tour, having been posted to Field Headquarters at Piva for postal duties. His previous tour was undertaken on Norfolk Island as a radio operator.

(5) Reginald Charles McAinch was born circa 1912. Lived at Flat 2, Inverness, Hazel Avenue, Mount Roskill, New Zealand. Died on the 23rd February 1979 in Whagarei, Northland, New Zealand

Hudson III NZ201 history:

MSN 3825. (Previously V9240 when it was British Purchasing Mission contracts). Shipped to New Zealand on the 'MV Limerick'. BOC Unit 1 Hobsonville on the 18th September 1941 and assembled at No.1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville. To No.1 GR Squadron Whenuapai. To No.4 Squadron Nausori, Fiji on the 9th December 1941. To No.2 BR Squadron Ohakea November 1943. To Utility Flight Guadalcanal.

Burial details:

Above: Funeral for the three killed (courtesy Air Museum of New Zealand)

Flt Lt. Robert Henderson Lamason. Bourail New Zealand War Cemetery, Grave 5.13. Born at Rotorua on 13th November, 1914. Son of Robert Osmond Lamason (died 27th November 1943, age 67) and of Flora Lamason (née Wilkinson - died 1st November 1955, age 82). Husband of Joy Grace Lamason (née Stenberg - died 16th February 2012, age 96), of Wellington City, New Zealand.

Fg Off. Wilfred Cleland Hall. Bourail New Zealand War Cemetery, Grave 30. Born in Napier on the 4th November 1920. Son of Eric Cleland Hall and Adele Hall (née Miller), of 108 Chaucer Road, Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand.

LAC. John Arthur Medhurst. Bourail New Zealand War Cemetery. Grave 31. Born at Auckland on the 7th January 1925. Son of Samuel Robert (died 19th December 1961, age 61) and Rowena Blanche Medhurst (died 23rd May 1977, age 74) of 1 Awa Street, Otahuhu, Auckland, 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. Reviewed and updated with new information and images with thanks to Gordon Raymond Birkett for pointing out that there was a second George Medal (GM) which was presented to LAC. Rawlinson and for the correction to the serial number of the aircraft (May 2026).

Other pages that may interest you:

Pages regarding accident losses
Pages detailing RNZAF losses

Other sources as listed below:

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