Operation: Training exercise

Date: 21st January 1941 (Tuesday)

Unit: No. 2 Service Flying Training School

Type: Vincent

Serial: NZ340

Code: -

Base: RNZAF Woodbourne

Location: Weld Pass

Pilot: LAC. Rodney Albert Llewellyn NZ/402878 RNZAF Age 20. Killed

Pilot: LAC. William Frederick Reader NZ/402898 RNZAF Age 21. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Aircraft history:

Previously K6327, ex RAF stocks (type 266). With No.55 Squadron, RAF. Assembled at No. 1 Aircraft Depot and BOC Hobsonville on 06 December 1939. With No.2 SFTS, Woodbourne April-July 1940.

Vincent NZ340, took off at 10:00 hrs from Woodbourne, on a reconnaissance report writing exercise with LAC. Reader as navigator. Encountered low cloud and fog, crashed and caught fire at about 10:30 hrs some 25 feet from the top of a 2000 foothill in the vicinity of Weld Pass, about 7 miles SW of Blenheim.

NZ354 flown by LAC Suisted suffered the same fate at 09:45 hrs.

Burial details:

LAC. Rodney Albert Llewellyn. Dargaville Cemetery (New Mount Wesley RSA). Grave 8. Born on the 13th October 1920 in Dargaville. A student teacher for the Auckland Education Board. Enlisted at Levin as a pilot under training on the 01st September 1940. Trained with No. 3 Elementary Training School 29th September 1940. With No. 2 Service Flying Training School 23rd November 1940. Pilot badge awarded on the 18th January 1941. Son of Samuel David (died 07th April 1954, age 71) and Jeannie Wallace Llewellyn (née Mclean - died 13th December 1947, age 63), of Ruawai., New Zealand.

LAC. William Frederick Reader. Wellington Crematorium (Karori). Born on the 23rd July 1919 in London, England. Moved to New Zealand around 1922. Worked as a clerk for Norman, Baker and Longhurst Ltd in Wellington. Enlisted at Levin as a pilot under training on the 01st September 1940. Trained with No. 3 Elementary Training School 29th September 1940. First solo on the 11th October 1940. With No. 2 Service Flying Training School 23rd November 1940. Pilot badge awarded on the 18th January 1941.Son of William Thomas Reader, and of Nellie Reader (née Faulkner), of Paraparaumu Beach, Kapiti, New Zealand.

L-R: rear; Suisted, Robertson, Peterson, Renolds, Brewer, Reader, Campbell, Cook, Fountaine, Gunn.
Centre; Cullinane, Pohe, McMurtrie, Cooper, Llewellyn, Sharp, Jones, Gilmour, Edmunds, Martin.
Front; Baker, Thompson, Sadler, Fish, Ford.

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”, 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
All site material (except as noted elsewhere) is owned or managed by Aircrew Remembered and should not be used without prior permission.
© Aircrew Remembered 2012 - 2026 Last Modified: 30 April 2022, 17:53