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Archive Report: Allied Forces

Compiled from official National Archive and Service sources, contemporary press reports, personal logbooks, diaries and correspondence, reference books, other sources, and interviews.
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181
30th July 1943 181 Squadron Typhoon IB R8833 F/O. Maxwell

Operation: Escort

Date: 30th July 1943 (Friday)

Unit: No. 181 Squadron (motto: Irruimus vastatum - 'We rush in and destroy'). 83 Group, Tactical Air Force

Type: Typhoon IB

Serial: R8833

Code: EL-D

Base: RAF New Romney, Kent - 124 Airfield HQ,

Location: South of Cayeux-sur-Mer

Pilot: F/O. Neville Ronald Maxwell NZ/413448 RNZAF Age 20. Missing - believed killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Escorting 175 Sqn Typhoons on a bombing raid of the airfield at Poix, France after taking off at 15:15 hrs with 8 others.

The formation was attacked by enemy fighters when about to cross the French coast on the return journey, R8833 being shot down in flames. It was seen from the ground to dive from about 5000 feet and crash at a place known as Lauf Fosse, about 5km south of Cayeux-sur-Mer.

The wreckage was quickly removed and taken away by the German authorities, together with pilot’s body. As the location of his remains could not be established after hostilities he is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.

Burial and personal details:

F/O. Neville Ronald Maxwell. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 197. Born on the 26th November 1922 at Auckland. Worked as a clerk - Native Dept, Auckland prior to service. Enlisted on the 15th June 1941 at Levin. Pilots badge awarded on the 18th October 1941 and his commission on the 29th November 1941. Joined 181 squadron in late September 1942 after conversion training at 55 Operational Training Unit. Son of Neville Newbold Maxwell and May Elizabeth Maxwell (née Brooks), of Stanley Bay, Auckland, New Zealand. A total of 460 flying hours logged and completed 12 operational sorties.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to Jenifer Lemaire and to the extensive research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, Auckland Library Heritage Collection, AWMM, other sources as quoted below:

KTY 15-04-2021

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Acknowledgements
Sources used by us in compiling Archive Reports include: Bill Chorley - 'Bomber Command Losses Vols. 1-9, plus ongoing revisions', Dr. Theo E.W. Boiten and Mr. Roderick J. Mackenzie - 'Nightfighter War Diaries Vols. 1 and 2', Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt - 'Bomber Command War Diaries', Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Tom Kracker - Kracker Luftwaffe Archives, Michel Beckers, Major Fred Paradie (RCAF) and Captain François Dutil (RCAF) - Paradie Archive (on this site), Jean Schadskaje, Major Jack O'Connor USAF (Retd.), Robert Gretzyngier, Wojtek Matusiak, Waldemar Wójcik and Józef Zieliński - 'Ku Czci Połeglyçh Lotnikow 1939-1945', Andrew Mielnik: Archiwum - Polish Air Force Archive (on this site), Anna Krzystek, Tadeusz Krzystek - 'Polskie Siły Powietrzne w Wielkiej Brytanii', Franek Grabowski, Polish graves: https://niebieskaeskadra.pl/, PoW Museum Żagań, Norman L.R. Franks 'Fighter Command Losses', Stan D. Bishop, John A. Hey MBE, Gerrie Franken and Maco Cillessen - Losses of the US 8th and 9th Air Forces, Vols 1-6, Dr. Theo E.W. Boiton - Nachtjagd Combat Archives, Vols 1-13. Aircrew Remembered Databases and our own archives. We are grateful for the support and encouragement of CWGC, UK Imperial War Museum, Australian War Memorial, Australian National Archives, New Zealand National Archives, UK National Archives and Fold3 and countless dedicated friends and researchers across the world.
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