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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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72
72 Squadron Spitfire VB W3406 Fl/Sgt. John Grant McCutchan

Operation: Circus 137

Date: 25th April 1942 (Saturday)

Unit: No. 72 Squadron. 11 Group (motto: 'Swift')

Type: Spitfire VB

Serial: W3406

Code: RN-?

Base: RAF Biggin Hill, Kent

Location: Le Touquet

Pilot: Fl/Sgt. John Grant McCutchan NZ/403978 RNZAF Age 28. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off at 15:45 hrs with 12 others to escort six Bostons on a raid against Abbeville marshalling yards in France.

They were bounced by enemy fighters southeast of Le Touquet. W3406 was last seen in a controlled dive before crashing near Le Touquet where he was initially buried. Reinterred after the end of the war.

Burial and personal details:

Fl/Sgt. John Grant McCutchan. Etaples Military Cemetery. Grave 46.D.3. Born on the 03rd August 1913 in Auckland. Educated at Takapuna Grammar School. A sheep farmer for S.E Gillingham's in Waerengaokun. Enlisted in Levin as a pilot under training on the 27th of October 1940. With No. 2 Elementary Flying Training School 23rd November 1940. With No. 3 Flying Training School 18th January 1941. The pilot badge was awarded on the 10th March 1941 and promoted to sergeant on the 12th of April 1941.

Embarked for England on the 29th of April 1941. With No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre 29th June 1941. Trained further with 21 Operational Training Unit flying the Wellington on 12th July but then cancelled as admitted to hospital 11th July - 06th August (no further details). With 58 Operational Training Unit 25th August 1941 flying the Spitfire. With 601 squadron flying the Aircobra on the 07th October 1941. With 57 Operational Training Unit 21st December 1941 again on the Spitfire. Joined 72 squadron on the 04th January 1942 where he carried out 30 operational sorties. A total of 323 flying hours logged.

Son of Charles Henry (died 13th March 2001, age 84) and Margaret Grace Davidson McCutchan (née Grant - died 21st December 1980, age 97), of Matata, Auckland, New Zealand. His brother, 24 year old, Pte. James Alexander McCutchan 12263 was killed on the 26th November 1941 on Operation Crusader whilst with the 26 Infantry Battalion in the Western Desert, Libya. (Shown left)

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:

KTY 12-07-2022

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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 MWO 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', Archiwum - Polish Air Force Archive (on this site), Anna Krzystek, Tadeusz Krzystek - 'Polskie Siły Powietrzne w Wielkiej Brytanii', Franek Grabowski, 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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