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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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RNZAF
1 SFTS Oxford I NZ1314 LAC. Clifford Henry John Millar

Operation: Training

Date: 19th December 1941 (Friday)

Unit: No. 1 Service Flying Training School (ITS)

Type: Oxford I

Serial: NZ1314 (formerly RAF AR782)

Code: -

Base: RNZAF Wigram

Location: Yaldhurst

Pilot: LAC Clifford Henry John Millar NZ/415003 RNZAF Age 21. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

During solo flying practice, it seems that the aircraft was caught in a severe hailstorm which critically damaged its port wing. It was observed flying at 500 ft. with pieces of its fabric disintegrating and falling away.

NZ1314 was seen to open the throttles to level up, but the aircraft continued to lose height. The Oxford veered to port before It hit the ground at high speed and was wrecked at Yadhurst.

Two other aircraft were damaged by the hailstorm at RNZAF Wigram.

Burial and personal details:

LAC Clifford Henry John Millar. Christchurch Crematorium (Bromley). Remembrance Court. Born on the 12th of September 1920 in Christchurch. Educated at Christchurch DHS, A Plastic Moulder for H.C Urlwin Limited of Christchurch.

Enlisted at Levin as a pilot under training on the 07th September 1941. With No. 1 Elementary Flying Training School on the 18th October 1941. With No. 1 Service Flying Training School on the 29th November 1941 flying the Oxford. A total of 33 solo flying hours were logged with 10 on the Oxford.

Son of Peter John Millar, and of Amelia Elizabeth Millar (née Watson), of Woolston, Canterbury, New Zealand.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot, 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 01-08-2022

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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 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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