Operation: Interception practice

Date: 08th January 1945 (Monday)

Unit: No. 488 Squadron RNZAF 149 Wing 85 Group (motto: Ka ngarue ratau - 'We shake them')

Type: Mosquito NF.XXX

Serial: MM815

Code: ME-?

Base: B48, Amiens, France

Location: Nurlu, France

Pilot: W/O. Rex Keith Niederer NZ/426179 RNZAF Age 24. Killed

Nav: F/O. George Bruce Lawrence NZ/4211018 RNZAF Age 22. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off at about 20:52 hrs on a Interception practice patrol.

At 20,000 ft. the aircraft fell out of control crashing at Nurlu at 21:42 hrs killing both of the crew members. No cause was established.

Burial details:

W/O. Rex Keith Niederer. St. Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen. Block "S". Plot 1. Row G. Grave 21. Born on the 20th November 1920 at Invercargill. Worked as a clerk for NZ Loan and Mercantile Agency Company prior to service. Enlisted on the 30th May 1942 at Woodbourne. Son of Louis Andrew and Dorothy Jeannette Niederer (née Monteath), of Gorge Road, Southland, New Zealand. 445 Flying hours logged, 34 solo on the Mosquito.

F/O. George Bruce Lawrence. St. Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen. Block "S". Plot 1. Row M. Grave 4. Born on the 15th February 1922 at Wakefield. Worked as a electrical engineering cadet for Southland Electric Power Supply. Enlisted 04th January 1943. Son of George Taylor Lawrence and Emily May Lawrence (née Williams) of Wakefield, New Zealand. 310 Flying hours logged.

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, Weekly News of New Zealand, other sources as quoted below: