Operation: Anti-submarine patrol

Date: 02 January 1944 (Sunday)  

Unit: No. 4 Squadron (NZ) (motto: 'Always attack')

Type: Hudson IIIA

Serial: NZ2065

Code: YZ-?

Base: RNZAF Nausori

Location: South Pacific Ocean

Pilot: Fl/Sgt. Alister Bain Pinching NZ421092 RNZAF Age 26. Missing - believed killed

Nav: W/O. Jack Ludwig Boeson NZ/412195 RNZAF Age 26. Missing - believed killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. Cyril Laurie Corbett NZ/414003 RNZAF Age 25. Missing - believed killed

Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. Anthony Victor Peter Madsen NZ/4213792 RNZAF Age 23. Missing - believed killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off in the late morning on an anti-submarine patrol and convoy escort. After a routine wireless test.

Nothing further was heard from the crew. About 10 minutes after the flight began another crew returning to Lauthala Bay observed them on a correct course 280 º from the base.

Although searches were carried out no trace of the crew or aircraft were found.

4 Squadron Hudsons in formation, flying from RNZAF Station Nausori, Fiji 1944. From top: YZ-H, YZ-O, YZ-F. (Courtesy Air Museum of New Zealand)

Burial details:

Fl/Sgt. Alister Bain Pinching. Bourail Memorial. Panel 7. Born on the 24th July 1917 at Gisborne. Educated at Gisborne High School. A factory assistant for Empire Box Company in Wellington. Served 5 years in territorial army. Enlisted at Levin as a pilot under training on the 08th February 1942. With No. 3 Elementary Flying Training School 03rd April 1942. With No. 1 Service Flying Training School on the 13th June 1942. Pilot badge awarded on the 02nd September 1942 and promoted to sergeant on the 28th November 1942. Attached to 2 squadron on the 06th December 1942 flying Hudsons. With School go General Reconnaissance 22nd January 1943 flying the Anson. With 10 Operational Training Unit on the 03rd April 1943 flying the Hudson. With 1 squadron on the 28th May 1943. To the Pacific 08th July 1943. Son of William Edward and Margaret Pinching (née Mackintosh - died 15th February 1966). Husband of Olga Alma Dorothy Pinching, (née Masemann. later Holmes - died 07th August 1992, age 71) of Gisborne, New Zealand.

W/O. Jack Ludwig Boeson. Bourail Memorial. Panel 6. Born on the 12th March 1918 at Lower Hut. A clerk for Lever Brothers. Enlisted as a pilot under training on 13th April 1941. With No. 3 Elementary Flying Training School 24th May 1942. Pilot training terminated in June 1941. Embarked for Canada on the 29th of August 1941 for navigator training. Awarded navigator badge and promoted to Sergeant on the 03rd January 1942. Returned to New Zealand on the 27th of March 1942. With 10 Operational Training Unit on the 03rd April 1943 flying the Hudson. To Pacific to join 4 Squadron on the 01st June 1942. With School go General Reconnaissance 28th January 1943 flying the Anson. This was his second South Pacific tour. Son of George Ludwig (died 21st Jun 1941, age 45) and Vinola Daphne Boeson (née Edwards, later Smith) of Wellington, New Zealand.

Fl/Sgt. Cyril Laurie Corbett. Bourail Memorial. Panel 6. Born on the 11th of August 1919 in Wellington. Educated at Wellington Technical College. A telegraphist with P and T in Te Are, Wellington. Served in the territorial army in the Corps of Signals for 3 years. Enlisted at Harewood on the 18th of July 1941 as a wireless operator. With School go General Reconnaissance 05th January 1942 flying the Anson. With 10 Operational Training Unit on the 09th January 1943 flying the Hudson. Son of William Herbert and Cecilia Estelle Corbett (née Taylor) of Lower Hut. Husband of Jean Oliver Corbett (née Hedges, later Callander) of Howick, Auckland, New Zealand.

Fl/Sgt. Anthony Victor Peter Madsen. Bourail Memorial. Panel 7. Born on the 1st January 1921 in Palmerston North. Educated at Palmerston North Technical School. A self-employed farmer at Kairanga. served a year in the territorial army. Enlisted at Ohakea on the 41st October 1942. With 10 Operational Training Unit on the 03rd April 1943 flying the Hudson. Air gunner badge awarded on the 30th April 1943 and promoted to sergeant. To Pacific to join 4 Squadron on the 08th July 1943. Son of Victor Henry Christian (died 1974) and Constance Ruth Madsen (née Caldwell) of Kairanga, New Zealand.

Above: On each half, the columns represent (L-R) Pilots, Navigators, Wireless Operators, Air Gunner.

L-R: Rear; William Douglas Thompson NZ/42481, NN Isherwood, William Francis Boughey NZ/412976, TS Fleming, Alister Bain Pinching NZ/421092, Jack Ludwig Boeson NZ/412195, Cyril Laurie Corbett NZ/414003, Anthony Victor Peter Madsen NZ/4213792.
Centre; PS Reid, David William Regan NZ/413475, CC Kennedy, SA Anderson, RL House, Hern, JL Mason, A Whiting.
Front; LF Trail, George Gilbert Jackson-Potter NZ/412266, F Brendinbeck, R Cooper, Russell Lowten Harding NZ/416481, JW Ritchie, JL King, A Fitness. (Courtesy Air Museum of New Zealand)

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: