Operation: Training/Patrol?

Date: 01st February 1939 (Wednesday)

Unit: No. 33 Squadron (motto: 'Loyalty')

Type: Gloster Gladiator I

Serial: K8038

Code: SO-?

Base: Ismalia, Egypt

Location: Deir Ballut, Palastine (Gaza)

Pilot: P/O. John Marcus Joseph Poynton 40749 RAF Age 21. Killed

We are indebted to Medals Reunited New Zealand for information/photographs that made this report possible.

REASON FOR LOSS:

Gladiator K8038 involved in an accident under unknown circumstances.

Th aircraft struck a wall near Deir el Ballah, Palestine (Gaza) killing the young New Zealand pilot.

Above: John Poynton and 'Bonnie;, thought to be his girlfriend at the time

Above courtesy Leonid Mendelzon

Burial details:

The pilot was buried the following day.

Left: Joseph Henry and Grace Ida Ward Poynton

P/O. John Marcus Joseph Poynton. Ramleh War Cemetery, grave K2. Born on the 04th May 1917 in Otorohanga.
Educated at Otorohanga High School. Embarked for UK to join a firm of aeroplane designers in around 1937. Selected for a short Service Commission (SSC) in the RAF on the 07th March 1938 as a pilot under training.
Joined Elementary Flying Training School on the 01st December 1938. Then to No. 4 Flying Training School on the 03rd June 1938 and awarded his wings. Posted to 33 squadron in Palestine in December 1938.

Son of Joseph Henry and Grace Ida Ward Poynton (née Lee - died 1968, age 95), of 62 Queen 's Avenue, Frankton, New Zealand. Note: birth registered as Marcus John Joseph Poynton.

New Zealand Herald 06th February 193

Crash In Palestine

Pilot-Officer Killed former Frankton resident advice received by parents (from own own correspondent Hamilton Thursday) Cabled advice was received by Mr. and Mrs. G. Poynton, of 62 Queen's Avenue, Frankton today, that their only son, Acting Pilot-Officer John Poynton, of the Royal Air Force, had been killed in an aeroplane crash that occurred in Palestine yesterday. No details relating to the fatality have been received.

Mr. Poynton was 22 years of age. He left New Zealand two years ago to join a firm of aeroplane designers in England and later he joined the Royal Air Force. For some weeks ho had been attached to a unit in Egypt and had been piloting single seater bombers.

Mr. Poynton came from Otorohanga to Frank ton. He was a member of the Waikato Society of Model Engineers.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to Medals Reunited of New Zealand and the extensive research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, New Zealand Cenotaph, Weekly News of New Zealand, Air Museum of New Zealand, Museum of Transport and Technology, Auckland, National Archive. Leonid Mendelzon for grave photograph

Other sources as quoted below:

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