Operation: Training

Date: 05 August 1942 (Wednesday)

Unit: No. 11 Operational Training Unit (NZ)

Type: P-40E Kittyhawk

Serial: NZ3001

Code: -

Base: RNZAF Ohakea

Location: As shown

Pilot: Sgt. Alfred Reginald Philip Saul NZ/39014 RNZAF Age 22. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

On an interception practice exercise began a tight left-hand turn at 14:30 hrs whilst at 1200 feet.

The turn developed into a flat spin and failed to recover. The aircraft crashed near Fielding.

Burial and personal details:

Sgt. Alfred Reginald Philip Saul. Lower Hutt Cemetery (Taita Lawn). Grave 11. B. Soldiers. Born on the 24th July 1920 in Petone. Educated at Hutt Valley Technical College. Worked as a store man for W.D and H.O Wills Limited in Perone. Served in the territorial army for 30 months. Enlisted at Rongotai as an aircraft hand. Remustered as a pilot under training on the 28th July 1940. With No. 3 Elementary Flying Training School 25th August 1940. With No. 2 Flying Training School 26th October 1940.

Pilot badge awarded on the 17th January 1941 and promoted to sergeant on the 08th February 1941. Embarked for Singapore on the 27th of February 1941. Joined 243 squadron on the 24th March 1941 flying the Buffalo. Son of Reginald Wyndham Saul (WW1 7/1781, Trooper with Canterbury Mounted Rifles, 7th Reinforcement - died 18th February 1941, age 54), and of Emma Clara Saul (née Williams - died 14th September 1959, age 67), of Petone, New Zealand.

Above, L-R: Rear; J. McCabe, C. O'Connell, C. Emerson, Edwin John Williams NZ/39298, J. Strand, A.J Lawrence.

Centre; W.C.F Leicester, Vernon Wellington NZ/402213, Stuart William Stott Beedie NZ/402155, Richard Grosvenor Morgan NZ/402339, Maxwell William McCormick NZ/402198, David Laurence Bade NZ/402156, William John Fulton NZ/402177, AI Paget, Thomas William McClure Leckie NZ/402196, Clarence Harold Howard.

Front; I.F Mayes, Aylwin Gilbert Metcalf NZ/402206, Alfred Reginald Philip Saul NZ/39014, James Fraser Craig NZ/402168, Donald Brook NZ/402241, Kenneth Allen Cometti NZ/402225, John Angus Ferguson NZ/402176, O.R Smart, W.G Mart, Gordon Findlay Beaver NZ/402237. (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:

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