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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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486 crest
17th August 1944 486 Squadron Tempest V JN805 P/O. Waddell

Operation: Diver Interception

Date: 17th August 1944 (Thursday)

Unit: No. 486 Squadron (motto: Hiwa hau Maka - 'Beware of the Wild Winds'). 150 Wing. 83 Group. 2nd Tactical Air Force

Type: Tempest V Series 1

Serial: JN805

Code: SA-U

Base: RAF Newchurch, Kent

Location: Colebrook Farm, Woodchurch, Kent

Pilot: P/O. James William Waddell NZ/422335 RNZAF Age 23. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off at 09:45 hrs with one other on a 'Diver' (V1) interception patrol.

They became separated in the poor visibility 9/10 cloud and a 600 ft. base. Seen from the ground moments later circling through the clouds immediately prior to crashing into a hill and exploding.

The experienced young New Zealand pilot was killed instantly.

Burial and personal details:

P/O. James William Waddell. Burton-Upon-Trent Cemetery. Gen. Sec. Grave 5742. Born on the 29th July 1921 at Invercargill. Worked as a garage mechanic for A. Russell and Company prior to service. Enlisted the RNZAF on the 04th April 1942 after serving with the New Zealand army (Territorial) for 6 months. Awarded his pilots badge on the 06th March 194 together with the promotion to sergeant. Commissioned on the 16th August 1944.

Above: wedding of James and Mary in England.

Son of James Edward Waddell (died on the 22nd April 1972, age 82) and of Eleanor Waddell (née Wain - died on the 19th March 1968, age 77), of Kennington, Southland, New Zealand and husband of Mary Eileen Waddell (née Mallett - married in 1943, in Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, England)), of Burton-upon-Trent, England. A total of 336 solo flying hours logged with 42 on the Tempest. Completed 29 operational sorties.

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:

KTY 07-03-2021

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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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