Eric Eugene Croker

Forenames

Eric Eugene AWMM

Surname

Croker AWMM

Service number

• NZ391826 AWMM
• WWII 391826 AWMM

Gender

Male AWMM

Birth

1 Jan 1917 AWMM

Next of kin

• WW2 Mrs E.M. Croker (mother), 18 Te Ra Road, Point Chevalier, Auckland, New Zealand AWMM
• WW2 Mother: Mrs. E. M. Croker of Point Chevalier, Auckland AWMM

Relationship status

• Single/WWII AWMM
• Pre 12 Jul 1940 AWMM Single/WWII AWMM

War

World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM

Campaign

• Europe (Air) AWMM
• 1940 AWMM Battle of Britain AWMM

Armed force / branch

Air Force AWMM

Service number

• NZ391826 AWMM
• WWII 391826 AWMM

Military service

Civil Reserve of Pilots AWMM

Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers

• Royal Air Force, No. 260 Squadron AWMM
• Royal Air Force, No. 111 Squadron AWMM
• Royal Air Force, No. 260 Squadron AWMM
• Royal Air Force, No. 41 Squadron AWMM

Medals and Awards

• 1939-45 Star (Battle of Britain clasp) AWMM
• War Medal 1939-1945 AWMM

Military training

6 Operational Training Unit AWMM

Branch Trade Proficiency

Pilot

Public - Antonio - Researcher - 13 September 2025 - By Such Deeds, p.143: Colin Hanson

Enlistment

WW2 18 Dec 1939 AWMM
Age  22 AWMM
Electrical Apprentice/Civilian AWMM

Embarkation details

WW2 Vessel was Rangitane AWMM Sergeant AWMM Royal Air Force, No. 111 Squadron AWMM Royal New Zealand Air Force attached to Royal Air Force AWMM

Medical notes

• Hospital Diseases , Wounds, WWII AWMM
  Severe head Injuries were sustained in crash, admitted to Catterick Military Hospital where he later died. AWMM
• Killed in Air Accident, Cause of Death AWMM
  Died of wounds received in an aircraft accident AWMM

Last rank

WW2 Sergeant AWMM
Royal Air Force, No. 41 Squadron AWMM

Eric Croker was the son of Eric Arthur Croker, and of Ethel Maude Croker, of Point Chevalier, Auckland, New Zealand.

Suffered mortal injuries after a training plane crash

Portrait in Wynn, K. (1981). The Battle of Britain: 10 July- 31 October 1940. Next of kin details compiled from information in the Casualty lists published in the newspapers.

Attended Mount Albert Grammar & Thames High School (Source: RNZAF Biographies (R17845609)) AWMM

Death

1 Jun 1941 AWMM
Age  24 AWMM

Cause of death

Killed in Air Accident AWMM

Cemetery

Catterick Cemetery, Yorkshire, England AWMM C. of E. Sec. Row M. Grave 18. AWMM

Memorial name

• Mount Albert Grammar School, Alberton Ave, Mount Albert Auckland 1025 AWMM
• Auckland War Memorial Museum, World War 2 Hall of Memories AWMM

Related objects

External links

• Battle of Britain, a website.
  http://web.archive.org/web/20060403113135/http://www.raf.mod.uk/bob1940/bobhome.html
  Further Reference
• Battle of Britain Historical Society, a website.
  http://www.battleofbritain1940.net/
  Further Reference
• Air Casualties Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 139, 14 June 1941, Page 11
  http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=EP19410614.2.78&srpos
  Further Reference
• Commonwealth War Graves Commission record
  https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2407206
  Sources Used
• RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939 - 1945 (Bound Volumes) - Co - Dy. Archives New Zealand (R17845609)
  https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search/#/entity/aims-archive/R17845609
  Sources Used
• List of RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Personnel - List of Personnel Killed or Missing in Various Theatres, 1940 - 1945. Archives New Zealand (R17845744)
  https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search/#/entity/aims-archive/R17845744
  Sources Used
• See a list of New Zealanders awarded the Battle of Britain Clasp here (PDF). Compiled with the assistance of Errol Martyn and linked from the NZHistory page produced by Manatū Taonga, Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
  https://nzhistory.govt.nz/sites/default/files/documents/nz-battle-of-britain-list.pdf
  Further Reference
• Battle of Britain: Allied Pilots, Aircrew Remembered
  https://aircrewremembered.com/BattleOfBritainDatabase/battlebritain-alpha-list.html
  Further Reference
• Flight Safety Foundation:
  https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/121965
  Public - Antonio - Researcher - 14 April 2026 - Internet research

References

• Wynn, K. (1981). A clasp for "The Few". Auckland. N.Z.: Author.
  Wynn, K. (1981). p. 96-97
• Martyn, E. (1998-2008). For Your Tomorrow (Vols. 1-3). Christchurch, N.Z.: Volplane Press.
• Information kindly provided by family
• Ministry for Culture and Heritage. (2012). New Zealanders serving with RAF Fighter Command during the Battle of Britain, 10 July – 31 October 1940. [A list compiled by Ministry for Culture and Heritage with Errol Martyn].
• RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939 - 1945 (Bound Volumes) - Co - Dy. Archives New Zealand (R17845609) - Former archives reference: AIR118
• Please note that the 11 volumes of the "RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939-1945" held at Archives NZ (formerly known as AIR118) should be used in conjunction with Errol Martyn's "For Your Tomorrow". FYT reflects detailed examination of all of the AIR118 bios which contain many inaccuracies and omissions.
• List of RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Personnel - List of Personnel Killed or Missing in Various Theatres, 1940 - 1945. [(New Zealanders Attached to R.A.F. [Royal Air Force]) (Officers), (Europe) - Airmen]. Archives New Zealand (R17845744)
• Auckland Museum. Roll of Honour, Auckland Province, 1939 - 1945. Auckland War Memorial Museum Library. MS 93/139.