William Arthur Coleman Ball
Born 14 Sept 1916 - Died 8 Mar 1943
- Service number
- NZ39786 AWMM
- WWII 39786 AWMM
- Also known as
- —
- Armed force / branch
- Air Force AWMM
- Last rank
- Squadron Leader AWMM Royal Air Force, No. 156 Squadron AWMM
- War
- World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
About
- Title
- —
- Forenames
- William Arthur Coleman AWMM
- Surname
- Ball AWMM
- Ingoa
- —
- Also known as
- —
- Service number
- NZ39786 AWMM
- WWII 39786 AWMM
- Gender
- Male AWMM
- Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
- —
- Religion
- —
Images
Documents
About birth
- Birth
- 14 Sept 1916 RNZAF Biographies (R17845607)
- Date of birth
- —
- Place of birth
- —
- Birth notes
- —
- Address before enlistment
- —
- Post war occupation
- —
- Next of kin
- WW2 Mother: Mrs W. Herbert, 70 Ava Street, Petone AWMM
- Relationship status
- Single/WWII AWMM
Wars and conflicts
- War
- World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
- Campaign
- Europe (Air Force) AWMM
- Europe (Air) AWMM
- Armed force / branch
- Air Force AWMM
- Service number
- NZ39786 AWMM
- WWII 39786 AWMM
- Military service
- 83 sorties from Malta & North Africa, 18 sorties with pathfinder force of 156Sq.Public - Richard John - Other Relative - 12 May 2015 - "By Such Deeds" C M Hanson
- 38 Squadron (RAF) 156 Squadron(RAF)Public - Richard John - Other Relative - 12 May 2015 - "By Such Deeds"C M Hanson
- 83 sorties from Malta & North Africa, 18 sorties with pathfinder force of 156Sq.
- Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers
Military decorations
- Medals and Awards
- Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) AWMM
- Mentioned in Despatches (MiD) AWMM
- War Medal 1939-1945 AWMM
- New Zealand War Service Medal AWMM
- This officer has completed operational flights over many heavily defended targets in Greece,Libya,Italy, & Germany. He took part in the 1000 bomber raids on Cologne and the Rhur. On all occasions he displayed navigational ability of a very high standard, and it has been due to his skill and devotion that his many and varied missions have been successfully completed. (DFC citation)Public - Richard John - Other Relative - 12 May 2015 - "By Such Deeds" C M Hanson & Air Ministry Bulletin 9511
Training and Enlistment
- Military training
- —
- Branch Trade Proficiency
- —
- Enlistment
- —
- Age on enlistment
- —
- Occupation before enlistment
- —
Embarkations
- Embarkation details
- WW2 Royal New Zealand Air Force AWMM
Prisoner of war
- Capture details
- —
- Days interned
- —
- Liberation date
- —
- POW liberation details
- —
- Liberation Repatriation
- —
- POW serial number
- —
Medical history
- Medical notes
- Killed in Action, Cause of Death AWMM
Last known rank
- Last rank
- Squadron Leader AWMM
Royal Air Force, No. 156 Squadron AWMM - Last rank
- —
Biographical information
- Son of William Coleman Ball and Winnie Ball
Attended Nelson College (Source: RNZAF Biographies (R17845607))
834 hours as Navigator ---hours as Pilot (Source: RNZAF Biographies (R17845607)) AWMM - The son of WC & W Ball, Bill was born in Palmerston North on September 14 1916. He attended Featherston District High School & Nelson College where he was a house prefect & played in the 2nd rugby 15 & the 2nd cricket eleven. in 1934 he commenced work with T & G Mutual Life Assurance Society in WellingtonPublic - Richard John - Other Relative - 12 May 2015 - Family history research
- Son of William Coleman Ball and Winnie Ball
About death
- Death
- 8 Mar 1943 AWMM
Age 26 AWMM - Date of death
- 9 March 1943Public - John - Researcher - 16 July 2025 - CWGC
- Age at death
- —
- Place of death
- —
- Cause of death
- Killed in Action AWMM
- Death notes
- Claim by Oblt Gerhard Friedrich 10/NJG4 - Hofstatten North West of Rinnthall (Buchfink): 4,500m at 23:35.Public - John - Researcher - 16 July 2025 - Nachtjagd Combat Archive 1943 Part 1 - Theo Boiten
- Cemetery
- Rheinberg War Cemetery, Kamp Lintfort, Nordrhein-Westfal, Germany AWMM 18 C 1 AWMM
- Cemetery name
- —
- Grave reference
- —
- Obituary
- —
- Memorial name
- —
- Memorial reference
- —
Memorial
- Memorial name
- —
Sources
- External links
- Commonwealth War Graves Commission record
https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2042320
Sources Used - RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939 - 1945 (Bound Volumes) - Ab - B. Archives New Zealand (R17845607).
https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search/#/entity/aims-archive/R17845607
Sources Used
- Commonwealth War Graves Commission record
- References
- Martyn, E. (1998-2008). For Your Tomorrow (Vols. 1-3). Christchurch, N.Z.: Volplane Press.
- RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939 - 1945 (Bound Volumes) - Ab - B. Archives New Zealand (R17845607) - Former archives reference: AIR118
- List of RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Personnel - List of Personnel Killed or Missing in Various Theatres, 1940 - 1945. [Missing - But Presumed Dead on Lapse of Time - Officers, Airmen]. Archives New Zealand (R17845743)
- 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 - Embarkation Lists, November 1940 - July 1942. Archives New Zealand, Wellington (R17845762).
- Royal New Zealand Air Force. (1941–1945). Contact: National magazine of the R.N.Z.A.F.; the official organ of the Air Force Association (Inc.). Levin, New Zealand: Royal New Zealand Air Force.
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