Robert Crozier
Born 16 Jun 1917 - Died 21 Feb 1942
- Service number
- NZ401641 AWMM
- WWII 401641 AWMM
- Also known as
- —
- Armed force / branch
- Air Force AWMM
- Last rank
- Pilot Officer AWMM Royal Air Force, No. 500 Squadron AWMM
- War
- World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
About
- Title
- —
- Forenames
- Robert AWMM
- Surname
- Crozier AWMM
- Ingoa
- —
- Also known as
- —
- Service number
- NZ401641 AWMM
- WWII 401641 AWMM
- Gender
- Male AWMM
- Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
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- Religion
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Images
Documents
About birth
- Birth
- 16 Jun 1917 AWMM
- Date of birth
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- Place of birth
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- Birth notes
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- Address before enlistment
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- Post war occupation
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- Next of kin
- WW2 Parents: Mr. & Mrs. R. F. Crozier of Timaru AWMM
- Relationship status
- Single/WWII AWMM
- Unknown AWMM Single AWMM
Wars and conflicts
- War
- World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
- Campaign
- Europe (Air) AWMM
- Armed force / branch
- Air Force AWMM
- Service number
- NZ401641 AWMM
- WWII 401641 AWMM
- Military service
- Royal New Zealand Air Force attached to Royal Canadian Air Force AWMM
- Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers
- Royal Air Force, No. 500 Squadron AWMM
Military decorations
- Medals and Awards
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Training and Enlistment
- Military training
- British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, No. 6 Air Observer School, Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Canada AWMM
Course 1: Class RUG. Graduation Date: 18/08/1941. AWMM - British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, No. 3 Bombing and Gunnery School, MacDonald, Manitoba, Canada AWMM
- British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, No. 1 Air Navigation School, Rivers, Manitoba, Canada AWMM
- British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, No. 6 Air Observer School, Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Canada AWMM
- Branch Trade Proficiency
- —
- Enlistment
- WW2 Unknown AWMM Draughtsman/Engineer/Civilian AWMM
- Age on enlistment
- —
- Occupation before enlistment
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Embarkations
- Embarkation details
- WW2 Vessel was Aorangi AWMM Royal New Zealand Air Force AWMM
Prisoner of war
- Capture details
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- Days interned
- —
- Liberation date
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- POW liberation details
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- Liberation Repatriation
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- POW serial number
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Medical history
- Medical notes
- Killed in Action, Cause of Death AWMM
Killed on air operations AWMM
Last known rank
- Last rank
- Pilot Officer AWMM
Royal Air Force, No. 500 Squadron AWMM - Last rank
- —
Biographical information
- Robert Crozier was the son of Robert Fredrick and Annie Swallow Crozier of Timaru, Canterbury, New Zealand.
Brother of Alexander Crozier (NZ415749) who was killed on air operations 2 March 1944
Attended Taumarunui District & Whangarei High School (Source: RNZAF Biographies (R17845609)) AWMM - Robert Crozier
16 June 1917 — 21 February 1942
Robert Crozier was born in Invercargill on 16 June 1917 to Robert Frederick Crozier (b. 1882; Newcastleton, Roxburghshire, Scotland) and Anne Swallow Crozier (née Stewart; b. 1884; Southland, New Zealand). Robert was their first child and the eldest of three boys.
When war broke out, Robert joined the Royal New Zealand Air Force and trained to become a pilot. He was eventually posted to 500 Squadron, Royal Airforce and flew reconnaissance in a Lockheed Martin Hudson: VAM697/K. Robert had 203 flight hours to his credit and the mission he took on 21 February 1942 was only his fourth operation.
Saturday 21 February 1942
Four Lockheed Martin Hudson coastal reconnaissance aircraft of 500 Squadron took off from Bircham Newton, Norfolk, on Operation “Shadow” off the Danish coast. They were searching for German shipping and naval vessels. ‘Q’ was the first to depart 14:55; returned at 16:10 owing to a suspected engine failure. ‘H’ departed at 15:05 and returned 18:00 hours as both engines out, probably due to icing. ‘A’ departed at 15:15 and later sighted two Danish trawlers at 54° 27’ N; 4° 26’ E, sailing on a NW course. Nothing further sighted. ‘A’ crash-landed at Leuchars (RAF base south of Dundee). ‘K’ took off at 15:28 but did not return. The aircraft was lost without trace in the North Sea, it’s crew of four missing. All were later commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial:
Pilot Officer Robert Crozier; 401641; Royal New Zealand Air Force, NZ; 24 years
Sergeant Frederick Douglas Orgar; 957398; Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, UK; 23 years
Flight Sergeant Roy Livingstone Pitkin; 776091; Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, UK; 22 years
Sergeant Clarence Leslie Broadfield; 1164579; Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, UK; 20 yearsPublic - Michael - Other relative - 13 November 2017 - Air Ministry Squadron Operations Records, National Archives, Kew. Catalogue reference: AIR/27/1942
Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Runnymede Memorial
- Robert Crozier was the son of Robert Fredrick and Annie Swallow Crozier of Timaru, Canterbury, New Zealand.
About death
- Death
- 21 Feb 1942 AWMM
Age 25 AWMM - Date of death
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- Age at death
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- Place of death
- —
- Cause of death
- Killed in Action AWMM
- Death notes
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- Cemetery
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- Cemetery name
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- Grave reference
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- Obituary
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- Memorial name
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- Memorial reference
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Memorial
- Memorial name
- Runnymede Memorial, Surrey, United Kingdom AWMM
- Auckland War Memorial Museum, World War 2 Hall of Memories AWMM
Related objects
Sources
- External links
- Commonwealth War Graves Commission record
https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/231595
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
- Commonwealth War Graves Commission record
- References
- Martyn, E. (1998-2008). For Your Tomorrow (Vols. 1-3). Christchurch, N.Z.: Volplane Press.
Martyn, E. (1998-2008). Vol. 1, p.183 and Vol. 3, p.153 - This record is a work in progress and was partially compiled from the “Database of New Zealand Airmen who took part in Advanced Air Training in Canada during WW2”. Researched by Ivan and Lorna Lindsey of Tauranga. N.Z. 2003 – 2012. Reproduced with permission.
- RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939 - 1945 (Bound Volumes) - Co - Dy. Archives New Zealand (R17845609) - 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.
- Auckland Museum. Roll of Honour, Auckland Province, 1939 - 1945. Auckland War Memorial Museum Library. MS 93/139.
- Martyn, E. (1998-2008). For Your Tomorrow (Vols. 1-3). Christchurch, N.Z.: Volplane Press.
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