John Dorset Webster
Born 5 Apr 1917 - Died 23 Jul 1942
- Service number
- WWII NZ405351 AWMM
- WWII 405351 AWMM
- Also known as
- —
- Armed force / branch
- Air Force AWMM
- Last rank
- WW2 Pilot Officer AWMM Royal Air Force, No. 234 Squadron AWMM
- War
- World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
About
- Title
- —
- Forenames
- John Dorset AWMM
- Surname
- Webster AWMM
- Ingoa
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- Also known as
- —
- Service number
- WWII NZ405351 AWMM
- WWII 405351 AWMM
- Gender
- Male AWMM
- Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
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- Religion
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Images
Documents
About birth
- Birth
- 5 Apr 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 Lewis Dorset Webster (father), New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand AWMM
- WW2 Sister: Mrs I. M. Weston, 133 Powderham Street, New Plymouth AWMM
- Relationship status
- Single/WWII AWMM
Wars and conflicts
- War
- World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
- Campaign
- Europe (Air) AWMM
- Europe (Air) AWMM
- Armed force / branch
- Air Force AWMM
- Service number
- WWII NZ405351 AWMM
- WWII 405351 AWMM
- Military service
- British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, No. 32 Service Flying Training School, Moosejaw, Saskatchewan, Canada AWMM
Course 1: Graduation Date: 8/08/1941. AWMM - Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers
- Royal Air Force, No. 234 Squadron AWMM
Military decorations
- Medals and Awards
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Training and Enlistment
- Military training
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- Branch Trade Proficiency
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- Enlistment
- WW2 21 Dec 1940 AWMM Clerk/Civilian AWMM
- Age on enlistment
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- Occupation before enlistment
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Embarkations
- Embarkation details
- WW2 Vessel was Awatea AWMM Royal Air Force, No. 234 Squadron AWMM Royal New Zealand Air Force AWMM
Prisoner of war
- Capture details
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- Days interned
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- 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 on Active Service, Cause of Death AWMM
Last known rank
- Last rank
- WW2 Pilot Officer AWMM
Royal Air Force, No. 234 Squadron AWMM - Last rank
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Biographical information
- Son of Lewis Dorset Webster and of Adele Marie Webster (nee Avery), of New Plymouth
Attended New Plymouth Boys' High School (Source: RNZAF Biographies (R17845617))
406 hours as Pilot (Source: RNZAF Biographies (R17845617)) AWMM - John Webster was 15 years old when he left New Plymouth Boy’s High School in 1934 and went to work at the Taranaki Daily News in Hawera and then later on to the Farmer’s Co-op Society. In 1940 he enlisted in the RNZAF and received training in Levin and Bell Block before being transferred to Canada for further training. After more training in Scotland he was graded above average as a fighter pilot and was posted to 234 Fighter Squadron in Ibsley to fly spitfires. On July 23 1942 he was returning from a mission over France when his aircraft was lost without trace. It was assumed his aircraft had been brought down and lost at sea. His name is remembered on the Runnymede Memorial, England.Public - Louise - Researcher - 28 August 2020 - West, J. (1995). Lest We Forget. New Plymouth: New Plymouth Boy’s High School Centennial Trust.
Puke Ariki, Swainson/Woods Collection ARC#SW1944.1947
Retrieved from https://collection.pukeariki.com/objects/44239 - Operation: Sweep
Date: 23rd July 1942 (Thursday)
Unit: No. 234 Squadron (10 Group)
Type: Spitfire Vb
Serial: AR285
Code: AZ-?
Base: RAF Portreath, Cornwall
Location: English Channel off France
Pilot: P/O. John Dorset Webster NZ/405351 RNZAF Age 24. Missing believed killed
REASON FOR LOSS:
Taking off at 15:20 hrs for a sweep between Plousecat and Guissény the unit encountered flak and light machine gun fire near Landerneau as well as encountering enemy aircraft.
The squadron lost four pilots during this operation, apart from Sgt. Webster who is thought to have come down in the English Channel. (some reports state that he baled out - missing)
The others lost from the Squadron:
Spitfire Vb AD454 Flown by Sgt. W.H.T. Farmer 570023 RAFVR Taken PoW No: 25657 Camp: Stalag Lamsdorf (344)
Spitfire Vb AD541 Flown by Sgt. David Gordon Fuggle 1333176 RAFVR - Missing - believed killed.
Spitfire Vb AB864 Flown by P/O. Jorgen Billy Thalbitzer 110594 RAFVR - Taken PoW - Oflag XXIB - further details follow.
Burial details:
P/O. John Dorset Webster. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 117. The son of Lewis Dorset Webster and of Adele Marie Webster (née Avery), of New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand. 406 Flying hours logged and on his 91st operation.
Others:
Sgt. David Gordon Fuggle. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 83. No further details on next of kin - are you able to assist?
P/O. Jorgen Billy Thalbitzer. Vestre Cemetery (Copenhagen). No further details on next of kin - are you able to assist?
Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to the research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, Auckland Cenotaph, Weekly News of New ZealandPublic - kelvin - Researcher - 5 November 2017 - http://aircrewremembered.com/webster-john-dorset.html
- Son of Lewis Dorset Webster and of Adele Marie Webster (nee Avery), of New Plymouth
About death
- Death
- 23 Jul 1942 AWMM
Age 25 AWMM - Date of death
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- Age at death
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- Place of death
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- Cause of death
- Killed on Active Service 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
Sources
- External links
- Commonwealth War Graves Commission record
https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/1531170
Sources Used - RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939 - 1945 (Bound Volumes) - Ue - Z. Archives New Zealand (R17845617)
https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search/#/entity/aims-archive/R17845617
Sources Used
- Commonwealth War Graves Commission record
- References
- Martyn, E. (1998-2008). For Your Tomorrow (Vols. 1-3). Christchurch, N.Z.: Volplane Press.
pp.499-500 - 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) - Ue - Z. Archives New Zealand (R17845617) - 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).
- Martyn, E. (1998-2008). For Your Tomorrow (Vols. 1-3). Christchurch, N.Z.: Volplane Press.
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