Bruce Colin Dreaver
Born 10 Dec 1920 - Died 13 Aug 1943
- Service number
- NZ40916 AWMM
- WWII 40916 AWMM
- Also known as
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- Armed force / branch
- Air Force AWMM
- Last rank
- Pilot Officer AWMM Royal Air Force, No. 49 Squadron AWMM
- War
- World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
About
- Title
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- Forenames
- Bruce Colin AWMM
- Surname
- Dreaver AWMM
- Ingoa
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- Also known as
- —
- Service number
- NZ40916 AWMM
- WWII 40916 AWMM
- Gender
- Male AWMM
- Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
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- Religion
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Images
Documents
About birth
- Birth
- 10 Dec 1920 AWMM
Auckland, New Zealand 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
- Mrs Mary M. Dreaver (mother), Kilarney Street, Takapuna, Auckland, New Zealand AWMM
- WW2 Mother: Mrs. M. M. Dreaver, P. O Box 1585, Auckland AWMM
- WW2 Parents: MR. & Mrs. A. J Dreaver of Auckland AWMM
- Relationship status
- Single/WWII AWMM
- Pre 07 Jun 1940 AWMM Single AWMM
Wars and conflicts
- War
- World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
- Campaign
- —
- Armed force / branch
- Air Force AWMM
- Service number
- NZ40916 AWMM
- WWII 40916 AWMM
- Military service
- No. 1 School of Army Co-Operation AWMM
- No. 2 Army Co-Operation Squadron AWMM
- Royal Air Force, No. 76 Squadron AWMM
- Royal Air Force, No. 104 Squadron AWMM
- Royal Air Force, No. 108 Squadron AWMM
- Royal Air Force, No. 1 Air Armament School AWMM
- Royal Air Force, No. 11 Operational Training Unit AWMM
- 1661 Conversion Unit AWMM
- Royal Air Force, No. 49 Squadron AWMM
- Royal Air Force, Central Gunnery School AWMM
- Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers
Military decorations
- Medals and Awards
- Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) AWMM
DFC. "Pilot Officer Dreaver, now in his second tour of operational duty, has served in the United Kingdom and Middle East Theatre of War. He is an Air Gunner of great enthusiasm and ability." AWMM - War Medal 1939-1945 AWMM
- New Zealand War Service Medal AWMM
- Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) AWMM
Training and Enlistment
- Military training
- Ground Training School, Levin AWMM
- No. 1 Air Observer's School, Ohakea AWMM
- Branch Trade Proficiency
- Air GunnerPublic - Antonio - Researcher - 15 September 2025 - By Such Deeds, p.165: Hanson
- Enlistment
- WW2 09 Apr 1940 AWMM
Age 19 AWMM
Cabinet Maker/Civilian AWMM - Age on enlistment
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- Occupation before enlistment
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Embarkations
- Embarkation details
- WW2 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 in Air Accident, Cause of Death AWMM
Killed in an aircraft accident AWMM
Last known rank
- Last rank
- Pilot Officer AWMM
Royal Air Force, No. 49 Squadron AWMM - Last rank
- —
Biographical information
- Son of Andrew James and the Hon. Mary Dreaver MBE, MLC, JP
He was killed in an aircraft collision.
At the time of his death, had flown 747 hours as an Air Gunner (planes were Vickers, Vincent, Westland Lysander, Hector, Halifax, Wellington (Merlin) II, Wellington (Pegasus IC) Fairy Gordon, Liberator, Manchester, Lamcaster Mark I & III, Oxford, Wellington IC.
He had completed 62 operational flights over Cologne, Kiel, Karlsruhe, Dortmund, Brest, Warship "Gneisenau", Sea searches for missing aircraft, Gibralter, Malta, El Fayum, Timimi, Matuba, Gazala, Benina, Berka, El Adem, Ships in Bay of Sirts, North Africa, Salamia, Parseus, Island of Rhodes, Dusberg, Dortmund, Essen, Dusseldorf, Wuppertal, Bochum, Friedrickshaven, Gelsenkerchen, Spezia, Turin, Pilsen.
Remembered on the Takapuna War Memorial, The Strand, Takapuna.
Next of kin details compiled from information in the Casualty lists published in the newspapers.
Attended Seddon Technical College (Source: RNZAF Biographies (R17845609)) AWMM
About death
- Death
- 13 Aug 1943 AWMM
Age 22 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 in Air Accident AWMM
- Death notes
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- Cemetery
- Beck Row (St John's) Churchyard, Mildenhall, Suffolk, England AWMM Row D. Grave 11. AWMM
- 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
- Newmarket War Memorial, Olympic Park, Newmarket, Auckland, New Zealand AWMM
- Takapuna War Memorial, The Strand, Takapuna, Auckland, New Zealand AWMM
- Takapuna War Memorial, (ex RSA Roll, on a boulder), The Strand, Takapuna, Auckland, New Zealand AWMM
- Auckland War Memorial Museum, World War 2 Hall of Memories AWMM
Related objects
Sources
- External links
- Ministry for Culture and Heritage, New Zealand History online. Takapuna War Memorial.
https://nzhistory.govt.nz/memorial/takapuna-war-memorial
Further Reference - Commonwealth War Graves Commission record
https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2720250
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 (R17845748)
https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search/#/entity/aims-archive/R17845748
Sources Used - Aviation Safety Network
https://asn.flightsafety.org/wikibase/155783Public - Antonio - Researcher - 14 August 2025 - Internet research
- Ministry for Culture and Heritage, New Zealand History online. Takapuna War Memorial.
- References
- Information kindly provided by family
- Information kindly provided by family
Log Book and One Diary are held by his brother (2000) - 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) - 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. [List of Killed - Officers (Canada, Pacific, Europe) - Airmen (Canada, India and Far East)]. Archives New Zealand (R17845748)
- 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.
V4,n4,p72 - Auckland Museum. Roll of Honour, Auckland Province, 1939 - 1945. Auckland War Memorial Museum Library. MS 93/139.
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