Tame Hawaikirangi Thomas Waerea
Born 31 Jul 1915 - Died 28 Sept 1943
- Service number
- WWII NZ421300 AWMM
- WWII 421300 AWMM
- Also known as
- Tom Waerea AWMM
- Thomas Hawaikirangi AWMM
- Armed force / branch
- Air Force AWMM
- Last rank
- WW2 Pilot Officer AWMM Royal Air Force, No. 75 (NZ) Squadron AWMM
- War
- World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
About
- Title
- —
- Forenames
- Tame Hawaikirangi Thomas AWMM
- Surname
- Waerea AWMM
- Ingoa
- —
- Also known as
- Tom Waerea AWMM
- Thomas Hawaikirangi AWMM
- Service number
- WWII NZ421300 AWMM
- WWII 421300 AWMM
- Gender
- Male AWMM
- Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
- Iwi Māori, Māori AWMM
- Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngā Iwi o Tākitimu, Tākitimu, Waka o Ngā Iwi, Ngā Iwi, Māori AWMM
- Religion
- Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints AWMM
Images
Documents
About birth
- Birth
- 31 Jul 1915 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 Takumanawa Waerea (wife), 10 Churton St, Parnell, Auckland, New Zealand AWMM
- WW2 Wife: Mrs Taku Waerea, 10 Churton Street, Parnell, Auckland AWMM
- Relationship status
- Married/WWII AWMM
- Pre 08 Apr 1943 AWMM Married/WWII AWMM
Married, 3 children 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 NZ421300 AWMM
- WWII 421300 AWMM
- Military service
- Territorial Cadets (2 years) AWMM
- Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers
- Royal Air Force, No. 75 (NZ) Squadron AWMM
Military decorations
- Medals and Awards
- 1939-1945 Star AWMM
- Air Crew Europe Star AWMM
- Defence Medal AWMM
- War Medal 1939-1945 AWMM
- New Zealand War Service Medal AWMM
Training and Enlistment
- Military training
- 25 Feb 1942 AWMM
Royal New Zealand Air Force, Initial Training Wing, Rotorua AWMM - 08 Apr 1942 AWMM
Attached to Royal Canadian Air Force, Empire Training Scheme AWMM - British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, No. 3 Wireless School, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada AWMM
- British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, No. 3 Wireless School, Winnipeg, Manitoba & 3 Bombing and Gunnery School, MacDonald, Manitoba, Canada AWMM
- Royal Air Force, No. 11 Operational Training Unit, Oakley AWMM
- Royal Air Force, No. 26 Operational Training Unit, Little Horwood, Buckinghamshire AWMM
- British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, No. 3 Wireless School, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada AWMM
Course 1: Class 43. Graduation Date: 19/03/1943. AWMM - British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, No. 3 Bombing and Gunnery School, MacDonald, Manitoba, Canada AWMM
- 25 Feb 1942 AWMM
- Branch Trade Proficiency
- —
- Enlistment
- WW2 25 Feb 1942 AWMM
Age 27 AWMM
Storeman/Civilian AWMM - Age on enlistment
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- Occupation before enlistment
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Embarkations
- Embarkation details
- WW2 Vessel was Orcades 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
- Height, Unknown Period AWMM
5 feet 7 1/4 inches AWMM - Hair colour, Unknown Period AWMM
Black AWMM - Eye colour, Unknown Period AWMM
Brown AWMM - Complexion, Unknown Period AWMM
Dark AWMM - Distinguishing marks, Unknown Period AWMM
Scar on Right forearm & right lower leg AWMM - Killed on Active Service, Cause of Death AWMM
- Height, Unknown Period AWMM
Last known rank
- Last rank
- WW2 Pilot Officer AWMM
Royal Air Force, No. 75 (NZ) Squadron AWMM - Last rank
- —
Biographical information
- Son of Niwa and Emere Waerea of Nuhaka, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand.
According to family, Pilot Officer Waerea was one of three Maori in the initial intake to the Air Force in World War II. At the time of his death, he was an Air Gunner.
Sergeant - 19 March 1943
Flight Sergeant - 19 September 1943
Pilot Officer - 24 September 1943
Was a rear Gunner.
Pilot Officer Waerea was a member of the crew of a Stirling Aircraft involved in an attack on Hanover on the night 27/28 September 1943. The aircraft failed to return and he was classified as missing (The New Zealand Herald noted on 9 November 1943 that Pilot Officer F.H. Waerea was missing on air operations.) Later information was received from a source to the International Red Cross, that he had lost his life. (On 23 November the Herald recorded that he was missing believed killed.)
A post-war casualty search found that the plane had crashed near Heilseded, and that he was buried there. Flight Sergeant R.C. Whitmore of Pukekohe and Flying Officer D.M. Adamson of Auckland also perished in the plane.
Attended Te Aute College and Maori Agricultural College near Hastings (Source: RNZAF Biographies (R17845617))
192 hours as air gunner (Source: RNZAF Biographies (R17845617)) AWMM
About death
- Death
- 28 Sept 1943 AWMM
Age 29 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
- Hanover War Cemetery, Hannover, Niedersachsen, Germany AWMM Joint Grave 8. C. 5-6 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
- Whakarewarewa, Te Hokowhitu-a-tu Memorial Gateway, Rotorua 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/2101237
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 - List of RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Personnel - List of Personnel Killed or Missing in Various Theatres, 1940 - 1945. Archives New Zealand (R17845747)
https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search/#/entity/aims-archive/R17845747
Sources Used - Find a Grave link with more photos:Public - C - 17 August 2024 - https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/18586286/thomas-hawaikirangi-waerea
- https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/265180Public - Antonio - Researcher - 30 November 2022 - web research
- Commonwealth War Graves Commission record
- References
- 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.
- Martyn, E. (1998-2008). For Your Tomorrow (Vols. 1-3). Christchurch, N.Z.: Volplane Press.
vol.3, p.489 - Information kindly provided by family
- 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 - List of Personnel Killed or Missing in Various Theatres, 1940 - 1945. [List of Missing]. Archives New Zealand (R17845747)
- List of RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Personnel - Embarkation Lists, November 1940 - July 1942. Archives New Zealand, Wellington (R17845762).
- Auckland Museum. Roll of Honour, Auckland Province, 1939 - 1945. Auckland War Memorial Museum Library. MS 93/139.
- https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/18586286/thomas-hawaikirangi-waereaPublic - C - 17 August 2024 - https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/18586286/thomas-hawaikirangi-waerea
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