Thomas Russell Murfitt
Born 15 Dec 1915 - Died 24 Oct 1940
- Service number
- 42759 AWMM
- Also known as
- —
- Armed force / branch
- Air Force AWMM
- Last rank
- War
- World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
About
- Title
- —
- Forenames
- Thomas Russell AWMM
- Surname
- Murfitt AWMM
- Ingoa
- —
- Also known as
- —
- Service number
- 42759 AWMM
- Gender
- Male AWMM
- Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
- —
- Religion
- —
Images
Documents
About birth
- Birth
- 15 Dec 1915 RNZAF Biographies (R17845613)
- 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
- —
- Next of kin
- WW2 Mother: Mrs. A. E. Murfitt, Kare Kare via Glen Eden, Auckland AWMM
- WW2 Parents: Mr. & Mrs. E. E. Murfitt of Te Hana, North Auckland AWMM
- Relationship status
- Single/WWII AWMM
- Unknown AWMM Married AWMM
Wars and conflicts
- War
- World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
- Campaign
- 1940 AWMM Battle of Britain AWMM
- Murfitt was a bomber pilot, 102 Sqn, and was not involved in the Battle of BritainPublic - John - Researcher - 21 June 2026 - 102 Squadron Operations Record Book. He is not listed on any official Battle of Britain aircrew lists.
- Armed force / branch
- Air Force AWMM
- Service number
- 42759 AWMM
- Military service
- —
- Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers
- Royal Air Force, No. Bomber Command, 102 Squadron AWMM
Military decorations
- Medals and Awards
- Murfitt was enlisted as a member of the Royal Air Force, accepted as a Short Service Commission pilot pre-war. As he was not a member of the New Zealand armed forces he would not receive the New Zealand War Service Medal. His service medal entitlement would be: 1939-45 Star, Air Crew Europe Star, Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-45. Additionally, next of kin (Mother and wife) were entitled to receive the New Zealand Memorial Cross due to his death on active service.Public - John - Researcher - 21 June 2026 - New Zealand Medal entitlement regulations, Ministry of Defence. Personnel files.
Training and Enlistment
- Military training
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- Branch Trade Proficiency
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- Enlistment
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- Age on enlistment
- —
- Occupation before enlistment
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Embarkations
- Embarkation details
- WW2 Royal 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
- Pilot Officer (Pilot) AWMM
- Bomber Command AWMM Royal Air Force, No. 102 Squadron AWMM
- Last rank
- —
Biographical information
- Son of Ernest Edward and Alberdine Elizabeth Gertrude Murfitt, of Karekare, Auckland; husband of Anne Murfitt, of Willesden, Middlesex
Of Auckland and Wellsford
Attended Seddon Memorial Technical College (Source: RNZAF Biographies (R17845613)) AWMM - Murfitt's last 'assignment' was as one of two pilots aboard a Whitley V P5073 DY-D twin-engine bomber of 102 Squadron. The squadron was detailed to attack the Air Ministry buildings in the heavily defended German Capital, Berlin. Nine aircraft from the squadron were involved. Taking off at 2202 hrs the Whitley had only attained an altitude of 1400ft when it was attacked by German night fighter ace team Unteroffizier ernst Meissler (pilot) and Lt Hans Hahn in their Junkers 88 night fighter. The Whitley was hit in the petrol tanks and caught fire. Vital controls were damaged and the pilot P/O Anthony Davies RAF attempted to crash land. The Whitley struck a tree and flames engulfed the cabin. Thomas Murfitt and fellow New Zealander Ian Scoular were killed in the crash. Pilot P/O Davies was injured but with and gunners Sgt Angus Wilson and P/O Terence Lee escaped the burning wreck. However, both gunners died of their injuries in hospital over the coming few days. P/O Davies was also injured but survived.
The aircraft was completely destroyed by fire and bomb blast. The Whitley had taken off from RAF Linton-On-Ouse and crashed between the villages of Tholthorpe and Alne near the city of York.
Murfitt and Scoular are both buried in the All Saints Church cemetery Newton-on-Ouse.Public - John - Researcher - 21 June 2026 - Personnel file, Errol Martyn, For Your Tomorrow Vols 1 and 3, Commonwealth War Graves Commission, 102 Squadron RAF Operations Record Book (October 1940), Fid a Grave, NZ Papers Past (National Library of NZ)
- Son of Ernest Edward and Alberdine Elizabeth Gertrude Murfitt, of Karekare, Auckland; husband of Anne Murfitt, of Willesden, Middlesex
About death
- Death
- 24 Oct 1940 AWMM
Age 24 AWMM - Date of death
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- Age at death
- —
- Place of death
- —
- Cause of death
- Killed on Active Service AWMM
- Death notes
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- Cemetery
- Newton-Upon-Ouse (All Saints) Churchyard, Yorkshire, England AWMM Row Q. Grave 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
- Wellsford War Memorial, Wellsford, New Zealand AWMM
- Wellsford War Memorial Library, Wellsford, New Zealand AWMM
- Roll of Honour, Wellsford War Memorial Library, WW1 & WW2, Wellsford, New Zealand AWMM
- Tomarata War Memorial, School Road, Wellsford, Rodney, New Zealand AWMM
- Roll of Honour, Wellsford RSA, 1 Olympus Road, Wellsford AWMM
- Auckland War Memorial Museum, World War 2 Hall of Memories AWMM
Related objects
Sources
- External links
- Wellsford War Memorial (gates, Wellsford Park).
http://socialstudies.unitecnology.ac.nz/gallipoli_webquest/Wellsford_war_memorial.htm
Further Reference - Ministry for Culture and Heritage, New Zealand History online. Wellsford War Memorial
https://nzhistory.govt.nz/memorial/wellsford-war-memorial
Further Reference - Albertland & Districts Museum, Memorial Park, Wellsford, New Zealand
http://www.albertland.co.nz/
Further Reference - Commonwealth War Graves Commission record
https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2412736/THOMAS%20RUSSELL%20MURFITT/
Further Reference - RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939 - 1945 (Bound Volumes) - Ma - McW. Archives New Zealand (R17845613)
https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search/#/entity/aims-archive/R17845613
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 (R17845744)
https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search/#/entity/aims-archive/R17845744
Sources Used
- Wellsford War Memorial (gates, Wellsford Park).
- References
- Martyn, E. (1998-2008). For Your Tomorrow (Vols. 1-3). Christchurch, N.Z.: Volplane Press.
- RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] - Historical Items - Battle of Britain Roll of Honour, July - October 1940. Archives New Zealand, Wellington, ADQA 17263 AIR118/109/77e (R17845784)
- RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939 - 1945 (Bound Volumes) - Ma - McW. Archives New Zealand (R17845613) - 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. [(New Zealanders Attached to R.A.F. [Royal Air Force]) (Officers), (Europe) - Airmen]. Archives New Zealand (R17845744)
- List of RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Personnel - List of Deceased New Zealanders (Formerly) serving with RAF [Royal Air Force]. Archives New Zealand, Wellington (R17845760).
- Auckland Museum. Roll of Honour, Auckland Province, 1939 - 1945. Auckland War Memorial Museum Library. MS 93/139.
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