Richard Allen Piers Opie

Forenames

Richard Allen Piers AWMM

Surname

Opie AWMM

Service number

• NZ421286 AWMM
• WWII 421286 AWMM

Gender

Male AWMM

Birth

21 Nov 1920 RNZAF Biographies (R17845614)

Next of kin

• WW2 Mother: Mrs. HP. Opie, Mokau, Taranaki AWMM
• WW2 Parents: Mr. & Mrs. H. P. Opie of Mokau, Taranaki AWMM

Relationship status

Single/WWII AWMM

War

World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM

Campaign

Battle of Atlantic AWMM

Armed force / branch

Air Force AWMM

Service number

• NZ421286 AWMM
• WWII 421286 AWMM

Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers

Royal Air Force, No. 490 (NZ) Squadron AWMM

Military training

• British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, No. 3 Wireless School, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada AWMM
  Course 1: Class 43. Graduation Date: 21/12/1942. AWMM
• British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, No. 8 Bombing and Gunnery School, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada AWMM
• British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, No. 32 Operational Training Unit, Patricia Bay, British Columbia, Canada AWMM

Embarkation details

WW2 Vessel was Orcades AWMM Royal New Zealand Air Force AWMM

Medical notes

Killed on Active Service, Cause of Death AWMM

Last rank

Warrant Officer AWMM
Royal Air Force, No. 490 (NZ) Squadron AWMM

Richard Opie was the son of Harold Piers Opie and Kate Ester Opie (nee Corbett), Mokau, Taranaki, New Zealand.

Attended Massey Agricultural College (Source: RNZAF Biographies (R17845614)) AWMM

Death

13 Jul 1944 AWMM
Age  23 AWMM

Cause of death

Killed on Active Service AWMM

Memorial name

• Malta Memorial, Malta AWMM
• Auckland War Memorial Museum, World War 2 Hall of Memories AWMM

Related objects

External links

• Commonwealth War Graves Commission record
  https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/1532959
  Sources Used
• RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939 - 1945 (Bound Volumes) - Na - Py. Archives New Zealand (R17845614)
  https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search/#/entity/aims-archive/R17845614
  Sources Used

References

• 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)
  Reference is made in Maurice E. McGreal's diary to his death (last few pages). Refer to the MS Collection, Auckland War Memorial Museum.
• Martyn, E. (1998-2008). For Your Tomorrow (Vols. 1-3). Christchurch, N.Z.: Volplane Press.
• 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) - Na - Py. Archives New Zealand (R17845614) - 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 - 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.