Richard Macklow Trousdale
Born 23 Jan 1921 - Died 16 Jun 1947
- Service number
- 42163 AWMM
- NZ2414 AWMM
- Also known as
- —
- Armed force / branch
- Air Force AWMM
- Last rank
- Wing Commander AWMM Royal New Zealand Air Force AWMM
- War
About
- Title
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- Forenames
- Richard Macklow AWMM
- Surname
- Trousdale AWMM
- Ingoa
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- Also known as
- —
- Service number
- 42163 AWMM
- NZ2414 AWMM
- Gender
- Male AWMM
- Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
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- Religion
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Images
Documents
About birth
- Birth
- 23 Jan 1921 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
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- Relationship status
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Wars and conflicts
- War
- Campaign
- 1940 AWMM Battle of Britain AWMM
- Armed force / branch
- Air Force AWMM
- Service number
- 42163 AWMM
- NZ2414 AWMM
- Military service
- Royal Air Force, No. 11 Elementary and Reserve Flying Training School, Scone AWMM
- British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, No. 9 Service Flying Training School, Summerside, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Canada AWMM
- British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, No. 10 Air Observer School, Chatham, New Brunswick, Canada AWMM
- Royal Air Force, No. 266 Squadron AWMM
- Royal Air Force, No. 255 Squadron AWMM
- Royal Air Force, No. 409 Squadron AWMM
- Royal Air Force, No. 488 (NZ) Squadron AWMM
- Royal Air Force, Headquarters, No. 12 Group, Watnall AWMM
- Royal Air Force, Telecommunications Flying Unit, Defford AWMM
- Royal Air Force, No. 51 Operational Training Unit (OTU) Commanding Officer July 1943 - March 1944Public - Antonio - Researcher - 23 July 2026 - By Such Deeds, p.485: Hanson
- Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers
- —
Military decorations
- Medals and Awards
- Distinguished Flying Cross and bar (DFC*) AWMM
Citation for Distinguished Flying Cross; "Since the early months of the war this officer has been continuously employed as a fighter pilot, and his keenness and enthusiasm for operations has been most marked. He has destroyed at least four enemy aircraft including one at night." Citation for Bar to Distinguished Flying Cross; "This officer is an exceptionally akilful and keen fighter pilot. He has destroyed eight hostile aircraft, five of which he has shot down at night." Hanson, p.485 AWMM - 1939-45 Star (Battle of Britain clasp) AWMM
- War Medal 1939-1945 AWMM
- Distinguished Flying Cross and bar (DFC*) AWMM
Training and Enlistment
- Military training
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- Branch Trade Proficiency
- PilotPublic - Antonio - Researcher - 23 July 2026 - By Such Deeds, p.485: Hanson
- Enlistment
- Inter War Feb 1938 AWMM
- Age on enlistment
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- Occupation before enlistment
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Embarkations
- Embarkation details
- WW2 Vessel was Tainui AWMM 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 in Air Accident, Cause of Death AWMM
Killed in an aircraft accident AWMM
Last known rank
- Last rank
- Wing Commander AWMM
Royal New Zealand Air Force AWMM - Last rank
- —
Biographical information
- Richard Trousdale was the son of Archibald and Clarice Rebecca Trousdale, of Howick, Auckland, New Zealand; husband of Dorothy Christine Trousdale, of Howick.
Attended Howick District High School
Portrait in Wynn, K. (1981). The Battle of Britain: 10 July- 31 October 1940
WWII Fighter Ace, "Credited with the destruction of eight German aircraft, two probables and one damaged whilst serving with 266 Squadron Royal Air Force (Spitfire), 255 Squadron Royal Air Force (Defiant), and 409 Royal Canadian Air Force and 488 Squadron, Royal New Zealand Air Force (both Beaufighters). Commanding Officer 488 Squadron, July 1942 - February 1943. Commanding Officer 51 OTU Royal Air Force July 1943-to March 1944. Attended the Empire Test Pilots' School (second course) Royal Air Force March 1944 - March 1945. Killed in Aircraft Accident 16 June 1947, at RAF Pershore England while preparing to ferry a Mosquito to New Zealand." Hanson, p.485. AWMM - 1947: 16th June. Mosquito TV965 of No.1 Ferry Unit. Crew:
P1: Flt Lt A C White DFC. 46313 RAF: + 2712338.
P2: Wg Cdr R M Trousdale DFC*. NZ2414: + 2691773
Dual acceptance flight comprising asymmetric powered flying, approaching and overshooting in preparation for a Mosquito delivery flight to New Zealand.
Stalled and crashed near Throckmorton while on approach to RAF Pershore, Throckmorton, Worcestershire after turning into the dead engine.Public - Antonio - Researcher - 5 May 2024 - https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/65743
- Richard Trousdale was the son of Archibald and Clarice Rebecca Trousdale, of Howick, Auckland, New Zealand; husband of Dorothy Christine Trousdale, of Howick.
About death
- Death
- 16 Jun 1947 AWMM
Age 26 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
- Bath (Haycombe) Cemetery, Somerset, England AWMM Plot 39. Sec. H. Row F. Grave 243 AWMM
- Cemetery name
- HaycombePublic - Rosemary - Self - 9 November 2020 - Battle of Britain Historical Society - ensure that graves are cared fo.
- Grave reference
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- Obituary
- I live near Haycombe and paid tribute to this Pilot today 8/11/1020Public - Rosemary - Self - 9 November 2020 - referred by the Battle of Britain Historical Society
- Memorial name
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- Memorial reference
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Memorial
- Memorial name
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Sources
- External links
- Battle of Britain, a website.
http://web.archive.org/web/20060403113135/http://www.raf.mod.uk/bob1940/bobhome.html
Further Reference - Battle of Britain Historical Society, a website.
http://www.battleofbritain1940.net/
Further Reference - Commonwealth War Graves Commission record
https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2691773
Sources Used - See a list of New Zealanders awarded the Battle of Britain Clasp here (PDF). Compiled with the assistance of Errol Martyn and linked from the NZHistory page produced by Manatū Taonga, Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
https://nzhistory.govt.nz/sites/default/files/documents/nz-battle-of-britain-list.pdf
Further Reference - Battle of Britain: Allied Pilots, Aircrew Remembered
https://aircrewremembered.com/BattleOfBritainDatabase/battlebritain-alpha-list.html
Further Reference - Wikipedia contributors. (2025, November 15). List of World War II aces from New Zealand. In Wikipedia.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_World_War_II_aces_from_New_Zealand
Further Reference - Aviation Safety Network:
https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/65743Public - Antonio - Researcher - 25 June 2026 - Internet research - Aircrew Remembered:
https://aircrewremembered.com/trousdale-richard-macklow.htmlPublic - Antonio - Researcher - 25 June 2026 - Internet research
- Battle of Britain, a website.
- References
- Martyn, E. (1998-2008). For Your Tomorrow (Vols. 1-3). Christchurch, N.Z.: Volplane Press.
- Wynn, K. (1981). A clasp for "The Few". Auckland. N.Z.: Author.
p. 394-398 - Hanson, C. (2001). By such deeds: honours and awards in the Royal New Zealand Air Force, 1923-1999. Christchurch, N.Z.: Volplane Press.
p.485 - Ministry for Culture and Heritage. (2012). New Zealanders serving with RAF Fighter Command during the Battle of Britain, 10 July – 31 October 1940. [A list compiled by Ministry for Culture and Heritage with Errol Martyn].
- RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] - Historical Items - List of New Zealand Fighter aces with their Scores (Unofficial) December 1944. Archives New Zealand, Wellington (R17845799).
- Collier, R. (1966). Eagle Day, p. 145. Account of RAF Manston airfield under attack.Public - Stoney - Researcher - 17 May 2020 - Collier, R. Eagle Day
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