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Papers relating to war service of Second World War airmen James and Jack Menzies Smith

documentary heritage
  • Description

    Contains photocopied material. Volume 1 -- History of war service of brothers NZ403040 Jack Menzies Smith, DFM, 1917-1942, and NZ404957 James ('Jim') Menzies Smith, DFC and Bar, 1915-1983. Contains biographical notes, correspondence, photographs and official records outlining each man's military career, with some details also of the Smith family and friends (Frank Chunn, Howard Clive McLeish 'Mack' Haselden). (1 bound volume; 88 leaves)

    Volume 2 -- Bound reproduction of James Menzies Smith's Pilot's flying log book, Royal New Zealand Air Force. Entries cover period from 1 December 1940 to 30 July 1944. Also included are pre- and post-flight checklists and a diagrammatic layout of fuel system of the [Airspeed A.S. 10] Oxford aircraft. (102 leaves)

    Volume 3 -- Bound reproduction of James Menzies Smith's Pilot's flying log book, Royal Air Force. Entries cover period of air operations from 1 August 1944 to 22 April 1946. (41 leaves)

    Volume 4 -- Bound reproduction of Jack Menzies Smith's Observer's and Air Gunner's flying log book, Royal Canadian Air Force. Entries cover period from 25 February 1941 to 6 September 1942. Covers time spent training in Canada at No. 2 Wireless School, Calgary, Alberta, and No. 2 Bombing and Gunnery School, Mossbank, Saskatchewan. Later entries describe air operations with 7 (RAF) Squadron, Oakington, Cambridgeshire. (52 leaves)

    Folder 1:

    Item 1 -- Five Raid Schedules featuring James Menzies Smith, covering 1st and 4th September 1942; 7th and 10th May 1944; and 15th September 1944. (typescript photocopies; 5 leaves)

    Item 2 -- Target list for James Menzies Smith. Covers period from 15 November 1941 to 28 November 1942. (photocopied holograph, 1 leaf)

    Item 3 -- Target list for Jack Menzies Smith. Covers period from 7 September 1941 to 23 April 1942. (photocopied holograph; 1 leaf)

    Item 4 -- Photocopied press cutting [source unknown] featuring amateur historian Ivan Lindsey's project on New Zealanders who trained for the Royal Air Force service at British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP) bases in Canada during World War Two. (1 leaf)

    Item 5 -- Photocopied press cuttings (New Zealand Herald, 15th and 22nd February 1989) featuring reader responses to target marking techniques used by RAF Pathfinder Squadrons during World War Two. (1 leaf)

    Item 6 -- Typescript (photocopy) of war poem titled "The Shirker", believed to have been written by an Australian serviceman killed in action at Tobruk. (1 leaf)

  • Other Id

    3464 (Presto content ID)

    MS-2004-30 (Reference Number)

    42643 (DBTextworks system ID)

    2004/30 (Registration number)

  • Department

    Manuscripts

Images and documents

Catalogue

  • Object Type

    manuscript

  • Name/Title
    Papers relating to war service of Second World War airmen James and Jack Menzies Smith
  • Primary Maker

     Trevor Natzke

  • Date
    Circa 2003
  • Physical Description

    4 x volumes; 1 folder (6 items)

  • Level of Current Record
    Parent
  • Public Access Text

    See also:

    (1) - Cenotaph database records.

    (2) - Video featuring the ceremonial review and opening of the RNZAF Museum -- 'Royal New Zealand Air Force 50th Anniversary Celebrations: RNZAF Base, Wigram, 1 April 1987', Compak Video Ltd., Christchurch, [1987]. (UG 635 ROY)

  • Subject Notes
    NZ403040 Flight Lieutenant Jack Menzies Smith was born on 16 March 1917, at Dargaville, New Zealand. He joined the Royal New Zealand Air Force in September 1940, undergoing his initial training in New Zealand and later in Canada under the Empire Air Training Scheme (also known as the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan). He served as a Flight Lieutenant (Air-Gunner) with No. 7 (RAF) Squadron, taking part in air operations over Europe. He was shot down during a bombing raid over Duisberg, Germany on 6/7 September 1942, and is buried in the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery between the German towns of Goch and Kleve, just across the border with the Netherlands.
    NZ404957 Squadron Leader James ('Jim') Menzies Smith was born on 14 January 1915, at Frankton Junction, Hamilton, New Zealand. He joined the Royal New Zealand Air Force in October 1939, undergoing his initial training in New Zealand and later in the United Kingdom. He took part in air operations in both the Pacific and Europe. On 23 December 1946, he was placed on Reserve of officers, having attained the rank of temporary Wing Commander. He died on 19 July 1983, at Te Awamutu, New Zealand, aged 68. His ashes were interred next to the headstone of his younger brother Jack in the Reichswald Forest Cemetery.
  • Credit Line
    Donated by Trevor Natzke in 2004.
  • Last Update
    07 Jul 2023
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