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Cenotaph record

William Alexander Kennett Currie

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Identity

About

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  • Title
  • Forenames
    William Alexander Kennett AWMM
  • Surname
    Currie AWMM
  • Ingoa
  • Also known as
    • Sandy AWMM
    • Wak AWMM
  • Service number
    • Vietnam 72760 AWMM
    • Vietnam M72760 AWMM
    • Malaya 72760 AWMM
  • Gender
    Male AWMM
  • Iwi
  • Hapū
  • Waka
  • Rohe
  • Religion

Civilian life

About birth

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  • Birth
    30 July 1929 Ministry for Culture and Heritage
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Birth notes
  • Address before enlistment
  • Post war occupation
  • Next of kin on embarkation
  • Relationship status

Service

Wars and conflicts

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Military decorations

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  • Medals and Awards
    • Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) (Military) AWMM
      1989 AWMM
      Squadron Leader Currie joined the RNZAF in 1948 as and airframe mechanic and soone demonstrated the commitment and skill which were to be the hallmarks of his engineering career. His value and dedication to the service were recognised in 1962 with the award of the British Empire Medal when in the rank of Sergeant. Following commissioning course in 1970 he was posted to RNZAF Base Woodbourne where he served in all positions of responsibility in the technical units of that base, culminating in the command of No 4TTS. In early 1980, when the concept of the RNZAF Museum was approved, Squadron Leader Currie was entrusted with the establishment of an aircraft restoration flight at RNZAF Base Wigram. Later in 1984, he was formally appointed as Technical Officer, RNZAF Museum. He unstintingly, and at considerable personal sacrifice, set up a team of personnel who completed the restoration, replication and refurbishment of vintage aircraft to display standard. Throughout his long career of forty years, Squadron Leader Currie has provided an exceptionally high standard of technical and administrative work. In training and in command, his leadership has been exemplary, none more so than in the twelve months immediately before the opening of the Museum. Beside leading and motivating his team, he gave unselfiishly of his own time in personal work on the task at hand. His drive, enthusiasm and leadership were instrumental in the timely preparation of the many quality exhibits for display. Squadron Leader Currie's dedicated performance in the restoration, replication and refurbishment of vintage aircraft for display at the RNZAF Museum has been exceptional. AWMM
    • British Empire Medal (BEM) (Military) AWMM
    • New Zealand Operational Service Medal AWMM
    • Vietnam Medal AWMM

Training and Enlistment

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  • Military training
  • Branch Trade Proficiency
    • Airframe fitter/Military Malaya 75 Sqn R20217708
    • Engineer/Military AWMM
  • Enlistment
  • Occupation before enlistment
  • Age on enlistment

Embarkations

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Prisoner of war

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  • Capture details
  • Days interned
  • Liberation date
  • Liberation Repatriation
  • POW liberation details
  • POW serial number

Medical history

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  • Medical notes

Last known rank

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Biographical information

Biographical information

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  • Served on Malayan Emergency operations until repatriation in 1962.

    41 SQN. Not confirmed yet, but highly likely to be this man who flew into Vietnam 17.11.1969 with Flt Lt Jenks - source flight log. Commissioned from Ranks as a W/O. AWMM

Death

About death

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  • Death
    16 May 2017 AWMM
    Canberra, ACT AWMM
  • Date of death
  • Age at death
  • Place of death
  • Cause of death
  • Death notes
  • Cemetery
  • Cemetery name
  • Grave reference
  • Obituary
  • Memorial name
  • Memorial reference

Memorials

Memorial

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  • Memorial name

Roll of Honour

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Sources

Sources

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  • External links
  • References
    • Subritsky, M. (Ed). (1995). The Vietnam scrapbook: The second ANZAC adventure. Papakura, N.Z.: Three Feathers Publishing Co. AWMM
    • Hall, C. (2014). No front line : inside stories of New Zealand's Vietnam War. Auckland, New Zealand : Penguin Books. AWMM
    • This record was created from data kindly provided by the New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage. AWMM
    • This record has been created from information sourced from ‘Scotty’s List’ the Forgotten Airmen of the Vietnam War (2020). AWMM
    • Organisation - Air Department Staff - Organisation and Duties - No. 75 Squadron [Malayan Emergency 75 Squadron Repatriation List]. Archives New Zealand, Wellington, ABFK 7281 W4266 (R20217708) AWMM
    • Manning - Adjustments to Strengths - RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Bases and Units - 41 Squadron [Malayan Emergency 41 Squadron Repatriation and Misc List], Archives New Zealand, Wellington, ABFK 7281 W4266/211 (R20220125) AWMM

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