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Cenotaph record

Derrick Fitzgerald Westenra

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Derrick was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and Bar.

Derrick was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and Bar.

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Identity

About

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  • Title
  • Forenames
    Derrick Fitzgerald AWMM
  • Surname
    Westenra AWMM
  • Ingoa
  • Also known as
  • Service number
    • WWII 89782 AWMM
    • WWII NZ2374 AWMM
  • Gender
    Male AWMM
  • Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
  • Religion

Civilian life

About birth

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  • Birth
    29 April 1918 Hanson Christchurch, Canterbury Hanson
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Birth notes
  • Address before enlistment
  • Post war occupation
    After the war, he returned to New Zealand to work the family farm at Camla, one of the earliest sett Public - Kelvin - Researcher - 12 March 2022 - Own research
  • Next of kin on embarkation
    Son of Derrick Warner Werner Wesrtenia (died 1955 age 78) Helen Beatrice Westenra (née Nicholls - died 16th April 1970, age 85) Public - Kelvin - Researcher - 12 March 2022 - Own research
  • Relationship status

Service

Wars and conflicts

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Military decorations

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Training and Enlistment

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  • Military training
  • Branch Trade Proficiency
    Pilot/Military Hanson
  • Enlistment
    WW2 1939 Hanson
  • 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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  • Last rank

Biographical information

Biographical information

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    • Transferred from Royal Air Force to Royal New Zealand Air Force, 1 January 1944. AWMM
    • Son of Derrick Warner Werner Wesrtenia (died 1955 age 78) Helen Beatrice Westenra (née Nicholls - died 16th April 1970, age 85) Public - Kelvin - Researcher - 12 March 2022 - Own research
    • Westenra was a New Zealander from Christchurch, who joined 112 Squadron early in 1941, flying with them in Greece, Crete, and in the Western Desert where he was made a flight commander.
      He is reputed to have urged the adoption of the 'Sharkmouth' insignia by the Squadron in September 1941. At the conclusion of his tour in March 1942, he received the DFC for shooting down five enemy aircraft. In 1943 Westenra flew with No. 601 Squadron RAF in North Africa, and commanded No. 93 Squadron RAF in Italy. In March 1944 he was appointed to command No. 65 Squadron RAF during the Normandy Invasion, returning to New Zealand in September 1944. Public - John - Researcher - 1 September 2022 - Military history
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Death

About death

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  • Death
    17 August 1999 Hanson
    Omokoroa, Tauranga Hanson
  • Date of death
  • Age at death
  • Place of death
  • Cause of death
  • Death notes
  • Cemetery
    St. Paul's Anglican Church Cemetery, Papanui, Christchurch AWMM
  • Cemetery name
  • Grave reference
  • Obituary
  • Memorial name
  • Memorial reference

Memorials

Memorial

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  • Memorial name

Roll of Honour

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  • RNZAF fighter ace - with 8 aircraft destroyed, further 3 shared. 2 of the destroyed flying the Gladiator bi-plane!
    Public - Kelvin - Researcher - 12 March 2022
    Report 

Sources

Sources

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  • External links
  • References
    • Hanson, C. (2001). By such deeds: honours and awards in the Royal New Zealand Air Force, 1923-1999. Christchurch, N.Z.: Volplane Press. AWMM
      p.506 AWMM
    • 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). AWMM

Contributors

Command item
Command item
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DateFirst namesLocationRelationshipContact
01 September 2022JohnPerth WAResearcher
12 March 2022KelvinNorfolk, EnglandResearcher
14 October 2020Ian BanksTaumarunui New ZealandResearcher

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