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Cenotaph record

William Bevil Flanagan

Preliminary record

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Identity

About

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  • Title
  • Forenames
    William Bevil AWMM
  • Surname
    Flanagan AWMM
  • Ingoa
  • Also known as
    • Bill AWMM
    • W. B. Flanagan AWMM
  • Service number
    • Vietnam 39875 AWMM
    • Malaya 39875 AWMM
  • Gender
    Male AWMM
  • Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
  • Religion

Civilian life

About birth

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  • Birth
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Birth notes
  • Address before enlistment
    Malaya Lower Hutt AWMM
  • 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
    • Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) AWMM
      NZ Gazette Number 56 dated 17 September 1970 CITATION Captain Flanagan enlisted in the New Zealand Army on 29th January 1962. After attendance at the Officer Cadet School, Portsea he was commissioned on 15th June 1963, and subsequently qualified as an army pilot. He arrived in South Vietnam on 19th March 1969. On 16th November 1969, Captain Flanagan located an occupied enemy bunker system. Except when relieved briefly on one occasion to refuel his aircraft, he maintained for a period of six hours a continuous and close surveillance of the enemy whilst being continuously engaged by fire. Flying at tree-top height he skilfully manoeuvred his aircraft, accurately adjusting artillery on to the bunkers. In addition, he controlled three air strikes onto the position. By his flying skill and complete disregard for his own safety he was able to continue to bring fire to bear onto the bunkers until all enemy opposition ceased. On the night of 3rd December 1969, after one of his unit aircraft had been shot down by enemy ground fire; Captain Flanagan volunteered to search for survivors. With aerial flares to provide illumination he located the crashed aircraft. He then hovered his aircraft only feet above the ground in an area known to be occupied by the enemy until he was able to locate and establish the fate of the missing crew members. On each occasion Captain Flanagan displayed a high degree of flying skill, determination and courage. His complete disregard for his own safety was an inspiration to the members of his unit. AWMM
    • New Zealand Operational Service Medal AWMM
    • Vietnam Medal AWMM

Training and Enlistment

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  • Military training
  • Branch Trade Proficiency
    Pilot/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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  • Last rank

Biographical information

Biographical information

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  • Read citation for DFC. AWMM

Death

About death

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  • Death
  • 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

Leave a note

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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
    • FARELF Nominal Roll Part 2 1962-1963- Archives New Zealand, Wellington, CAJN CH189/Box70 41/4/11 (R21234083) AWMM

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