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Cenotaph record

John Russell Kay

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Photograph of Flight Lieutenant John Russell Kay, published in the Auckland Weekly News, 16 February 1944. Image kindly provided by Please acknowledge Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections AWNS-19440216-22-42. Image may be subject to copyright restrictions.

Photograph of Flight Lieutenant John Russell Kay, published in the Auckland Weekly News, 16 February …

Identity

About

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  • Title
  • Forenames
    John Russell AWMM
  • Surname
    Kay AWMM
  • Ingoa
  • Also known as
  • Service number
    WWII 41559 AWMM
  • Gender
    Male AWMM
  • Iwi
  • Hapū
  • Waka
  • Rohe
  • Religion

Civilian life

About birth

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  • Birth
    29 April 1912 AWMM Onehunga, Auckland AWMM
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Birth notes
  • Address before enlistment
  • Post war occupation
    Principal/Civilian AWMM
  • 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
    18 January 1944 AWMM
    "An outstanding navigator Flight Lieutenant Kay has flown on a large number of operation sorties and anti-submarine patrols. He has completed many patrols in appalling weather and has attacked enemy submarines. At all times his navigational ability has been of the highest order and the success achieved by his crew and the high navigational standards of his squadron are in no small measure due to his technical ability and untiring efforts" By Such Deeds, p. 284 AWMM

Training and Enlistment

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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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  • In April 1944, Squadron Leader Kay joined the RAF Delegation, Washington DC, where he was responsible for overseeing navigation training at 111 OTU RAF, at Nassau, Bahamas. His responsiblities also included liaison with the US Naval Air Service at Annapolis, and the USAAF at the Pentagon. He returned to New Zealand in 1946, and returned to his school teaching profession, he retired as the principal of Papakura Intermediate School, in September 1973. AWMM

Death

About death

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  • Death
    3 December 1993 AWMM
    Papakura, Auckland 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
    "Three more awards for RNZAF Pilots" Northern Advocate, 19 January 1944
    https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NA19440129.2.13
    Further Reference
  • References
    • This record is a work in progress and was partially compiled from the “Database of New Zealand Airmen who took part in Advanced Air Training in Canada during WW2”. Researched by Ivan and Lorna Lindsey of Tauranga. N.Z. 2003 – 2012. Reproduced with permission. AWMM
    • 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. 284 AWMM

Contributors

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DateFirst namesLocationRelationshipContact
18 October 2019Online CenotaphNew ZealanderResearcher

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