George Eric Gudsell
Born 15 Jun 1918 - Died 29 Oct 2009
- Service number
- WWII NZ411886 AWMM
- WWII 411886 AWMM
- Vietnam 70323 AWMM
- Also known as
- —
- Armed force / branch
- Air Force AWMM
- Last rank
- Post WW2 Wing Commander AWMM
- War
About
- Title
- —
- Forenames
- George Eric AWMM
- Surname
- Gudsell AWMM
- Ingoa
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- Also known as
- —
- Service number
- WWII NZ411886 AWMM
- WWII 411886 AWMM
- Vietnam 70323 AWMM
- Gender
- Male AWMM
- Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
- —
- Religion
- Church of England, Christian AWMM
Images
Documents
About birth
- Birth
- 15 Jun 1918 AWMM
- 15 Jun 1918 Ministry for Culture and Heritage
- Date of birth
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- Place of birth
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- Birth notes
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- Address before enlistment
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- Post war occupation
- Royal New Zealand Air Force/Civilian AWMM
Royal New Zealand Air Force, Director of Education Services AWMM - School teacher/Civilian AWMM
- Royal New Zealand Air Force/Civilian AWMM
- Next of kin
- —
- Relationship status
- Pre 21 Oct 1941 AWMM Married AWMM
Wars and conflicts
- War
- Campaign
- Far East (Air) AWMM
- 07 Aug 1942-09 Feb 1943 AWMM Guadalcanal AWMM
- Pacific Theatre of War AWMM
- Armed force / branch
- Air Force AWMM
- Service number
- WWII NZ411886 AWMM
- WWII 411886 AWMM
- Vietnam 70323 AWMM
- Military service
- 5 years Cadets AWMM
- Royal New Zealand Air Force attached to Royal Air Force AWMM
- Royal Australian Air Force AWMM
- Royal Air Force, No. 100 Squadron AWMM
Singapore and Java AWMM - Royal New Zealand Air Force, No. 3 Squadron AWMM
- Royal New Zealand Air Force, No. 6 Squadron AWMM
- Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers
- —
Military decorations
- Medals and Awards
- 1939-1945 Star AWMM
- Pacific Star AWMM
- Defence Medal AWMM
- War Medal 1939-1945 AWMM
- New Zealand War Service Medal AWMM
- Air Medal (USA) AWMM
27 Nov 1942 AWMM
"For meritorious achivement while participating in aerial flight in command of a reconnaissance bomber, serving with a Marine Aricraft Group during action against three enemy Japanese fighters south-west of Vella Lavella, Solomon Islands, on November 27, 1942. After relaying to his home base a complete report on the hostile task force which he had sighted, Flying Officer Gudsell, amid a hail of bursting anti-aircraft shells, precariously hovered over the surface vessels to obtain further important information by closer observation. When suddenly set upon by three fighters who blasted the top gun turret out of action and then concentrated their attacks on the stern of his bomber, he employed such skilful evasive tactics and fire control that the Japanese aircraft were forced to break off the engagement and retire. With superb airmanship and courageous leadership, he brought his plane through perilous action under fire against heavy odds to retun to safety without personnel injury and with only a minimum of material damage." Hanson p. 224 AWMM
Training and Enlistment
- Military training
- Aircrew (Pilot) training in New Zealand - Taieri and Wigram AWMM
- Branch Trade Proficiency
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- Enlistment
- WW2 May 1940 AWMM
Age 21 AWMM - Age on enlistment
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- Occupation before enlistment
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Embarkations
- Embarkation details
- WW2 Vessel was Maetsuyker AWMM Pilot AWMM Royal New Zealand Air Force AWMM
- Vietnam Wing Commander AWMM Visitor AWMM Royal New Zealand Air Force AWMM
2nd Embarkation AWMM
Prisoner of war
- Capture details
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- Days interned
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- Liberation date
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- POW liberation details
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- Liberation Repatriation
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- POW serial number
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Medical history
- Medical notes
- Hospital Diseases , Wounds, WWII AWMM
Admitted to RNZAF, Rotorua 1944 - severe operational fatigue AWMM - Medical, WWII AWMM
Deafness AWMM
- Hospital Diseases , Wounds, WWII AWMM
Last known rank
- Last rank
- Post WW2 3 Jul 1968 AWMM
Retired AWMM
Wing Commander AWMM - Last rank
- —
Biographical information
- Husband of Florence Melva Gudsell
Aged 21 years, 11 months at enlistment
Also served with RAF, RAAF
Enlisted 23.3.1941to 23.8.1946. Re-enlisted as Education Officer 5.1.1948 to retirement 3.7.1968. Flew into Vietnam with Flt Lt Jenks 23.4.1968 as part of a TOD to 41 Sqn based in Changi.
A funeral service was held at St Matthews Anglican Church, King Street South, Hastings on 2 November 2009. AWMM
About death
- Death
- 29 Oct 2009 AWMM
Age 91 AWMM - Date of death
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- Age at death
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- Place of death
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- Cause of death
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- Death notes
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- Cemetery
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- Cemetery name
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- Grave reference
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- Obituary
- Death Notices: Dominion Post, 31 October 2009, p.D9 AWMM
- Memorial name
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- Memorial reference
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Memorial
- Memorial name
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Sources
- External links
- Dan Millar and Madison Pine. The Pacific War - 75 years on. Auckland War Memorial Museum - Tāmaki Paenga Hira. First published: 10 August 2020
https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/features/vj-day
Further Reference - 'Victory Parade Contingent: Three services sailing April 20' in the Gisborne Herald, 13 April, 1946.
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/HAWST19460413.2.103
Further Reference - 'Parading for Victory: Air Force Contingent' at the website of the Air Force Museum of New Zealand.
https://airforcemuseum.co.nz/blog/parading-for-victory-air-force-contingent/
Further Reference
- Dan Millar and Madison Pine. The Pacific War - 75 years on. Auckland War Memorial Museum - Tāmaki Paenga Hira. First published: 10 August 2020
- References
- Correspondence with family
- Information kindly provided by family
- Martyn, E. (1998-2008). For Your Tomorrow (Vols. 1-3). Christchurch, N.Z.: Volplane Press.
Martyn, E. (2008). vol. 3 p 598 [ref 83] - Hanson, C. (2001). By such deeds: honours and awards in the Royal New Zealand Air Force, 1923-1999. Christchurch, N.Z.: Volplane Press.
Hanson, C. (2001). p. 224 - Dominion Post
Death Notices: Dominion Post, 31 October 2009, p.D9 - List of RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Personnel - Embarkation Lists, November 1940 - July 1942. Archives New Zealand, Wellington (R17845762).
- Royal New Zealand Air Force. (1941–1945). Contact: National magazine of the R.N.Z.A.F.; the official organ of the Air Force Association (Inc.). Levin, New Zealand: Royal New Zealand Air Force.
V4.n4.p72 v7,n1,p58 - McGibbon, I.C. (2010). New Zealand's Vietnam War: a history of combat, commitment and controversy. Auckland, N.Z.: Exisle
- Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force. (1950). Nominal Roll Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force No. 16 (Embarkations from 1st January, 1946 to 30th June, 1948). Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer.
- 'Victory Parade Contingent.' Gisborne Herald, vol. 73, no. 21996, 13 April 1946, p.4. Identified with assistance from the Kippenberger Research Centre, National Army Museum Te Mata Toa (2026).
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