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Cenotaph record

Desmond Clearwater

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Portrait, Weekly News - This image may be subject to copyright

Portrait, Weekly News - This image may be subject to copyright

Identity

About

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  • Title
  • Forenames
    Desmond AWMM
  • Surname
    Clearwater AWMM
  • Ingoa
  • Also known as
  • Service number
    • NZ412314 AWMM
    • WWII 412314 AWMM
  • Gender
    Male AWMM
  • Iwi
  • Hapū
  • Waka
  • Rohe
  • Religion

Civilian life

About birth

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  • Birth
    24 March 1918 RNZAF Biographies (R17845608) Taihape, Manawatu-Wanganui RNZAF Biographies (R17845608)
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Birth notes
  • Address before enlistment
  • Post war occupation
  • Next of kin on embarkation
    • Mr J. Clearwater, Remuera, Auckland, New Zealand AWMM
    • WW2 Mother: Mrs. I. Clearwater, 94 Arney Road, Remuera, Auckland AWMM
    • WW2 Parents: Mr. & Mrs. I. Clearwater, 94 Arney Road, Remuera, Auckland AWMM
  • Relationship status
    Single/WWII AWMM

Service

Wars and conflicts

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Military decorations

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Training and Enlistment

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Embarkations

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  • Embarkation details
    WW2 Vessel was Aorangi AWMM

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
    Killed in Action, Cause of Death AWMM

Biographical information

Biographical information

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    • Member of College Rifles Rugby Football Club

      Attended Te Aroha High School (Source: RNZAF Biographies (R17845608)) AWMM
    • Stirling Bomber R9250 AA-W

      Reason for Loss.

      Stirling Bomber R9250 AA-W took off – at 08.21 hours from RAF Base Newmarket, Suffolk - to bomb Hamburg (‘Operation Hamburg’).
      The Stirling Bomber (R9250 AA-W) was part of a 263 aircraft Bomber raid – which included 84 Halifaxes; 6 Stirlings; 62 Lancasters and 51 Wellingtons.
      Poor icy conditions forced many of the aircraft to return early – and the Pathfinders were unable to produce concentrated marking - and consequently the main bombing was scattered.
      This bombing raid - ‘Operation Hamburg’ – on 3/4 February 1943 - cost the Allies a loss of 16 aircraft - with 90 air crew losing their lives – and 28 being made Prisoners of War of the Germans.
      Stirling Bomber (R9250 AA-W) was intercepted at 3,500 metres – and shot down – by German Fighter Ace Hptm Reinhold Knacke (of 1.NJG1) at 16.46 hours - over Ingen - 5kms south of Amerongen. Shortly after Hptm Knacke was himself also shot down and killed by another Stirling Bomber (R9197 of 214 Squadron) which itself was also shot down.
      The crew of Stirling Bomber R9250 AA-W were
      1. Pilot Officer Kenneth Howard Blincoe RNZAF NZ412194 – of Murchison, Nelson District, New Zealand. Aged 33 years. Killed.
      2. Pilot 2 : Pilot Officer Andrew J. W. Scott RNZAF NZ414685 – of Mataura, Southland, New Zealand. Aged 21 years. Killed.
      3. Air Bomdr Flight Sergeant George Wood Cook RNZAF NZ412514 – of Hamilton, Waikato. Aged 21 years. Killed.
      4. Flight Sergeant Desmond Clearwater RNZAF NZ412314 –of Auckland. Aged 25 years. Killed.
      5. Flight Eng Flight Sergeant Desmond David Hayward : RAF 651764. Aged 20 years. Killed.
      6. Navigator Flight Sergeant Frank Arthur Boese : RAFVR 1293282. Aged 22 years. Killed.
      7. Wireless Op/Air Gunner Edward McDermott : RCAF R/96960. Aged 19 years. Killed. Public - Jenifer - Researcher - 18 April 2019 - Used with permission of www.aircrewremembered.com (England) : Stirling R9250 AA-W.
    • 8. Wireless Op/Air Gunner Flying Officer Harold Lowe DFC RAF 115129. Killed. Public - Jenifer - Researcher - 18 April 2019 - www.aircrewremembered.com (England) Stirling R9250 AA-W
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Death

About death

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  • Death
    2 March 1943 AWMM
    Age 25 AWMM
    Ingen, Gelderland AWMM
  • Date of death
  • Age at death
  • Place of death
  • Cause of death
    Killed in Action AWMM
  • Death notes
  • Cemetery
    Amersfoort (Rusthof) General Cemetery, Dodeweg West, Oud Leusden, The Netherlands AWMM Plot 13. Row 5. Grave 89. AWMM
  • Cemetery name
  • Grave reference
  • Obituary
  • Memorial name
  • Memorial reference

Memorials

Memorial

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  • Memorial name
    • Roll of Honour, College Rifles, Rugby Union Football & Sports Club, 33 Haast Street, Remuera, Auckland AWMM
    • Auckland War Memorial Museum, World War 2 Hall of Memories AWMM

Roll of Honour

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  • You gave your life for your country and sadly your family don't know much about your story, gone but no more will you ever be forgotten.
    Public - Stacey Jade - Other Relative - 25 April 2015
    Report 

Sources

Sources

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  • External links
  • References
    • Martyn, E. (1998-2008). For Your Tomorrow (Vols. 1-3). Christchurch, N.Z.: Volplane Press. AWMM
    • 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
    • RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939 - 1945 (Bound Volumes) - Bo - Cl. Archives New Zealand (R17845608) - Former archives reference: AIR118 AWMM
    • List of RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Personnel - List of Personnel Killed or Missing in Various Theatres, 1940 - 1945. [Missing - But Presumed Dead on Lapse of Time - Officers, Airmen]. Archives New Zealand (R17845743) AWMM
    • Please note that the 12 volumes of the "RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939-1945" held at Archives NZ (formerly known as AIR118) should be used in conjunction with Errol Martyn's "For Your Tomorrow". FYT reflects detailed examination of all of the AIR118 bios which contain many inaccuracies and omissions. AWMM

Contributors

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DateFirst namesLocationRelationshipContact
12 October 2022AntonioHastings DistrictResearcher
23 April 2019JeniferWairarapaResearcher
25 April 2015Stacey JadeNew ZealandOther Relative

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