condensed discuss document expanded export feedback print share remove reset document_white enquire_white export_white report_white

Cenotaph record

Stuart McGowan

-
Lay a poppy
Chapel King's College Otahuhu. CC BY John Halpin 2014.

Chapel King's College Otahuhu. CC BY John Halpin 2014.

Identity

About

Contribute ›
  • Title
  • Forenames
    Stuart AWMM
  • Surname
    McGowan AWMM
  • Ingoa
  • Also known as
  • Service number
    • NZ414996 AWMM
    • WWII 414996 AWMM
  • Gender
    Male AWMM
  • Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
  • Religion

Civilian life

About birth

Contribute ›
  • Birth
    6 February 1921 RNZAF Biographies (R17845613) Pahiatua, Manawatu-Wanganui RNZAF Biographies (R17845613)
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Birth notes
  • Address before enlistment
  • Post war occupation
  • Next of kin on embarkation
    • WW2 Mother: Mrs. A. McGowan, Raupare, Hastings AWMM
    • WW2 Mother: Mrs. A. mcGowan of Raupare, Hastings AWMM
  • Relationship status
    Single/WWII AWMM

Service

Wars and conflicts

Contribute ›

Military decorations

Contribute ›

Training and Enlistment

Contribute ›

Embarkations

Contribute ›

Prisoner of war

Contribute ›
  • Capture details
  • Days interned
  • Liberation date
  • Liberation Repatriation
  • POW liberation details
  • POW serial number

Medical history

Contribute ›
  • Medical notes
    Killed on Active Service, Cause of Death AWMM

Biographical information

Biographical information

Contribute ›
    • Stuart McGowan attended King's College (School House) from 1935-1937. He was an enthusiastic sportsman, especially interested in boxing and steeplechasing.

      He gained his wings in Canada and joined 487 (NZ) Ventura Fighter bomber Squadron in the United Kingdom

      Barrass, M.B. (2001- 2008). Web site: Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation. "Squadrons numbered in the 400 series were technically units of the RCAF, RAAF and RNZAF, but their members were placed under the operational control of the RAF and are usually considered to be part of the RAF's organisational structure". URL: http://www.rafweb.org/Sqn485-490.htm

      Attended Kings' College Auckland (Source: RNZAF Biographies (R17845613)) AWMM
    • On 3 May 1943 Flying Officer Stuart McGowan was the Pilot of Venturer Bomber AE 760 S-Sugar - with 3 other New Zealand crew - which was part of a 6 Venturer Bomber formation led by New Zealander (then) Squadron Leader Leonard Trent - later Group Captain Leonard Trent VC DFC.
      It was the RAF's first heavy bomber daylight raid into Amsterdam.
      The bomber formation was intercepted over Amsterdam by very heavy German fighter and anti aircraft fire. All 6 Venturers were shot down - including Flying Officer McGowan who would not survive the mission.

      One of Flying Officer McGowan's last acts before losing his life in the bomber crashing was to save the life of his Rear Gunner Flight Sergeant Ivan Urlich - of Hawera.

      The account of how Flight-Sergeant Urlich had his life saved by his Pilot (McGowan) and a fellow crew-member is recounted here, in the biography of the Amsterdam Ventura mission leader - Squadron Leader - later Group Captain - Leonard H. Trent VC DFC - from Nelson.

      "At 1750 hours Ventura No AE780:S S-Sugar was shot down over Bornstrasse, Amsterdam. Sergeant Ivan Urlich, now living in Hawera, owes his life to the prompt and courageous actions of his Pilot and Navigator - McGowan and Thornber. Seeing the Gunner unconscious in his turret the two Officers dragged Urlich out, clipped his parachute pack on to his harness, hooked his right hand into the rip-cord handle and pushed him out of the doomed aircraft. Urlich recovered in time to open his canopy and float down to the comparative safety of a term of imprisonment. His three companions (fellow crew members) - including Flying Officer Stuart McGowan - died in the crash of S-Sugar". Public - Jenifer - Researcher - 20 December 2018 - Biography : 'Venturer Courageous : Group Captain Leonard Trent VC DFC' : Publisher - Hutchinson of New Zealand (1983).
    • The loss of Flying Officer Stuart McGowan's Venturer Bomber - AE 780 - S-Sugar - is detailed here - in an account from www.aircrewremembered.com (England).

      "AE 780 EG 3 May 1943 - Flying Officer Stuart McGowan.
      After crossing the Dutch Coast they (AE 780) sustained attacks from several enemy fighters and the Ventura (AE 780) was set on fire.
      Air Gunner I. F. Urlich wounded in the right leg and left foot was dragged from his Gunner's turret by the Pilot (Flying Officer Stuart McGowan) and the Navigator - who then put on (Urlich's) parachute and pushed him out of the aircraft. Moments later the aircraft (Venturer AE 780) exploded". Public - Jenifer - Researcher - 20 December 2018 - www.aircrewremembered.com (England).
Read more

Death

About death

Contribute ›
  • Death
    3 May 1943 AWMM
    Age 21 AWMM
    AWMM
  • Date of death
  • Age at death
  • Place of death
  • Cause of death
    Killed on Active Service AWMM
  • Death notes
  • Cemetery
    Amsterdam New Eastern Cemetery, Noord-Holland, Netherlands AWMM Plot 69 Row C Collective Grave 9 AWMM
  • Cemetery name
  • Grave reference
  • Obituary
  • Memorial name
  • Memorial reference

Memorials

Memorial

Contribute ›
  • Memorial name

Roll of Honour

Remember Stuart McGowan by laying a poppy.

Leave a note

Leave a tribute or memory of Stuart McGowan

Leave a note

Contribute ›
  • We have a some information on Stuart's last mission on his daylight raid over Amsterdam. There was to be an inquiry on this, as the commanders had acknowledged that this particular mission should not have gone ahead that day.
    Public - James Peter - Other Relative - 12 May 2015
    Report 

Sources

Sources

Contribute ›
  • 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) - Ma - McW. Archives New Zealand (R17845613) - 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
    • List of RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Personnel - Embarkation Lists, November 1940 - July 1942. Archives New Zealand, Wellington (R17845762). AWMM

Contributors

Command item
Command item
Add new record Refresh
DateFirst namesLocationRelationshipContact
12 December 2021KelvinNorfolk, EnglandResearcher
28 June 2019JeniferWairarapaResearcher
23 April 2016TimnapierOther
12 May 2015James PeterHawkes BayOther Relative

The development of the Online Cenotaph is an ongoing process; updates, new images and records are added weekly. In some cases, records have yet to be confirmed by Museum staff, and there could be mistakes or omissions in the information provided.

Creative Commons LicenseOnline Cenotaph Data by Auckland War Memorial Museum is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.