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Cenotaph record

Heslop Miles Frederick Barnitt

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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
    Heslop Miles Frederick AWMM
  • Surname
    Barnitt AWMM
  • Ingoa
  • Also known as
  • Service number
    40981 AWMM
  • Gender
    Male AWMM
  • Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
  • Religion

Civilian life

About birth

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  • Birth
    13 January 1918 AWMM New Plymouth, Taranaki AWMM
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Birth notes
  • Address before enlistment
  • Post war occupation
  • Next of kin on embarkation
    WW2 Parents: Mr & Mrs F. H. Barnitt, 488 Devon Street, New Plymouth AWMM
  • Relationship status
    Single/WWII AWMM

Service

Wars and conflicts

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Training and Enlistment

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  • Military training
  • Branch Trade Proficiency
    Pilot/Military RNZAF Biographies (R17845607)
  • 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
    Killed in Air Accident, Cause of Death AWMM
    Killed in an aircraft accident AWMM

Biographical information

Biographical information

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  • Son of Frederick Heslop and Florence Amelia Barnitt, of New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand.

    Flying Officer Barnitt captained aircraft operating out of Aden on convoy escort and reconnaissance over the Red Sea and its southern approaches. Barnitt several times dove off enemy bombers attacking ships in the approaches to Aden. According to Thompson (1959), he took on three Italian aircraft threatening a convoy, shooting down one and seriously damaging another. The crew of an escort ship described this as ‘a very gallant action’.

    Flying Officer Barnitt's Distinguished Flying Cross, recommended sometime earlier, was confirmed shortly after his death. He was the first New Zealander in the Middle East to receive a decoration for war service.

    Attended New Plymouth Boys' High School (Source: RNZAF Biographies (R17845607)) AWMM
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Death

About death

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  • Death
    20 October 1940 AWMM
    Age 22 AWMM
    Mediterranean AWMM
  • Date of death
  • Age at death
  • Place of death
  • Cause of death
    Killed in Air Accident AWMM
  • Death notes
  • Cemetery
    North Point Christian Cemetery, Kamaran Island AWMM
  • Cemetery name
  • Grave reference
  • Obituary
  • Memorial name
  • Memorial reference

Memorials

Memorial

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  • Memorial name
    Maala Memorial No 2, Maala Cemetery, Aden Peninsula, Yemen AWMM

Roll of Honour

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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
    • RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939 - 1945 (Bound Volumes) - Ab - B. Archives New Zealand (R17845607) - Former archives reference: AIR118 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 - List of Personnel Killed or Missing in Various Theatres, 1940 - 1945. [(New Zealanders Attached to R.A.F. [Royal Air Force]) (Officers), (Europe) - Airmen]. Archives New Zealand (R17845744) AWMM
    • List of RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Personnel - List of Deceased New Zealanders (Formerly) serving with RAF [Royal Air Force]. Archives New Zealand, Wellington (R17845760). AWMM

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