John Matthew Biggar
Born 11 Mar 1922 - Died 12 Sept 1944
- Service number
- NZ427945 AWMM
- WWII 427945 AWMM
- Also known as
- —
- Armed force / branch
- Air Force AWMM
- Last rank
- Flight Sergeant (Rear Gunner)/Military AWMM Royal Air Force, No. 75 (NZ) Squadron AWMM
- War
- World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
About
- Title
- —
- Forenames
- John Matthew AWMM
- Surname
- Biggar AWMM
- Ingoa
- —
- Also known as
- —
- Service number
- NZ427945 AWMM
- WWII 427945 AWMM
- Gender
- Male AWMM
- Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
- —
- Religion
- —
Images
Documents
About birth
- Birth
- 11 Mar 1922 AWMM
- Date of birth
- —
- Place of birth
- NZPublic - Lorraine Mona - Researcher - 15 May 2026 - https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/290681929/john-matthew-biggar
- Birth notes
- son of Peter Edgar and Ivy Gertrude Biggar, of Nakirikiri, WellingtonPublic - Lorraine Mona - Researcher - 15 May 2026 - https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/290681929/john-matthew-biggar
- Address before enlistment
- —
- Post war occupation
- —
- Next of kin
- WW2 Parents: Mr & Mrs J. M. Biggar of Makirikiri, Wanganui AWMM
- Relationship status
- Single/WWII AWMM
Wars and conflicts
- War
- World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
- Campaign
- —
- Armed force / branch
- Air Force AWMM
- Service number
- NZ427945 AWMM
- WWII 427945 AWMM
- Military service
- Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers
- Royal Air Force, No. 75 (NZ) Squadron AWMM
Military decorations
- Medals and Awards
- —
Training and Enlistment
- Military training
- British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, No. 2 Wireless School, Calgary, Alberta, Canada AWMM
Course 1: Graduation Date: 10/12/1943. AWMM - British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, No. 3 Bombing and Gunnery School, MacDonald, Manitoba, Canada AWMM
- British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, No. 2 Wireless School, Calgary, Alberta, Canada AWMM
- Branch Trade Proficiency
- —
- Enlistment
- —
- Age on enlistment
- —
- Occupation before enlistment
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Embarkations
- Embarkation details
- WW2 Vessel was Bloemfontein AWMM Royal New Zealand Air Force AWMM
Prisoner of war
- Capture details
- —
- 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
- Killed in Action, Cause of Death AWMM
Killed on air operations AWMM
Last known rank
- Last rank
- Flight Sergeant (Rear Gunner)/Military AWMM
Royal Air Force, No. 75 (NZ) Squadron AWMM - Last rank
- —
Biographical information
- Flight Sergeant Biggar was the son of Peter and Ivy Biggar, of Nakirikiri, Wellington, New Zealand.
Attended Upokongaro School (Source: RNZAF Biographies (R17845607))
267 hours as air gunner (Source: RNZAF Biographies (R17845607)) AWMM - 75 (New Zealand) Squadron : Lancaster ILM 228 AA-D
Reason for Loss
Taking off with 7 other aircraft from 75 (New Zealand) Squadron – from RAF Base Mepal, Cambridgeshire, England – at 19.35 hours on 11 September 1944 for air operations (Operation Code Named : Gardening) over Kattegat, Denmark, area. 68 aircraft from other Squadrons also participated in this mission.
All aircraft delivered their mines to the target area and were returning when Lancaster ILM 228 AA-D was intercepted and shot down by a German fighter (Oblt Arnold Brinkmann (8.NJG-3).
2 crew – Flight Engineer Colin Fowler RAFVR (evaded capture) and RNZAF Flt Sgt David Wilcox (POW) survived the bomber crash landing. All other RNZAF crew aboard were killed.
RNZAF Crew aboard were
RNZAF Pilot Wilson Orchard Hadley NZ426041 – Christchurch – killed.
RNZAF Navigator Pilot Officer John Bernard Gudgeon NZ428786 – Christchurch - killed.
RNZAF Air Bmdr Flight Sergeant David John Robert Wilcox NZ421244 (POW)
RNZAF Wireless Op/ Air Gunner John Patrick Arthur Giles NZ425836 – Christchurch – killed.
RNZAF Air Gunner Flt Sgt William James Victor Boyd NZ 428303 – Nelson – killed.
RNZAF Air Gunner Flt Sgt John Matthew Biggar NZ 427945 – Wanganui. Killed.Public - Jenifer - Researcher - 20 April 2019 - www.aircrewremembered.com (England)
- Flight Sergeant Biggar was the son of Peter and Ivy Biggar, of Nakirikiri, Wellington, New Zealand.
About death
- Death
- 12 Sept 1944 AWMM
Age 22 AWMM - Date of death
- —
- Age at death
- —
- Place of death
- —
- Cause of death
- Killed in Action AWMM
- Death notes
- http://www.flensted.eu.com/1944131.shtmlPublic - John - 30 July 2023 - Air War Over Denmark
- Cemetery
- Orslev Churchyard, Denmark AWMM Joint grave 11B AWMM
- Cemetery name
- —
- Grave reference
- —
- Obituary
- —
- Memorial name
- —
- Memorial reference
- —
Memorial
- Memorial name
- —
Sources
- External links
- Commonwealth War Graves Commission record
https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2271452
Sources Used - RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939 - 1945 (Bound Volumes) - Ea - Gw. ARchives New Zealand (R17845610)
https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search/#/entity/aims-archive/R17845607
Sources Used - List of RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Personnel - List of Personnel Killed or Missing in Various Theatres, 1940 - 1945. Archives New Zealand (R17845745)
https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search/#/entity/aims-archive/R17845745
Sources Used - Every dayPublic - Robert Graham (Bob) - Researcher - 25 April 2020 - Record details
- Commonwealth War Graves Commission record
- References
- Martyn, E. (1998-2008). For Your Tomorrow (Vols. 1-3). Christchurch, N.Z.: Volplane Press.
Martyn, E. (1998-2008). vol. 2 p. 274 - 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.
- RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939 - 1945 (Bound Volumes) - Ab - B. Archives New Zealand (R17845607) - Former archives reference: AIR118
- Please note that the 11 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.
- List of RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Personnel - List of Personnel Killed or Missing in Various Theatres, 1940 - 1945. [List of Missing - United Kingdom, Airmen]. Archives New Zealand (R17845745)
- Martyn, E. (1998-2008). For Your Tomorrow (Vols. 1-3). Christchurch, N.Z.: Volplane Press.
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