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Cenotaph record

Denis Reginald Wilkes

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Denis Reginald Wilkes - This image may be subject to copyright

Denis Reginald Wilkes - This image may be subject to copyright

Identity

About

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  • Title
  • Forenames
    Denis Reginald AWMM
  • Surname
    Wilkes AWMM
  • Ingoa
  • Also known as
  • Service number
    • NZ427240 AWMM
    • WWII 427240 AWMM
  • Gender
    Male AWMM
  • Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
  • Religion

Civilian life

About birth

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  • Birth
    27 June 1920 RNZAF Biographies (R17845617) Waimate, Bay of Islands RNZAF Biographies (R17845617)
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Birth notes
  • Address before enlistment
  • Post war occupation
  • Next of kin on embarkation
    WW2 Parents: Mr & Mrs G. A. Wilkes, Bates Street, Riverton 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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  • Military training
  • Branch Trade Proficiency
    Navigator RNZAF Biographies (R17845617)
  • Enlistment
  • Occupation before enlistment
  • Age on enlistment

Embarkations

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  • Embarkation details
    WW2 Vessel was Day Star 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 on Active Service, Cause of Death AWMM

Biographical information

Biographical information

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    • Son of Gabriel Alfred and Mary Elizabeth Wilkes of Wellington

      Attended Waitaki Boys' High School (Source: RNZAF Biographies (R17845617)) AWMM
    • From my 'For Your Tomorrow - A record of New Zealanders who have died while serving with the RNZAF and Allied Air Services since 1915 (Volume Two: Fates 1943-1998)':

      Tue 15 Feb 1944
      ALLIED EXPEDITIONARY AIR FORCE
      Dual Ground Controlled Interception (GCI) exercise
      51 Operational Training Unit, RAF (Cranfield, Bedfordshire - 9 Group, Air Defence of Great Britain)
      Beaufighter IF R2129 - took off at 20:12 and successfully completed the exercise at 22:18. Seven minutes later the aircraft entered a steep dive from 3000 feet and exploded on hitting the ground 3½ miles NNE of the airfield, at Meadow Farm, near Bourne End. The two crew were buried at Cambridge on the 19th.
      Pilot: NZ402217 Flt Lt Sylvester Roger Oliffe RICHMOND, RNZAF - Age 27. 348hrs (about 20 on Beaufighter) 1 op.
      Navigator: NZ427240 Flying Officer Denis Reginald WILKES, RNZAF - Age 23. 18.1hrs.

      Richmond’s op had been undertaken in August 1941 with 114 Squadron, RAF. However, he suffered a serious flying accident during his first week with the unit, the injuries from which led to the loss of a limb - and grounded him for almost two years. Public - Jenifer - Researcher - 3 June 2019 - RAF Thread Board.
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Death

About death

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  • Death
    15 February 1944 AWMM
    Age 23 AWMM
    United Kingdom, Europe AWMM
  • Date of death
  • Age at death
  • Place of death
  • Cause of death
    Killed on Active Service AWMM
  • Death notes
  • Cemetery
    Cambridge City Cemetery, Cambridgeshire, England AWMM Grave 14352 AWMM
  • Cemetery name
  • Grave reference
  • Obituary
  • Memorial name
  • Memorial reference

Memorials

Memorial

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  • Memorial name
    Pollington Airfield Memorial Garden, Yorkshire, England AWMM

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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
    • 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) - Ue - Z. Archives New Zealand (R17845617) - 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. [List of Killed - Officers (Canada, Pacific, Europe) - Airmen (Canada, India and Far East)]. Archives New Zealand (R17845748) AWMM

Contributors

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DateFirst namesLocationRelationshipContact
03 June 2019JeniferWairarapaResearcher

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