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Cenotaph record

John Paterson Cummins

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Biography for John Paterson Cummins. RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939 - 1945 (Bound Volumes) - Co - Dy. Archives New Zealand (R17845609-0291). CC-BY 2.0.

Biography for John Paterson Cummins. RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Per …

Identity

About

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  • Title
  • Forenames
    John Paterson AWMM
  • Surname
    Cummins AWMM
  • Ingoa
  • Also known as
  • Service number
    • NZ405638 AWMM
    • WWII 405638 AWMM
  • Gender
    Male AWMM
  • Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
  • Religion

Civilian life

About birth

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  • Birth
    24 July 1920 AWMM
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Birth notes
  • Address before enlistment
  • Post war occupation
  • Next of kin on embarkation
    WW2 Parents: Mr. & Mrs. S. H. Cummins of Wellington AWMM
  • Relationship status
    Single/WWII AWMM

Service

Wars and conflicts

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  • War
    World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
  • Campaign
  • Armed force / branch
    Air Force AWMM
  • Service number
    • NZ405638 AWMM
    • WWII 405638 AWMM
  • Military service
  • Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers

Military decorations

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Training and Enlistment

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  • Military training
  • Branch Trade Proficiency
    • Flight Sergeant/Military RNZAF Biographies (R17845609)
    • Pilot/Military RNZAF Biographies (R17845609)
  • Enlistment
    WW2 1940 AWMM
  • 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 on Active Service, Cause of Death AWMM

Biographical information

Biographical information

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    • John Cummins was the son of William Henry and Sarah Hepburn Cummins (nee Houlder) of Wellington, New Zealand.

      Attended Wellington Technical College (Source: RNZAF Biographies (R17845609)) AWMM
    • Crash of an Avro 652 Anson into (then Mount Egmont) now Mt Taranaki: 2 killed
      RNZAF Avro 652 Anson
      Date & Time: Sep 4, 1944 at 1515 LT
      Type of aircraft: Avro 652 Anson
      Operator: RNZAF
      Registration: NZ414
      Flight Phase: Flight
      Flight Type: Training
      Survivors: Yes (2)
      Site: Mountains
      Schedule: New Plymouth - New Plymouth
      Location: Taranaki,
      Taranaki Regional Council
      Country: New Zealand
      Region: Oceania
      Crew on board: 4
      Crew fatalities: 2

      Total fatalities: 2
      Captain / Total flying hours: 237
      Co-pilot / Total flying hours: 887
      Circumstances:
      The crew departed New Plymouth Airport at 1419LT on a navigation exercise. While cruising at an altitude of 1,200 feet, the twin engine aircraft went through a cloudy area over Mt Egmont (Mt Taranaki). Familiar with the area, the second pilot saw trees 200 feet below and took over the control to turn to the right to avoid any collision with the mountain. Unfortunately, the aircraft stalled, hit tree tops and crashed in a wooded area. F/Sgt Peterson was able to leave the crash site and walked for about seven miles to find help. On site, the rescuers were able to evacuate a second crew member alive while both other occupants were killed.
      Crew (SNR):
      F/Sgt John Paterson Cummins, pilot, †
      F/Sgt Maurice Roy Haycock, pilot, †
      Sgt B. F. A. Rough, navigator,
      F/Sgt A. F. Peterson, radio operator. Public - Jenifer - Researcher - 12 August 2020 - www.aaa.aviation accidents/Geneva.
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Death

About death

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  • Death
    4 September 1944 AWMM
    Age 24 AWMM
    New Plymouth, Taranaki AWMM
  • Date of death
  • Age at death
  • Place of death
  • Cause of death
    Killed on Active Service AWMM
  • Death notes
  • Cemetery
    Karori Cemetery, Wellington, New Zealand AWMM 40. J/3. (S). AWMM
  • Cemetery name
  • Grave reference
  • Obituary
  • Memorial name
  • Memorial reference

Memorials

Memorial

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  • Memorial name

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Sources

Sources

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Contributors

Command item
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DateFirst namesLocationRelationshipContact
06 February 2022KelvinNorfolk, EnglandResearcher
12 August 2020JeniferWairarapaResearcher

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