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Cenotaph record

Keith James Watson

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Portrait from Weekly News; 15 March 1944 - This image may be subject to copyright

Portrait from Weekly News; 15 March 1944 - This image may be subject to copyright

Identity

About

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  • Title
  • Forenames
    Keith James AWMM
  • Surname
    Watson AWMM
  • Ingoa
  • Also known as
  • Service number
    • NZ421799 AWMM
    • WWII 421799 AWMM
  • Gender
    Male AWMM
  • Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
  • Religion

Civilian life

About birth

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  • Birth
    10 March 1923 RNZAF Biographies (R17845617) Palmerston North, Manawatu-Wanganui 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 D. J. Watson, Pohangina , via Ashhurst 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
    Pilot/Military RNZAF Biographies (R17845617)
  • 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 on Active Service, Cause of Death AWMM

Biographical information

Biographical information

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    • Keith Watson was the son of David James Watson and of Emily Millicent Watson (nee Fuller), of Pohangina, Wellington.

      Caption in The Auckland Weekly News photo has K.L. initials in error.

      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 Palmerston North Technical High School (Source: RNZAF Biographies (R17845617)) AWMM
    • Operation: Training

      Date: 02/03rd February 1944 (Wednesday/Thursday)

      Unit: No. 488 Squadron RNZAF (11 Group)

      Type: Mosquito NF.XIII

      Serial: HK363

      Code: ME-?

      Base: RAF Bradwell Bay, Essex

      Location: As above

      Pilot: Fl/Sgt. Keith James Watson NZ/421799 RNZAF Age 20. Killed

      Nav: Fl/Sgt. Ernest Frank Edwards NZ/422378 RNZAF Age 26. Killed

      REASON FOR LOSS:

      Taking off at about 00:05 hrs on an airfield canopy searchlight exercise when at 01:40 hrs the aircraft crashed out of control a mile south of the airfield. It is thought that the pilot may have been temporary blinded when caught in the beams.

      Fl/Sgt. Keith James Watson. Brookwood Military Cemetery. Grave 2.K.1. Born on the 10th March 1923 in Palmerston North, New Zealand, the son of David James Watson and of Emily Millicent Watson (née Fuller), of Pohangina, Wellington, New Zealand. 397 Flying hours logged - 38 of these solo on Mosquito. 2 operational sorties flown. A motor mechanic, joining the RNZAF in March 1942. Public - Kelvin - Researcher - 4 November 2017 - http://aircrewremembered.com/watson-keith-james.html
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Death

About death

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  • Death
    3 February 1944 AWMM
    Age 20 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
    Brookwood Military Cemetery, Woking, Surrey, England AWMM Grave 2 K 1 AWMM
  • Cemetery name
  • Grave reference
  • Obituary
  • Memorial name
  • Memorial reference

Memorials

Memorial

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  • Memorial name

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
    • 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. [(New Zealanders Attached to R.A.F. [Royal Air Force]) (Officers), (Europe) - Airmen]. Archives New Zealand (R17845744) AWMM

Contributors

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DateFirst namesLocationRelationshipContact
04 November 2017KelvinNorfolk, EnglandResearcher

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