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Cenotaph record

William Arthur Kalka

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In snow at Volkel January 1945. Image from Lee Melles collection. Caption from Sortehaug, P. (1998). p. 207. left to right, back row: Keith Alexander Smith, William Arthur Kalka, William John Campbell, Andrew Ralph Evans, Neville Joseph Powell, Brian John O Connor, Owen David Eagleson, William Alan Liddell Trott, Loyd James Appleton, Raymond Jack Danzey. Front row; Sydney john Short, Colin James McDonald, Thomas Michael Fenton, Cornelius James Sheddan, Harold Longley, Keith Frederick Thiele, Arthur Ernest Umbers, Evan Mackie, Joseph Crafts, Robert Spurdle, John Edward Wood, Ross Alexander Melles, Alan Clive Inclis, William Lister Miller. - This image may be subject to copyright

In snow at Volkel January 1945. Image from Lee Melles collection. Caption from Sortehaug, P. (1998). …

Identity

About

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  • Title
  • Forenames
    William Arthur AWMM
  • Surname
    Kalka AWMM
  • Ingoa
  • Also known as
  • Service number
    • WWII NZ415415 AWMM
    • WWII 415415 AWMM
  • Gender
    Male AWMM
  • Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
  • Religion

Civilian life

About birth

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  • Birth
    12 June 1923 AWMM AWMM
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Birth notes
  • Address before enlistment
  • Post war occupation
  • Next of kin on embarkation
    • WW2 Mother: Mrs. A. Kalka. 87 Williamson Ave, Grey Lynn, Auckland AWMM
    • WW2 Mr. & Mrs. R. J. Kalka of Auckland 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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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 Action, Cause of Death AWMM

Biographical information

Biographical information

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  • William Kalka was the son of Richard John Kalka and Annie Kalka (nee Boggs), Grey Lynn, Auckland.

    On the 25th of March 1945, flying officer W.A. Kalka led a section of aircraft of 486 squadron on an offensive patrol over Germany. During the mission, W.A. Kalka's aircraft was hit by anti aircraft fire. He made a parachute descent, but unfortunately landed in the Maas (River Meuse) and drowned. A Dutch lady, Riet Janssen, had tried to save him but was unable to do so. Kalka's body was recovered from the river in April 1945. He lies buried in Uden. Public source.

    Attended Seddon Memorial Technical College (Source: RNZAF Biographies (R17845612)) AWMM
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Death

About death

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  • Death
    25 March 1945 AWMM
    Age 22 AWMM
    AWMM
  • Date of death
  • Age at death
  • Place of death
  • Cause of death
    Killed in Action AWMM
  • Death notes
  • Cemetery
    Uden War Cemetery, Noord-Brabant, Netherlands AWMM 6.F.8 AWMM
  • Cemetery name
  • Grave reference
  • Obituary
  • Memorial name
  • Memorial reference

Memorials

Memorial

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  • Memorial name
    • Loonsewaard, Wijchen, Netherlands AWMM
    • Auckland War Memorial Museum, World War 2 Hall of Memories AWMM

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Sources

Sources

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  • External links
  • References
    • Sortehaug, P. (1998). The wild winds : the history of number 486 RNZAF Fighter Squadron with the RAF5. Dunedin, N.Z.: Author. AWMM
    • Martyn, E. (1998-2008). For Your Tomorrow (Vols. 1-3). Christchurch, N.Z.: Volplane Press. AWMM
      vol.3, p.279 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
    • Information kindly provided by family AWMM
    • RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939 - 1945 (Bound Volumes) - Ib - Ly. Archives New Zealand (R17845612) - 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
    • List of RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Personnel - Embarkation Lists, November 1940 - July 1942. Archives New Zealand, Wellington (R17845762). AWMM

Contributors

Command item
Command item
Add new record Refresh
DateFirst namesLocationRelationshipContact
25 March 2023TonyAucklandResearcher
21 September 2020JimmyEwijkOther
22 May 2020Ian BanksTaumarunui New ZealandResearcher
12 November 2015MauriceVeghel, The NetherlandsOther

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