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Cenotaph record

Edward George Olson

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Portrait of Group Captain Edward George Olson, Auckland Weekly News, 5 May 1943. Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections AWNS-19430505-19-1. Image has no known copyright restrictions.

Portrait of Group Captain Edward George Olson, Auckland Weekly News, 5 May 1943. Auckland Libraries …

Identity

About

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  • Title
  • Forenames
    Edward George AWMM
  • Surname
    Olson AWMM
  • Ingoa
  • Also known as
    Ted Olson AWMM
  • Service number
    WWII NZ1008 AWMM
  • Gender
    Male AWMM
  • Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
  • Religion

Civilian life

About birth

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  • Birth
    27 February 1906 AWMM New Plymouth, Taranaki AWMM
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Birth notes
  • Address before enlistment
  • Post war occupation
  • Next of kin on embarkation
    WW2 Widow: Mrs. M. M. Olsen of New Plymouth AWMM
  • Relationship status
    Married/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
    Air Commodore/Military RNZAF Biographies (R17845614)
  • Enlistment
    Inter War 1935 AWMM Soldier/Military 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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  • Edward Olson was the son of Percy George Olson, and of Ellen Olson (nee Sullivan), of New Plymouth, Taranaki; husband of Myrtle Mabel Olson, of Fitzroy, Taranaki, New Zealand.

    Educated at New Plymouth Boys' High School.

    Joined the Royal Air Force in 1925 and served in Egypt and India, 1926-29.

    He returned to New Zealand in 1929.

    In 1941 he went to Great Britain as NZ Liaison Officer to the Air Ministry.

    Commanding Officer (CO) of 75 (NZ) Squadron, 1942.

    He was recalled to New Zealand to serve as Officer Commanding (OC), Central Group.

    Promoted to Air Commodore.

    Air Officer Commanding (AOC) of RNZAF HQ, London, UK, 1944-45.

    His health had been causing concern for some time, and ultimately he was given no option but to have an extended period of rest and treatment in New Zealand. His death occurred only a few weeks after his return to New Plymouth.

    Attended New Plymouth Boy's High School (Source: RNZAF Biographies (R17845614)) AWMM
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Death

About death

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  • Death
    15 May 1945 AWMM
    Age 39 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
    Te Henui Cemetery, New Plymouth, New Zealand AWMM As. 1. 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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  • External links
  • References
    • Martyn, E. (1998-2008). For Your Tomorrow (Vols. 1-3). Christchurch, N.Z.: Volplane Press. AWMM
    • Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force. (1942). Nominal Roll Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force No. 5 (Embarkations from 1st July, 1941 to 30 September, 1941). Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer. AWMM
    • RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939 - 1945 (Bound Volumes) - Na - Py. Archives New Zealand (R17845614) - 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 - Embarkation Lists, November 1940 - July 1942. Archives New Zealand, Wellington (R17845762). AWMM

Contributors

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DateFirst namesLocationRelationshipContact
27 April 2015CatherineAuckland, New ZealandResearcher

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