Malcolm Randall was the son of Samuel and Annie Randall; husband of Rae M. Randall or Christchurch, New Zealand. Married on March 8 1941.
Born in Christchurch on the 22nd May 1917, Malcolm Randall received his secondary education at Christchurch Technical College attaining Matriculation standard. The games he played were rugby and cricket. His civilian occupation was that of a carpenter in the employ of Paynter and Hamilton, Christchurch. In February, 1940 he applied for war service in the Royal New Zealand Air Force.
Flight Sergeant Randall was enlisted for aircrew training on the 19th January, 1941 at the Ground Training School, Levin, and was posted on the 4th March to No.3 Elementary Flying Training School, Harewood, to commence his flying training. This elementary training completed, he proceeded on the 15th April to No.2 Service Flying Training School, Woodbourne, for training on service type aircraft. While here on the 25th May he was awarded his Flying Badge and on the 5th July received his promotion to sergeant. His promotion to flight sergeant was promulgated when he was later serving in England on the 1st June, 1942. Meanwhile, on the 22nd July, 1941 he had embarked for the United Kingdom.
On arriving in England on the 2nd September, 1941, Flight Sergeant Randall reported to No.3 Personnel Reception Centre, Bournemouth, where he was attached until posted on the 17th September, to No.10 Operational Training Unit, Abingdon, Berkshire, to crew-up and completed his training on Whitley bomber aircraft. On the 13th November he was posted to No.58 Squadron, St. Eval, Cornwall, and commenced operational flying. During December 1941 he carried out two operational flights being attacks on Brest in France and Dusseldorf in Germany. On the 12th January, 1942 he was attached for a week to No.1501 Beam Approach Training Flight, Abingdon, for a short instrument flying course. At the completion of this course he returned to No.58 Squadron, and resumed operational flying. As pilot of a Whitley bomber he took part in a further twenty-one operational flights, bringing his total operations to twenty-three. These additional operations included attacks on St. Nazaire (2), Paris (3) and Arras in France; Mannheim in Germany; nine anti-submarine sweeps, three offensive patrols and a convoy patrol.
On the 3rd August, 1942, Flight Sergeant Randall was pilot of a Whitley bomber taking part in a move of No.58 Squadron to Wick, Caithness, Scotland. When over Wick his aircraft stalled and spun in from 300 to 400 feet six occupants of the aircraft being killed. Flight Sergeant Randall was buried in the Wick Cemetery. One other occupant of the aircraft was also a New Zealander, Sergeant K. G. Dunn of Whangarei. AWMM