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Cenotaph record

Philip Henry Creswell

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Biography for Philip Henry Creswell. RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939 - 1945 (Bound Volumes) - Co - Dy. Archives New Zealand (R17845609-0233). CC-BY 2.0.

Biography for Philip Henry Creswell. RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Per …

Identity

About

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  • Title
  • Forenames
    Philip Henry AWMM
  • Surname
    Creswell AWMM
  • Ingoa
  • Also known as
  • Service number
    • NZ40618 AWMM
    • WWII 40618 AWMM
  • Gender
    Male AWMM
  • Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
  • Religion

Civilian life

About birth

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  • Birth
    9 October 1916 RNZAF Biographies (R17845609) RNZAF Biographies (R17845609)
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Birth notes
  • Address before enlistment
  • Post war occupation
  • Next of kin on embarkation
    WW2 Parents: Mr. & Mrs. C. E. Creswell of Wellington 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
    • Sergeant/Military RNZAF Biographies (R17845609)
    • Pilot Officer RNZAF Biographies (R17845609)
    • Flying Officer/Military RNZAF Biographies (R17845609)
    • Navigator RNZAF Biographies (R17845609)
  • Enlistment
  • Occupation before enlistment
  • Age on enlistment

Embarkations

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  • Embarkation details

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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    • Philip Creswell was the son of Charles Edward and Ena Lillian Creswell of Island Bay, Wellington

      Crashed following structural failure of starboard wing at Folly Farm, Norfolk, while training.

      Attended Wellington College (Source: RNZAF Biographies (R17845609)) AWMM
    • Service background:
      Entered RNZAF 13 February 1940
      Air Observer’s Badge and Sergeant Rongotai, 27 June 1940.
      Sailed for UK 12 July 1940.
      Attached RAF arriving UK Liverpool 26 August 1940.
      15 OTU (Wellington) - 1 operation, 218 Squadron - 28 operations, 9 Squadron - 4 operations… a total of 33 operations. Bomber Command Meritorious Flights commendation May 1941, promoted Pilot Officer 5 July 1941, flight navigation leader, aircraft captain June/July 1941. Promoted Flying Officer early August 1941. Promoted Acting Flight Lieutenant 7 October 1941.
      Killed in aircraft accident (navigation instructor) with 9 Squadron RAF, 19 January 1942.
      Mention in Despatches “For distinguished services rendered” in the King’s Birthday Honours, June 1942

      Philip Creswell was an excellent navigator, bomb aimer and leader of men. His courage and leadership was recognised and acclaimed by those who served with him. It is evident in the fact he received several official accolades:
      rapid promotion as a navigator from Sergeant to Flight Lieutenant just over 3 months
      a Bomber Command Meritorious Flight commendation in May 1941
      appointment as bombing leader of his flight
      captaincy of aircraft on four occasions in June/July 1941 with 218 Squadron
      posting to become an “expert” on telecommunications navigational aids, Gee, in recognition of his expertise in general navigation
      the award of a mention in dispatches in the King’s Birthday Honours 11 June 1942 For distinguished services rendered (Published in the Second Supplement to The London Gazette of Friday, the 5th of June, 1942) on the recommendation of 3 Group Bomber Command’s Commanding Officer, Air Vice Marshall J. E. A. (Jack) Baldwin.

      Philip Creswell’s MID was reported in the Evening Post of 18 June 1942 under the headline “Honours List NZ Airmen Mentioned in Dispatches” and included a brief biography. His award is one of twenty listed. Flight Lieutenant Philip Henry Creswell, R.N.Z.A.F., was born in Wellington in October 1916, and educated at Wellington College. He was killed in an air accident in January, 1942. Next-of-kin, mother, Mrs. C. R. Creswell, Island Bay, Wellington. Public - John - Researcher - 2 September 2023 - Bibliography:
      Books:
      Chorley, W. R. RAF Bomber Command Losses of the Second World War, Vol 4, 1942
      Hanson, Colin, By Such Deeds, Volplane Press, 2004.
      Martyn, Errol. For Your Tomorrow, Volumes 1 and 3, 1999, 2008.
      Thorburn, GordonBombers First and Last (9 Squadron RAF history).

      Magazines and Periodicals:
      Weekly News Issues of 20 August 1941, 4 March 1942, 19 January 1944.

      Documents and Archival Material:
      Archives New ZealandPersonnel File Philip Creswell
      Creswell collection
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Death

About death

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  • Death
    19 January 1942 AWMM
    Age 25 AWMM
    Norfolk, England AWMM
  • Date of death
  • Age at death
  • Place of death
  • Cause of death
    Killed on Active Service AWMM
  • Death notes
  • Cemetery
    Honington (All Saints) Churchyard, Suffolk, England AWMM Row D. Grave 6 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
    • RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939 - 1945 (Bound Volumes) - Co - Dy. Archives New Zealand (R17845609) - 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

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DateFirst namesLocationRelationshipContact
02 September 2023JohnChristchurchResearcher

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