Leonard Rodney Hewitt
Born 1913 - Died 1 Feb 1964
- Service number
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- Also known as
- Rod Hewitt AWMM
- Armed force / branch
- Air Force AWMM
- Last rank
- Royal Air Force, No. 75 (NZ) Squadron AWMM
- War
- World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
About
- Title
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- Forenames
- Leonard Rodney AWMM
- Surname
- Hewitt AWMM
- Ingoa
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- Also known as
- Rod Hewitt AWMM
- Service number
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- Gender
- Male AWMM
- Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
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Images
Documents
About birth
- Birth
- 1913 AWMM
- Date of birth
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- Place of birth
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- Birth notes
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- Address before enlistment
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- Post war occupation
- Insurance InspectorPublic - Ian Banks - Researcher - 11 June 2020 - Research
- Next of kin
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- Relationship status
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Wars and conflicts
- War
- World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
- Campaign
- Pacific Theatre of War AWMM
- Armed force / branch
- Air Force AWMM
- Service number
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- Military service
- Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers
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Military decorations
- Medals and Awards
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Training and Enlistment
- Military training
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- Branch Trade Proficiency
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- Enlistment
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- Age on enlistment
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- Occupation before enlistment
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Embarkations
- Embarkation details
- WW2 Royal New Zealand Air Force AWMM
Prisoner of war
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- Liberation Repatriation
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Medical history
- Medical notes
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Last known rank
- Last rank
- Royal Air Force, No. 75 (NZ) Squadron AWMM
- Last rank
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Biographical information
- Member of the New Zealand Alpine Club:
"Rod Hewitt died in Timaru Hospital on February 1, 1964. He was born in Opotiki, but was descended from Canterbury pioneers and spent practically all his youth in Christchurch where he was educated at Christ College.
Rod's first trips to the hills were deerstalking expeditions made his with schoolfellow C.R. Hervey, but he soon became devoted to mountaineering and took part in the vigorous mountain exploration being carried out by young Canterbury climbers.
Christmas, 1938, again saw Rod, Wyn Barnett and George Doig in the Tasman with hopes for Mount Tasman, but there were repeated snowfalls, and a reconnaissance of Syme Ridge and an ascent of Pioneer Pass their only climbing achievements. Rod had better luck at Easter when with John Clegg and L. King, he climbed D'Archiac from the Godley. In October, with Wyn and others, he climbed Alma in the Two Thumbs Range - the following month was in the R.N.Z.A.F.
In June, 1940, Rod left for England to join the R.A.F., and as a bomber pilot in "75" Squadron saw service in Europe - over Berlin and as far as Italy. In April 1941 he had brief leave at Loch Lomand in the Western Highlands (climbing Ben Nevis in a snowstorm), before flying to the Middle East where he served for a year. Out there he survived the third of his crash landings and had a spell in hospital, where the brilliant surgery of New Zealand doctors on his injured leg made it possible for him to climb again. He was sent back to England and left for New Zealand in August, 1942. He had a brief reintroduction to the New Zealand mountains as a member of a search party to Malte Brun, when on a short holiday before a final tour of duty in the Pacific from April, 1944 to September, 1945."
(from the New Zealand Alpine Journal, Vol.XX, No.51, 1964) AWMM
About death
- Death
- 1 Feb 1964 AWMM
- Date of death
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- Age at death
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- Place of death
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- Cause of death
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- Death notes
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- Cemetery
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Memorial
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Sources
- External links
- Image from the No. 75 Squadron collection. Photo album that belonged to Leonard Rodney Hewitt.
"Arrival in Egypt. 11th April '41."
Leonard Rodney Hewitt at the controls of his Wellington on arrival in Egypt. This is believed to be when he arrived at No. 37 Squadron. Air Force Museum of New Zealand (ALB0224349168)
https://fotoweb.airforcemuseum.co.nz/fotoweb/archives/5003-Search-the-Collection/Collection/ALB0224349168.JPG.info
Further Reference - No. 30 Squadron and Servicing Unit
https://www.cambridgeairforce.org.nz/30%20Squadron%20Roll%20Call.htm
Further Reference
- Image from the No. 75 Squadron collection. Photo album that belonged to Leonard Rodney Hewitt.
"Arrival in Egypt. 11th April '41."
Leonard Rodney Hewitt at the controls of his Wellington on arrival in Egypt. This is believed to be when he arrived at No. 37 Squadron. Air Force Museum of New Zealand (ALB0224349168)
- References
- New Zealand Alpine journal
The New Zealand Alpine Journal, Vol.XX, No.51, 1964 (includes photograph) - Hewitt, L. R., & Davidson, M. M. (1954). The mountains of New Zealand. Wellington, N.Z.: A.H. & A.W. Reed.
- Hewitt, L. R., & Davidson, M. M. (1972). Mount Cook Alpine regions (2nd (rev.) ed). [Christchurch, N.Z.] : New Zealand Alpine Club.
- Information in this record was kindly provided from No. 30 Squadron and Servicing Unit research by the late Wally Ingham and Dave Homewood (2025)
- Ingham, W. (1990). The Avengers: 30 Squadron & Servicing Unit, RNZAF: a record of service. Auckland, N.Z.: Author.
- New Zealand Alpine journal
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