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Cenotaph record

Arthur Percy Gainsford

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Photo taken just prior to retirement from the RNZAF in 1967

Air Commodore AP Gainsford

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Identity

About

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  • Title
    Air Commodore Public - Anthony David - Child - 7 April 2020 - Military records
  • Forenames
    Arthur Percy AWMM
  • Surname
    Gainsford AWMM
  • Ingoa
  • Also known as
  • Service number
    • 402863 AWMM
    • NZ402863 & 70039 Public - Anthony David - Child - 7 April 2020 - Military records
  • Gender
    Male AWMM
  • Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
  • Religion
    Presbyterian Public - Anthony David - Child - 7 April 2020 - Family records

Civilian life

About birth

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  • Birth
    20 November 1913 AWMM AWMM
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Birth notes
  • Address before enlistment
  • Post war occupation
    Soldier/Military AWMM
  • Next of kin on embarkation
  • Relationship status

Service

Wars and conflicts

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Military decorations

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Training and Enlistment

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  • Military training
    No. 6 EFTS Pilots Course Public - Anthony David - Child - 7 April 2020 - Military personnel files
  • Branch Trade Proficiency
  • Enlistment
    WW2 Sep 1940 AWMM
    Age 26 AWMM
    Mercer/Civilian AWMM
  • 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

Last known rank

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Biographical information

Biographical information

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    • Married Joan Ethel Kingsland in Rotorua on 8 February 1941.

      Served with 150 Squadron, Royal Air Force (RAF), 1941 - 1945.

      Stationed at RNZAF Hobsonville, 1945 - 1947.

      Sent to Japan in 1948.

      Appointed to the Air Staff, Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF), 1949 - 1950.

      Commanding Officer (CO) of RNZAF Woodbourne, 1957 - 1960.

      Appointed Director of Training in 1960.

      Retired in May 1967. AWMM
    • Served with 150 Squadron (RAF) 1941 - 1942 Wellington Bombers 35 Ops
      Served as an instructor 25, 30, 82 and 86 OTU (RAF) 1942 - 1944
      Served with 166, 550 and 150 Squadrons (RAF) 1944 - Lancaster Bombers 27 Ops
      British Commonwealth Air Headquarters Japan 1947 - 1948
      OC Admin Wing RNZAF Ohakea 1950 - 1954
      OC Flying Wing RNZAF Whenuapai 1954 - 1957
      Commanding Officer RNZAF Whenuapai 1960 - 1964
      Director of Training Air Department 1964 1966
      Air Member for Personnel 1966 - 1967 Public - Anthony David - Child - 7 April 2020 - Military Personnel files, pilots log book
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Death

About death

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  • Death
    27 May 1974 AWMM
    Age 60 AWMM
    Rotorua, Bay of Plenty AWMM
  • Date of death
  • Age at death
  • Place of death
    Rotorua Public - John - Researcher - 26 February 2022 - Rotorua Cemetery Records
  • Cause of death
  • Death notes
  • Cemetery
  • Cemetery name
    Rotorua Cemetery Public - John - Researcher - 26 February 2022 - Rotorua Cemetery Records
  • Grave reference
    RSA Ash Berm (Block 6A) Berm F Plot 38 Public - John - Researcher - 26 February 2022 - Rotorua Cemetery Records
  • Obituary
  • Memorial name
  • Memorial reference

Memorials

Memorial

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  • Memorial name

Roll of Honour

Remember Arthur Percy Gainsford by laying a poppy.

Leave a note

Leave a tribute or memory of Arthur Percy Gainsford

Leave a note

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  • So proud of my Grandads service history and his dedication to the defence of our country. Also very proud of my Nana (J E Gainsford) and her strength and support keeping the home fires burning and raising her 8 children. Behind every great man is a great woman. One of whom was my wonderful Mum. Pamela Furniss. Née Gainsford.
    Public - Mel - Direct descendant - 13 March 2022
    Report 
  • In memory of my father Air Commodore
    AP Gainsford and mother JE Gainsford, miss and love you
    Public - Wendy Jane - Child - 20 April 2020
    Report 

Sources

Sources

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  • External links
  • References
    • 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
    • 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
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DateFirst namesLocationRelationshipContact
28 May 2023Anthony DavidCambridge New ZealandChild
13 March 2022MelOtakiDirect descendant
26 February 2022JohnPerth WAResearcher
20 April 2020Wendy JaneRotorua NZChild

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