Norway still remembers N.Z. airmen

Press, 13 October 1982, Page 9

Norway still remembers N.Z. airmen

On May 17 each year there is a special ceremony at Utsikten in South Norway. Norwegians gather on their national day to remember four New Zealand airmen who died in nearby Jossingfiord in the last days of World War 11.

They were the crews of two Beaufighter aircraft from the No. 489 Squadron of the Royal New Zealand Air Force based in Scotland. Returning to their base after a successful attack on German warships in the fiord, sigthed the day before by the Norwegians, the fighters collided and crashed into the sea.

Two men survived the crash, and a liferaft was dropped by their companions before they flew back to Scotland. The next evening allied fighters flew over the accident area, but had to leave with the approach of the Germans. The New Zealanders were never found.

Today a memorial stone at Utsiken marks, the accident: "1945 Jack Brightwell, Ed Foy, R. Nugent and G. Parkin. Remember these New Zealanders. They died but freedom lived,” reads the inscription.

The monument came to the attention of “The Press,” through a letter from a Norwegian . girl, aged 13. Torunn Ronniksen visited the memorial on holiday and later wrote to county officials in the area to find out more about the monument's history. They told her about the attack and accident which happened in April, 1945. volume II of the official history of New Zealand in World War Two. New Zealanders with the Royal Air Force” by Wing Commander H. L. Thomson confirms that the No 489 Squadron was formed in Leuchars Fife. Scotland in August 1941. Formed as a torpedo bomber

squadron. No. 489 began patrols over the North Sea and along Norwegian coast in 1942. It achieved notable success, and when it was disbanded in 1945 it had flown 2380 sorties totalling 9773 hours.

Torunn writes: “This is far away in time for me, but I am thinking of these .men who died for my country’s freedom. The May 17 ceremony shows that these brave men from New Zealand are not forgotten here.” She ends her letter: “This is a salutation from Norway, the land under the Polar Star to New Zealand, the land under the Southern Cross.”