AIR FORCE LOSSES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23965, 15 May 1941, Page 11

AIR FORCE LOSSES

DEPORTED MISSING AUCKLAND OFFICER HOLDER OF THE FLYING CROSS Cabled advice that hor son, FlyingOfficer Neville Williams, D.F.G., has been posted missing following air operations on May 10, has been received by Mrs. G. Meyer, of 126 Campbell Road, Onehunga. Flying-Officer Williams was born at Hamilton and educated at the New Plymouth Hoys' High School. He gained his A pilot's licence at the New Plymonth aerodrome and left for England nearly four years ago with a party of 12 New Zea landers to join the Royal Air Force.

When returning from the Ruhr on July 3, 1940, Flying-Officer Williams was attacked by three enemy aeroplanes. One and possibly two of the enemy were shot down and the other was driven off. For this he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.

In a letter to his mother written in March. Flying-Officer Williams stated that he had been mentioned in despatches and had been transferred to a flight of bombers. YOUNG AIRMAN'S DEATH KILLED IN FLYING ACCIDENT (0.C.) HAMILTON, Wednesday Cabled ad vice has been received by Mr. and Mrs. Vance Drummond, of Hairini. 'IV Awaniutu, that their son. Sergeant-Pilot Frederick A. V. M. Drunnnond, has been killed in an air accident. Sergeant-Pilot Drummond was born at Ngaroto, near Te Awamutu. but spent most of his life in Hamilton, being educated at the Hamilton High School. He matriculated early, and gained first place in the Auckland Province in the Public Service examination. He was employed in the Public Trust Office in Auckland and Hamilton. Sergeant-Pilot Drummond went to Sydney in June. IM9, and became interested in aviation and was one of the first Australian airmen to complete their training in Canada. He was only 18 at the time of his death. BELIEVED PRISONER OF WAR AIRMAN FROM AUCKLAND Reported missing on air operations on April ,'io and later, on May 5, as having been found and in hospital sutfering from injuries, Flight-Lieutenant Henry William Latnond is now believed to be a prisoner of war. Advice to this effect was received by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. ,T. A. Latnond, of 176 Arthur Street, Onehunga, in a cablegram from the Air Ministry in Britain yesterday afternoon. The cablegram stated that Flight— Lieutenant Lamond was believed to he a prisoner of war, but that further inquiries were being made through the International Red Cross. Flight-Lieut-enant Lamond enlisted in the Royal New Zealand Air Force in 1037 and was transferred to the Royal Air Force and left for England early in 1939. He was stationed in the Middle East.