AIR FORCE LOSSES

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24104, 24 October 1941, Page 9

AIR FORCE LOSSES

THREE BELIEVED DEAD FOUR REPORTED MISSING LATEST OFFICIAL LIST [BY TKLKGKAI'H—I'UKSS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON, Thursday The following Air Force casualties were announced to-day: Haselden, Howard Clive McLeish (Sfr t.). R.N.Z.A.F., previously reported missing, now reclassified missing but believed killed in action—Mr. H. T. Haselden, Te Awamutu (father). Hannah. Anthony James (Sgt.), R.X.Z.A.F., previously reported missing, believed killed, death now officially presumed by the Air Ministry to have occurred in April—Mr. F. H. Johnson, Wellington (uncle). Crush, Richard Hope (Pilot-Officer), R.A.F., previously reported missing believed killed, death now officially presumed by Air Ministry to have occurred in AprilMr. E. H. Crush, Auckland (fattier). Renolds, Lindsay Blair (Pilot - Officer), R.N.Z.A.F., previously reported seriously injured on air operations, now removed from the seriously ill list—Mrs. I>. Renolds, Te Awamutu (mother). Thompson, Colin Maurice (Sgt.). R.X.Z.A.F.. missing on air operations—M.r. R. J. Thompson, Christchnrch (father). Cooke, Percy Frederick Meadows (Sgt.), R.N.Z.A.F.. missing on air operations— Mrs. R. D. H. Cooke, Invercargill (mother). Murphy. Timothy Rowley (Sgt.). R.N.Z.A.F.. missing on air operations—Mrs. J. R. Murphy, Kotemaori, Hawke's Bay t (mother). Comette. Kenneth Allan (Sgt.), R.N.Z.A.F., missing on air operations—Mr. R. A. Comette, Wellington (father). Cabled advice received by Mr. H. T. Haselden, Te Awamutu, concerning his son, Sergeant H. C. McL. Haselden, who was a wireless operator, states that he is now believed to have been killed in action 011 September 17. On that date the Royal Air Force made a raid over Germany and out of approximately "300 aircraft engaged m the operations eight were lost. Presumably the young airman was a member of the crew of one of the machines which failed to return. Born in Te Awamutu on May 7. 1919. Sergeant Haselden was educated at the Te Awamutu District High School. He took a keen interest in all branches of sport, especially Rugby football, in which he was a member first of the high school team and later of the Te Awamutu Football Club. He also plaved a number of games as a Waipa representative. At the outbreak of war. Sergeant Haselden immediately" volunteered bis services in the J?oval New Zealand Air Force, _ and entered the Levin ground training school in September. 1940. In October of that year he proceeded to Canada under the Empire training scheme. He had been on active service in England since last June.