R.A.F. CASUALTIES

Camp News (Northern Command), Volume 1, Issue 14, 2 August 1940, Page 4

R.A.F. CASUALTIES

Wellington Officers The following additional casualties involving New Zealanders serving with the Royal Air Force were officially announced in Wellington recently. Flying Officer Samuel Miles Mackenzie Watson, missing, believed killed in air operations. His .father is Mr. W. Watson, jun., 8 Baisweil Street, Wellington. m . Pilot Officer James Tayne Tame Fleming, killed during air operations. His father is Mr. A. M. Fleming, 35 Amritsar Street, Khandallah. - Sergeant John Lewis Owen, missing, believed killed in operations. _ His mother is Mrs. G. Owen, 118 Tinakori Road, Wellington. Sergeant Owen was born in Wanganui. Flying Officer Watson was prominent in Wellington business and sporting circles. He was born in Auckland 27 years ago, and was educated., at Wanganui Collegiate School, and in 1920 went to Cambridge University, where he took his M.A. degree with honours in economics.' dieturning to New Zealand he became a member of the Wellington Stock Exchange. Flying Officer Watson continued his aviation with the Territorial Air Force, and in June last year was sent to England as a member of the crews required for flying the Wellington bombers out to New Zealand for the Government. When war broke out he offered his services and was attached to the Royal Air Force. He was engaged in bombing duties ever since. Flying Officer Watson was a popular all-round sportsman, and was known particularly as a golfer.

Pilot Officer Fleming left New Zealand in July, 1938, on a short service commission in the Royal Air Force, and on the .completion of his training in England was posted to the Coastal Command. He was stationed in Scotland.

Born in Hamilton 20 years ago, Pilot Officer Fleming was educated at Khandallah School and Wellington College. Before leaving for England he was with Imperial Chemical Industries, Limited, Wellington, for a. short time. At school he was an all-round sportsman/

Pilot Officer Fleming was- x one of . the fourth generation . of New Zealanders. His . greatgrandfather, on his mother’s side, was a member of the original New Zealand Land Company with Edward Gibbon Wakefield.

Sergeant John Lewis Owen was the only son of Mrs. G. Owen, 118 Tinakori Road. He was born in Wanganui and educated in Auckland. He was employed in Wellington by the Shell Oil Company and went to England in February of this year with a detachment of air gunners. Sergeant Owen was a member of the Huia Hockey Club.