Edward Harry Frederick Atkinson

This story is shared by the Trust with kind permission from Mavis Williams, Researcher using documents held by the New Zealand Archives and the portrait photo from laurinlaurin espi.

Edward Atkinson was born on 19 July 1921 at Kaponga, New Zealand and went to school at West Central School, New Plymouth. He enjoyed boxing and before he enlisted in the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) he was employed by the Residential Construction Co., Kaiwarra, Wellington.

He applied for aircrew training on the 25th June 1941 and was enlisted at Rotorua on the 16th May 1942. After completing his initial training he embarked for Canada on the 10th November 1942. Shortly after arriving in Canada he was posted to No. 8 Bombing and Gunnery School, Lethbridge, Alberta  and then, on the 21st February 1943, to No. 2 Air Observers' School, Edmonton, Alberta where, in April, he was awarded the air bombers badge and promoted to the rank of Sergeant. A few months later he was promoted to Flight Sergeant on 13th October 1943.

He sailed from Canada to the UK on the 21st May 1943 and after arriving at No. 12 (RNZAF) Personnel Reception Centre he was posted to No. 9 (Observer) Advanced Flying Unit in Penrhos, Caernarvonshire. After completing the course he was sent to No. 11 Operational Training Unit at Oakley on 13th July 1943. He trained here, and at Westcott, Buckinghamshire as an air bomber on Wellington bomber aircraft. He was then posted to 1665 Conversion Unit at Woolfox Lodge, Rutland where he carried out air exercises in Wellington bombers.

In November 1943 he was first sent to No 513 Squadron, Royal Air Force at Witchford, Cambridgeshire and then to No 620 Squadron, Royal Air Force at RAF Leicester East. In March 1944 the Squadron moved to Fairford, Gloucestershire and from this base he carried out three operation flights in Stirling bombers.

On the 5th June 1944 Edward Anderson was the air bomber in a Stirling which took off from Fairford as part of Operation Tonga (6th Airborne Division's parachute and glider assault in the early hours of D-Day). But the aircraft faied to return to base and all members of the crew were reported missing. It was later discovered that one had been captured and made a prisoner of war, another had managed to return to England, three of the paratroopers were safe.

In January 1945 the Air Officer Commanding, No 38 Group reported that the wreckage of a Stirling bomber had been located in France and identified as being the aircraft Edward Anderson had flown in. It was reported that there was little hope of survival for the remaining paratroopers and crew members. Edward Atkinson was presumed to have been killed in action on 6th June 1944.