No 8 Squadron on patrol

FRAGILE: Wreckage of a No. 8 Squadron Vincent PA-H at the RNZAF Station, Gisborne. The aircraft were phased out after May 1943 when it was decided they should not fly beyond gliding distance from shore. Image ref ALB090772935, Air Force Museum of New Zealand

As Anzac Day nears, Wynsley Wrigley looks into the story of No 8 General Reconnaissance (GR) Squadron operating at Darton Field (now Gisborne Airport) during World War 2. He also recounts the sad tale of RAF armourer Cliff (Molly) Morgan who was transferred from England to Darton Field, only to be killed in a motor accident.

The entry of Japan into World War 2 in December 1941 led to the creation of a number of short-lived squadrons to fill the immediate defensive needs of New Zealand and train personnel for future operations of the RNZAF against the Japanese in the Pacific.

In early 1942, the East Coast of the North Island had little air protection. To remedy this, in April 1942 the nucleus of a new reconnaissance (GR) squadron formed under the command of Squadron Leader

C L Monckton and the following month, an advance party arrived in Gisborne.

Six aircraft — two Vildebeests and eight Vincents — arrived shortly after from other units.

Operations commenced in June 1942 working with No. 1 (GR) Squadron based at Nelson, protecting shipping along the East Coast of the North Island bound to and from Wellington.

The accommodation and layout of the hastily conceived station ensured that everything was dispersed around four camps and the personnel were trucked in daily. Living conditions were primitive.

Wally Ingham was serving as ground crew that first winter, and recalled it was something of an ordeal:

“Tremendously cold nights with apparently endless rain coupled with draughty huts, many of which leaked, no lights or heating of any kind, no hot water, caused a wave (of) discontent among the airmen who were repeatedly soaking wet and generally unhappy with the conditions prevailing.

“Their only consolation (was)  their contacts with the good citizens of Gisborne.”

In contrast, the officers of the Squadron occupied a requisitioned mansion called “Sandown”, about a mile from the aerodrome.

One of the odd things about operations by No. 8 Squadron at Gisborne was that the New Zealand Railways department had laid track across the aerodrome, so a traffic light system had to be employed to ensure trains and aircraft were not in the same place at the same time.

The end of 1942 saw No. 8 Squadron lose an aircraft in tragic circumstances.

On December 8, 1942, Vincent NZ332 took off on patrol and was never heard from again. pilot Flying Officer Peter Kinder, navigator Flying Officer C M Turnbull and Sergeant Nepia Stuart were missing.

Searches over the next few days failed to reveal the fate of the aircraft.

The loss was particularly sad as Kinder had survived the fall of Singapore and returned safely to New Zealand almost exactly a year before.

Losses such as these, and the arrival of more modern aircraft for maritime patrol work such as the Lockheed Hudson and (later) Ventura, meant that the Vildebeests and Vincents would be slowly phased out.

In fact, on May 4 1943, the GR Squadrons were instructed that the two types were not to fly beyond gliding distance from shore to avoid similar tragedies.

This effectively made No. 8 Squadron non-operational and most of the aircraft were sent to Ohakea to await disposal.

Plans were already in place for a new role for the Squadron.

While the remains of the unit stayed at Gisborne, several personnel were sent to the United States to become familiar with the Grumman TBF Avenger. Later in 1943, No. 8 Squadron ceased to exist, and No. 30 Squadron and No. 30 Servicing Unit RNZAF (later joined by No. 31 Squadron) were formed at Gisborne and began preparing to take their Avengers to war in the Pacific.

Cliff “Molly” Morgan was a RAF armorer serving at RAF Feltwell with 75 (New Zealand) Squadron when he was posted to distant New Zealand and Gisborne’s Darton Field.

It seemed a safe posting, but only months later in April 1943, Mr Morgan was killed in a motor accident near the Childers Road -Lytton Road intersection.

He was struck by a car driven by a RNZAF officer and died in Cook Hospital the following day.

The area of the accident, now known as Elgin, consisted of RNZAF huts, medical quarters and dining facilities during the war.

Mr Morgan joined the RAF straight from school in 1929.

He served for about a year in the mid-1930s as an armourer-fitter on HMS Ajax, which was equipped with a biplane.

He was the 75 Squadron billiards champion and represented the unit at cricket and soccer.

Mr Morgan’s Gisborne story was originally told 20 years ago when his son David contacted the Herald asking if any readers knew and remembered his father.

David said the response was “absolutely overwhelming” and very emotional.

Retired cartoonist Eric Hoggins said he had placed a poppy on Mr Morgan’s grave every Anzac Day since 1948.

He did not know Mr Morgan, but his older brother Eric spoke of Molly with great fondness.

David Morgan said it had been a total shock to discover Eric had been placing a poppy on his father’s grave since 1948.

“He must be a wonderful man.”

But David Morgan said he grew up at Feltwell and “being brought up with the New Zealand thing, it is the kind of thing I expect from a New Zealander.”

His mother had been overwhelmed with many letters of condolence from New Zealand families she did not know.

Former photographer Lesley Barker said she knew Cliff Morgan very well.

“He was indeed a popular officer,” she said.

Mr Morgan and other servicemen were regular visitors to her photography studio.

Lesley Barker was commissioned by the RNZAF to colour in the enlarged official air force photograph of Mr Morgan’s funeral, which was later sent to his family in England.

Theo Spence worked with Lesley Barker and “saw quite a bit of him” and other servicemen who “came in for a yarn”.

Her parents farmed at Tahunga and Mr Morgan often went there on weekend leave to ride the

horses.

Theo Spence said Mr Morgan was a nice, quiet man who loved to sing around the piano.

His friends were devastated by his death, she said.

The two women sad they would write to Mr Morgan’s son.

Alison Lane (nee Muir) said many servicemen came to her parent’s home on Saturday nights for “sausages and mash” and Mr Morgan was a

regular visitor.

The first place he would go was the piano, she said.

The Cole Porter song Begin the Beguine still reminded her of Mr Morgan.

Her older sister Judy Whitlock worked in the X-ray department at Cook Hospital and went to see Mr Morgan after the accident.

When she got to his bedside, she could tell he had just died.

David Morgan said he was surprised his father would go horse riding in Gisborne.

His father came from a Yorkshire coalmining background and had nothing to do with horses in England.

Begin the Beguine was his father’s signature tune, said Mr Morgan who also remembers his mother singing the song to him.

Eight Gisborne residents went on to visit Mr Morgan’s grave as requested by his son David.

Mr Hoggins later rang David Morgan in what proved to be an emotional conversation.

Wreckage of No. 8 Squadron Vincent PA-H. RNZAF Station Gisborne. Image ref ALB090772935, Air Force Museum of New Zealand

View of No. 8 Squadron Vincent NZ328 over the Gisborne break-water, 1943. Image ref MUS9407233, Air Force Museum of New Zealand.