I’ve been looking at a lot of photos on sites devoted to WWII. And there seems to have been a popular photographic theme, which I call the Magnificent Seven. Basically, it’s seven chaps lined up and they are either standing still or walking towards the camera.
Here’s an example from “Bomb” Finney’s website. (Stewart “Bomb” Finney is one of the last surviving WWII desert air fighters and the website is devoted to his war experiences and those of his fellow pilots. Check out the photos – amazing, casual snaps of squadrons on the move, aircraft flying and pilots relaxing).
I found a Magnificent Seven photo in Dad’s WWII album. Looks like they were all walking towards the camera.Thankfully, all the pilots are named. Dad is in the middle. No idea though what squadron they were in but looks like it was cold weather and they had to don bomber jackets. I think there are buildings or could be aircraft in the distance. Over to anyone out there who might know.
Click on the photo to enlarge.
UPDATE: thanks to my friend, Pierre, who posted the photo above to a couple of Facebook groups devoted to WWII – I have a correction to make to the names listed. And looks like the photo is from 1941 and taken at No. 3 Elementary Flying Training School at R.N.Z.A.F station Harewood, New Zealand.
I’m pretty sure my grandfather typed all the captions that appear with the photos in Dad’s war album. I also think that Dad had his film processed overseas and sent the photos back to my grandfather. But obviously he didn’t quite get the names of the pilots right.
So here are their correct names:
NZ41939 Rishworth, Douglas Haig
NZ411457 Shaw, Eric James
NZ411923 Mildon, Vincent John
NZ402670 Jenkins, James Evans
NZ411903 Jackson, Archibald William
NZ411953 Thorp, William Gray
NZ411985 Kleimeyer, Robert Gordon
That must be in Canada.
Behind we see Tiger Moths trainer aircrafts.
Check your father’s logbook for the period he flew on a Tiger Moth…
Dunnville…!
I googled Kleimeyer:
Found this
6 SFTS, Dunnville, Ont., 1941
Can anyone tell me the course number and commecement date of the intake at 6 SFTS, Dunnville, Ont., that graduated on 30 Oct 1941? I believe Robert G. Kleimeyer was commissioned Plt Off on graduation from this course.
Additionally, does anyone know when the class arrived at Halifax (Y Depot?) and when they shipped to the UK, arrived in the UK, and with which troopship they travelled?
Thanks
Steve
Reply…
Steve,
Working from notes for my ‘For Your Tomorrow’ volumes and a check of the NZ Gazette, Kleimeyer’s postings were:
emb ‘Dominion Monarch at Auckland for Canada 22 Jul 41,
arrvied Halifax and att RCAF 16 Aug 41,
6SFTS 18 Aug 41,
Pilot Badge & Sgt/Commissioned 7 Nov 41,
[Interestingly, one of my FYT men graduated on this course on 31 Oct and none on 30th, but all 26 others graduated on 7 Nov]
then most likely:
1 Y Depot 12 Nov 41,
emb for UK & att RAF 14 Nov 41,
3PRC c.1 Dec 41,
Errol
Guys! thanks everyone for commenting. Errol – am I right in saying from your comments that you were in WWII? (i.e. you say “one of my FYT men graduated….”). I must look up the NZ Gazette to see if Dad went on the same ship bound for Canada.
I was going to Google all the pilots named but was side-tracked this morning, so thanks Pierre and/or Steve for Googling Kleimeyer.
I copy-pasted what I found in the forum…
I am the only guy!
Sorry for this misunderstanding.
That’s the only place I found information about these pilots.
Great picture.
Pierre
Hah! LOL Pierre…I thought there were three guys – you, Steve and Errol. Well at least we’ve established that it’s was Dunnville. It’s piqued my interest too to find out what ship Dad sailed on to Canada.
When was your father at Dunnville?
I want to double-check.
The way the pilots are dressed means the temperature is cold.
The weather in Dunnville in the summer time is warm.
August 18, 1941 until November 7, 1941. They do look very rugged up don’t they. But August to November would be Summer and Autumn (Fall) time in Canada wouldn’t it?
It can get pretty cold in autumn in Canada sometimes.
This picture has to be in Dunnville with the information gathered on Kleimeyer.
I strongly believe these are all New-Zelanders.
Do you want me to post on article using this picture?
I wanted to write something about Dunnville on my blog Lest We Forget.
I think the time is right. You will love it. I write just like you… From the heart.
Yes absolutely Pierre. Love your articles! I would say (without any evidence to back me up!) that they are all New Zealanders who were training together.
By the way, have you seen my articles about Michael Sainsbury whose father was in the same squadron as Greg’s grandfather?
http://rcaf403squadron.wordpress.com/2012/01/10/what-is-this-blog-all-about-again/
Can you imagine getting a message from Robert G. Kleimeyer’s relatives?
It will really make your day.
well given that I’m now in touch with Dad’s great buddy from WWII – Ablie Gotz – I’m hoping that Kleimeyer’s relatives might find this blog (or Kleimeyer himself if he’s still alive).
New-Zelanders… Oups!
New-Zealanders
Sorry
Posted the picture on a Facebook page about BCATP…
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=313976261975092&set=o.5585509978&type=1&theater
This Facebook group has posted more than 1000 pictures.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/5585509978/photos/
Thx for doing that Pierre. I didn’t know about this FB group. Will definitely join and check it out!
Got this message… from the Facebook group
What a great photo. These suits look operational…were Irvine jackets issued during training?
That’s Irvin jacket.
I am no expert.
Irvin jacket – never heard of them. Better do some research!
If not Dunnville then…
No. 3 Elementary Flying Training School at R.N.Z.A.F station Harewood, New Zealand.
May 4 1941 until June 25 1941
He was posted there before his posting at Dunnville. I wonder if the weather is cold in New Zeland in May?
May and June n NZ can be pretty shivering weather, yep. I’m trying to track down more info about Archie Jackson. He appears quite a lot in Dad’s photos, so presumably they were in the same training group/squadrons together. But I suspect you’re right Pierre – Harewood.
I read all of your comments.
Check the logbook with the Dunnville entries.
You should see which plane he flew there.
If you don’t see Tiger Moth then the picture is taken at Harewood.
Found this info…
No. 6 SFTS. Dunnville, Ontario. Type of aircraft: Harvard and Yale.
So no Tiger Moth… Then it’s Harewood. That makes sense… cold weather, Irvin jackets and the Magnificent Seven…
Check the logbook just to be sure…
A logbook is so much informative.
Got this from the Facebook group…
NZ411457 Shaw, Eric James
NZ411923 Mildon, Vincent John (note spelling of surname)
NZ402670 Jenkins, James Evans
NZ411903 Jackson, Archibald William
NZ411953 Thorp, William Gray
NZ411985 Kleimeyer, Robert Gordon
missing this last part…
NZ411985 Kleimeyer, Robert Gordon (see also By Such Deeds).
Also this message…
Eric James Shaw DFC, of Cambridge. This is probably taken in 1941. He went on to serve on Malta in Spitfires and then with No. 485 (NZ) Squadron.
http://www.cambridgeairforce.org.nz/Eric%20James%20SHAW.htm
Last message from Luther
Picture…
Taken at 3 EFTS New Zealand.
We were wrong but then we got it right.
A link…
http://muse.aucklandmuseum.com/databases/Cenotaph/129865.detail?Ordinal=1&c_surname_search=mildon&c_firstname_search=vincent
Luther said this…
Glad I could help. Credit to Errol.
All the people in this Facebook group are Magnificent but more than Seven.
Epilog…
From Luther
Pierre, you should ask Kim to join the forum ‘Wings over New Zealand’ they will be great help for her research.
Prologue…
This has been a great first chapter of a wonderful journey into the past…