Derek Allan's Story.
Derek Attwood was born at Napier, New Zealand on December 18, 1923, and received his secondary education at the Hastings High School, where he was a member of the 1st XV and was interested in tennis, cricket, swimming and hockey. He was later a member of the Hastings High School Old Boys' Football and Cricket Clubs, and also the Parkvale Tennis Club. Prior to enlistment he was a member of No. 11 Squadron, Air Training Corps. He was employed on clerical duties by the Hawkes Bay Farmers' Co-operative Association, Hastings. F/O Attwood applied for aircrew training in January, 1942 and was enlisted as a member of the Aerodrome Defence Unit at Milson on September 19, 1942. On 4th January, 1943 he proceeded to the Initial Training Wing, Rotorua, where he underwent his initial training for air observer. He sailed for Canada on 1st April, 1943, and shortly after his arrival was posted to No. 5 Air Observers' School, Winnipeg, Manitoba. At the completion of his course, on 1st October, 1943, he was awarded his air navigator's badge and promoted to Sergeant. A few days later he was commissioned in the rank of Pilot Officer with effect from 1st October, 1943. The third week in October, 1943, he was posted to No. 1” Y" Depot, Halifax, Nova Scotia, and from there embarked on 22nd of that month for the United Kingdom. On his arrival, on 31st October, he proceeded to No. 12 (RNZAF) Personnel Reception Centre, Brighton.On February 2, 1944, F/O Attwood was posted to No. 1 Radio School, Cranwell, Lincolnshire, where he underwent further training, mainly on De Havilland Dominie and Percival Proctor aircraft. He was promoted to Flying Officer on April 1, 1944. In June, 1944 he was posted to No. 60 Operational Training Unit, High Ercall, Shropshire, where he underwent operational training in De Havilland Mosquito aircraft. He was killed on Sun 10 Sep 1944 when the Mosquito aircraft that he was flying in on a training mission crashed.Details of the accident.
Training Mission Range firing - air to ground
60 Operational Training Unit, RAF (High Ercall, Shropshire - 9 Group, Air Defence of Great Britain)
Mosquito FB.VI HJ816 - made a normal diving approach over the Banks Range, NE of Southport, but suddenly it became steeper. Attempted to pull out but hit the ground, the starboard wing folding back just before impact. The two crew were buried on the 14th at Chester, Cheshire. Investigators thought that the pilot’s attention may have been momentarily diverted in dealing with a gun firing mechanism problem.
Pilot: NZ413911 Fg Off Guy Merson TEMPLER, RNZAF - Age 22. 1563hrs (52 on Mosquito)
Navigator: NZ4211007 Fg Off Derek Allan ATTWOOD, RNZAF - Age 20. 225hrs.
Crew photos and graves
Mosquito FBVI