Operation: Training

Date: 18/19th April 1945 (Wednesday/Thursday)

Unit: No. 8 Operational Training Unit - Eastern Air Command

Type: Mosquito B.20

Serial: KB277

Code: -

Base: RCAF Greenwood, Nova Scotia, Canada

Location: Atlantic Ocean

Pilot: F/O. Peter Douglas Kidd NZ/4212676 RNZAF Age 23. Missing - believed killed

Nav: Sgt. Gordon Joseph Nicholson NZ/421285 RNZAF Age 22. Missing - believed killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off at 01:37 hrs. on a night cross-country exercise. It was last heard of reporting it had reached its second turning point 2 miles from Trenton.

It is assumed to have come down in the Atlantic off Halifax, and neither of the crew bodies was recovered.

Burial and personal details:

F/O. Peter Douglas Kidd. Ottawa Memorial. Panel 4. Column 4. Born on the 26th December 1921 in Auckland. Educated at Auckland Grammar School. A warehouseman for Kidd Garrett Lid, of Auckland. Served in the territorial army for 13 months. Enlisted on the 24th of October 1942 at Whenuapai. Pilot badge awarded and promoted to sergeant on the 26th November 1943 and also commissioned. With No 2 Instructor Flying school in February 1944. An instructor with 12 Service Flying Training School on the 18th of February 1944. Joined 8 Operational Training Unit as an instructor on the 28th of February 1945. A total of 1119 flying hours logged with 44 of these solo on the Mosquito.

Son of Douglas Swanston Kidd (died 22nd August 1937, age 46) and Tempé Vera Kidd (née Colbeck, later Trigg - died 11th April 1981, age 88), of One Tree Hill, Auckland City, New Zealand.

Sgt. Gordon Joseph Nicholson. Ottawa Memorial. Panel 4. Column 4. Born on the 23rd of July 1922 in Hamilton. Educated at Hamilton High School. A panel beater for P.B Roach Ltd of Hamilton. Served in the territorial army for 2 years. Enlisted on the 24th of October 1942 at Ohakea. Commenced training as a pilot but later terminated to train as a navigator. Navigator badge awarded on the 06th October 1944 and promoted to sergeant. Joined 8 Operational Training Unit on the 03rd March 1945. A total of 215 flying hours logged.

Son of David and Janet Nicholson (née Kerr), of Hamilton, Auckland, New Zealand.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to the extensive research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, New Zealand Cenotaph, Weekly News of New Zealand, Air Museum of New Zealand, Museum of Transport and Technology, Auckland, National Archives.

Other sources as quoted below:

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
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