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My uncle, Norman Alexander Wickes (Alex) was born July 30, 1924, in Greymouth, New Zealand, and lived nearby at Kumara Junction. He enlisted in the RNZAF in 1942 and, after training, left for England in 1943. He completed a tour of operations in Bomber Command flying Lancasters. For meritorious service he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC; 12 Squadron RAF) and later the Air Force Cross. The citation for his DFC (December 7, 1945) states: Flying Officer Wickes has completed numerous sorties on his first tour of duty as a captain of aircraft. Throughout, he has displayed a magnificent example of devotion to duty and fine fighting spirit… On two occasions his aircraft has been attacked by enemy fighters but each time
he has foiled the attackers and completed his allotted task. At all times this officer’s outstanding courage has been an inspiring example. After he left the RAF, Alex flew cargo planes and I was lucky enough to have him fly me part of the way to England from New Zealand in a cargo DC8. Alex passed away in England on September 6, 2008. This photo shows him and some of his fellow enlistees and could have been taken at the Initial Training Wing at Rotorua, No 2 Elementary Flying Training School at Ashburton or at the No 2 Service Flying Training School at Woodbourne in 1942–1943. It’s a wonderful record of the men with their names written on the photo as they did at the time. Does anyone know anything about the other men or my uncle? — Pauline Weeks, Sydney, NSW Contact Pauline at pauline.weeks@gmail.com
Do you have a favourite family image you’d like to tell our readers about? We’d love to hear from you. Email a high-quality scan and the story behind the picture to cass@insidehistory.com.au and we’ll publish it here.
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