Dowding, Hector MacDonald

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Naval Airman 2nd Class Hector MacDonald Dowding

Family/Last name:
Dowding
Forename(s) and initial(s):
Hector MacDonald
Place of birth:
Weston Super Mare England
Date of birth:
23/3/1917
Service number:
NZ8520
Military Unit:
Royal New Zealand Navy, Royal Navy (UK), Fleet Air Arm (Royal Navy)
Rank when captured:
Naval Airman 2nd Class
Place of capture:
MV Rangitane, Pacific Ocean
Date of capture:
27/11/1940
POW number:
90776
Camp
Stalag Luft III Sagan
Data sources
The National Archives (UK), Archives New ZealandOther Sources (WO416 records transcribed by and held at the UK National Archives. Data processed and prepared by Rick Catt and Brian Cooper. Personnel - War service - Required for RN [Royal Navy] - Fleet air arm (naval airmen) - Scheme F (Part 2), Archives New Zealand, R21465676, Auckland War Memorial Museum.)
View a commemorative certificate for this prisoner

1st Editor’s Note :-

In 1942, New Zealand was invited to recruit personnel for the Royal Navy (UK) to serve in the Fleet Air Arm, under what was called ‘Scheme F’. The initial intake consisted primarily of personnel who had volunteered to join the New Zealand Air Force, but for whom there was not yet a place. Recruiting for Scheme F continued, somewhat sporadically until June 1945.

Some 1066 recruits left New Zealand under this scheme of whom something in the order of 600 served as frontline pilots or aircrew, with a maximum of about 450 in May 1944.

This number formed a significant proportion of the Fleet Air Arm and they saw action in many operations, from the attack on Tirpitz in 1943 to the final attacks on Japan in 1945.

Of the New Zealand personnel who saw service with the Fleet Air Arm, there were many awards for gallantry. Around 155 New Zealanders lost their lives while serving in the Fleet Air Arm.

2nd Editor’s Note :-

Whilst National Archives record a date of capture as 26th Nov 1940, maritime records pertaining to the action leading up to the destruction of MV Rangitane clearly indicate radio signals were sent from MV Rangitane 03:24 hrs 27th Nov 1940 advising of commencement of the German raiders attack.

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