WW2 ROYAL NEW ZEALAND AIR FORCE GROUP TO A PILOT OF 158 SQUADRON, ROYAL AIR FORCE WHO WAS KILLED IN ACTION ON 14 OF JULY 1943

1939/45 STAR, AIR CREW EUROPE STAR, DEFENCE AND WAR MEDALS, NEW ZEALAND WAR SERVICE MEDAL, THE LAST THREE ENGRAVED ‘F/S. G.R.J. DUTHIE’, NEW ZEALAND MEMORIAL CROSS ‘NZ415298 F/SJT. G.R.J. DUTHIE’

415298 Flight Sergeant (Pilot) George Robert James Duthie, Royal New Zealand Air Force, was born on 5 September 1921 in Invercargill, New Zealand.

He was killed in action piloting Halifax II HR720 of 158 Squadron Royal Air Force on 13 July 1943. Taking off at 23.44 hours from Lissett, Yorkshire, for a bombing raid on Aachen, they were intercepted by Luftwaffe night fighter above Vorstenbosch, about 3 miles southwest of Uden. HR720 was shot down by Leutnant Werner Baake and crashed near Vorstenbosch. The whole crew managed to escape the aircraft except George. The whole crew was taken prisoner of war and spent te rest of the war in a Stalag.

Duthie is buried at the Uden War Cemetery, Noord-Brabant, Netherlands.

Prior to joining 158 Squadron George flew Whitley Bombers in Anti-Submarine Operations.

Photograph of Duthie on On-line Cenotaph:

https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/C23576

Condition GVF, Court mounted and removed from frame. With Sergeants stripes and cap badge.