Name:

JR

Copland

Role:

Pilot

Service No.

426165

Service:

RNZAF

IBCC Losses:

Click

Grave:

Venray War Cemetery

Netherlands

Story:

James Ross Copland, known as Ross, was a former farm-hand in New Zealand. He was born in Tillyfour, New Zealand on 18th September 1920 to James and Irene Copland, and was the 7th of 10 children. He was educated at Kaiwera School, and later did a correspondence course. He enlisted into the RNZAF on 30th May 1942 at RNZAF Woodbourne. He was awarded his wings on 10th May 1943, and set sail for the UK on 12th July, arriving at the start of September. .Whilst at 83 OTU he was commissioned to Pilot Officer. He and his crew flew 13 ops at 100 Sqn, before being posted to 625 Sqn.

Postings:

Date	Role	Rank	ServiceNo	From	To	Notes
1943-09-04	Pilot	Sgt	426165		12 PRC Brighton	On arrival in UK.
1943-11-16	Pilot	Sgt	426165	12 PRC Brighton	15 (P) AFU, RAF Babdown Farm	Course No. 67.
1943-12-22	Pilot	Sgt	426165	15 (P) AFU, RAF Babdown Farm	No.1 Beam Approach Training School	RAF Watchfield, Course 223.
1944-01-04	Pilot	Flt Sgt	426165	No.1 Beam Approach Training School	15 (P) AFU, RAF Babdown Farm
1944-02-29	Pilot	Flt Sgt	426165	15 (P) AFU, RAF Babdown Farm	83 OTU	Course No. 13.
1944-05-25	Pilot	P/O	426165	83 OTU	1656 HCU	Course 97.
1944-07-27	Pilot	P/O	426165	1656 HCU	1 LFS
1944-08-10	Pilot	P/O	426165	1 LFS	100 Sqn
1944-10-15	Pilot	A/F/O	426165	100 Sqn	625 Sqn