Serial Number: NZ40719
RNZAF Trade: Air Gunner, then Observer (Radio)
Date of Enlistment: 12th of March 1940
Rank Achieved: Flight Lieutenant
Flying Hours:
Operational Sorties:

Date of Birth: 24th of May 1916, at Cambridge
Personal Details: Arthur Cutfield was born in Cambridge but he was living in Auckland at the time of joining the RNZAF in 1940. At the time of his death he was a Warehouseman in Auckland

Service Details: Arthur Cutfield joined the RNZAF at the Initial Training Wing, RNZAF Wereroa, Levin, on the 12th of March 1940. He trained as an Air Gunner and was posted to Britain where he served in as an Air Gunner with 'B' Flight of No. 255 Squadron, RAF in Boulton Paul Defiants. The squadron, which was a dedicated night-fighter unit, had Hawker Hurricanes on strength at the same time, and also began flying Bristol Beaufighter II's from July 1941 alongside their Defiants and Hurricanes, so quite a mixed unit.

Arthur was known to be with that squadron during April to August 1941 at least, and his regular pilot at this period was New Zealander Pilot Officer Gilbert Hayton. By August he had remustered to the role of Observer (Radio) - which was the navigator who also worked the onboard radar used in night fighting and the wireless set for communications with the ground or other aircraft.

He later flew in night-fighter Beaufighters and Mosquitoes with No. 488 (NZ) Squadron having remustered to the role of

He flew as navigator with the No. 488 (NZ) Squadron Flight Commander, Squadron Leader Davison, in Beaufighters during 1943 and the pair were involved in many moonlit night attacks on troop and cargo trains on the European continent. They were credited with ten successful attacks on railway engines, putting them out of action.

Died: 12th of December 1956, aged 40, at Auckland
Buried at: Purewa Cemetery, Auckland

Connection with Cambridge: Arthur Cutfield was born in Cambridge

Note: Thanks to Arthur Arculus for supplying Arthur Cutfield's first names, and Birth, Deaths and Marriages Historical Records site for his year of death And also to Peter Hasselgren for pointing out that he'd been an Air Gunner with No. 255 Squadron. Thanks to Errol Martyn for additional information.