James Wilfred McFARLANE

Service Number: NZ4310689
RNZAF Trade: Unknown
Date of Enlistment: Unknown
Rank Achieved: Leading Aircraftman
Flying Hours: Unknown hours
Operational Sorties: Unknown Ops

Date of Birth: 5th of May 1925
Personal Details: James McFarlane was the second son of the late Mr. T.A. McFarlane and Mrs. M.J. McFarlane of 151 Williams Street, Cambridge.

James was farewelled from Cambridge and presented a wallet in early April 1945, before embarking for the Pacific.

Service Details: On the 22nd of May 1945, while serving with No. 31 Servicing Unit at Piva North in Bougainville, James was starting Chance Vought F-4U1 Corsair NZ5371 at 09.45hrs, when the aircraft erupted into flames. He was badly burned and the aircraft was destroyed. McFarlane was on the seriously ill list for some days, but by the 6th of June 1945 was removed from this list following improvement in his condition.

James was reported as having attended the Welcome Home Dance at the Cambridge Town Hall on the 17th of August 1945 so he was obviously well on the road to recovery from the accident.

Died: 8th of March 2010

Connection with Cambridge: James was from Cambridge before WWII

Thanks To: Errol Martyn for additional information

Waikato Independent reports that mention James McFarlane
Farewelled with wallet 4 April 1945
Seriously injured 28 May 1945
Removed from seriously ill list 6 June 1945

________________________________________________________________