Maitland JENNINS

Service Number: NZ416500
RNZAF Trade: Pilot
Date of Enlistment: 30th of November 1941, at RNZAF Station Levin
Rank Achieved: Sergeant-Pilot
Flying Hours:
Operational Sorties:

Date of Birth: 23rd of July 1920
Personal Details: Maitland was the only son of Mr. Arthur Maitland Anglenby Jennins (also known to everyone as Maitland), and Mrs. Rita Maud Jennins (nee Cusack) of Cambridge.

The family owned then 90 acre property known as Gwynnelands, on Hamilton Road, just north of Cambridge. This property was sold in 1934 following Rita's death to the syndicate who set up St Peter's School, which is now situated on that property. The Gwynnelands house where Maitland grew up is still there.

Maitland's mother Rita seems to have been part of the Cambridge social set in the 1920's and 30's, being reported s taking part in tenis, bridge and golf events, and her various travels around to visit friends, in the Auckland newspapers She also attended the first annual Cambridge Polo Ball in 1930. She passed away on the 3rd of September 1934, and Maitland's father died on the 3rd of September 1937.

He was married in August 1944 to Patricia Shirley (nee Sandham), known as Shirley, who was originally from Hamilton. In later life Maitland and Shirley lived at Milford, on Auckland's North Shore.

Service Details: Maitland became a pilot in the RNZAF. He joined No. 5 (General Reconnaissance) Squadron in Fiji on the 5th of October 1942, where he became a 3rd pilot, and possibly 2nd pilot, on the Short Singapore III flying boats.

Date of Death: 19th of June 2009, aged 88, in Auckland
Cremated: 23rd of June 2009

Connection with Cambridge: Maitland apparently lived in Cambridge before WWII

Thanks To: Errol Martyn for his valued assistance

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