William John Fyfe MBE

Service Number: NZ401036 and 73644
RNZAF Trade: Technical Signals
Date of Enlistment: 28th of March 1940
Date of Demob: 1st of September 1950
Rank Achieved:Flight Lieutenant
Flying Hours: nil
Operational Sorties: nil

Date of Birth: 3rd of June 1893, at Dunkeld, Perthshire, Scotland
Personal Details:

Service Details: William Fyfe joined the Royal Navy in 1914, serving in that service till 1920. He then transferred to the Royal Air Force, and served with the RAF till 1929, working in the Air Ministry. Following this tenure he worked as a civilian for the Egyptian and Sudanese Governments. In 1938 William moved to New Zealand. He joined the RNZAF in 1940.

In May 1941 he was listed among the staff based at RNZAF Station Ohakea in that month's issue of Contact, the magazine of the RNZAF. He later served in the Pacific as a Technical Signals Officer from July 1942 till July 1943 with No. 9 (General Reconnaissance) Squadron which had Hudsons based at Plaines de Glaics.

He was awarded the MBE in 1944. The citation read:

"Long and efficient service, marked by exceptional loyalty, willingness and devotion to duty, have been given by this officer, who has served in many parts of the world in two wars. Flight Lieutenant Fyfe, who joined the Royal Navy and later at the Air Ministry ia a Signals Officer of exceptional capacity. He served in the Pacific with a Bomber Reconnaissance Squadron of the RNZAF, and although older than many officers of the same rank, he set an example to all by the way he overcame difficulties in the tropics. His efficiency won the praise of his Squadron and Station Commanders, and since returning to New Zealand he has continued to display the same enthusiasm, efficiency and leadership. Before joining the RNZAF, Flight Lieutenant Fyfe served from 1914-1920 in the Royal Navy as a Warrant Officer Telegraphist and had extensive experience afloat and at Shore Stations. From 1920-1929 he served with the Royal Air Force, also as a Warrant Officer, and came to New Zealand in 1938, joining the RNZAF in 1940."

Details of Death: Died on the 31st of May 1951, at Bucklands Beach
Buried at: Bucklands Beach (?)

Connection with Cambridge: William lived in Cambridge between 1938 and 1940, and joined the RNZAF from there