Murray Gilbertson GARLAND

Serial Number: NZ425496
RNZAF Trade: Wireless Operator/Air Gunner
Date of Enlistment: 1942
Rank Achieved: Flight Sergeant
Flying Hours:
Operational Sorties:

Date of Birth: 4th of February 1921, at Karapiro
Personal Details: Murray married Nancy May Elliott, and they had three children, Robert Murray Garland, Anne Elizabeth Garland and Kenneth John Garland.

Service Details: Murray had served in the Cambridge Home Guard before he joined the RNZAF in 1942. At this stage his early Air Force history remains unknown, but late in the war he served on No. 75 (NZ) Squadron in Britain, onboard Avro Lancaster bombers.

Murray and his crew had apparently crewed up at an Operational Training Unit and then undergone trainign with No. 1653 Heavy Conversion Unit at RAF North Luffenham, at Woolfax Lodge.

Following this they arrived for their posting to No. 75 (NZ) Squadron on the 20th of March 1945. Murray's crew was made up of the following airmen:

Following a week of settling in on the squadron, Murray's captain, F/Sgt Charles Wagstaff, flew an operation as 'second dickie', or supernumery pilot, aboard the Lancaster RA541 (marked AA-J) to get experience of opertaional flying over enemy terrtiory. Following this he was ready to take up his own crew, and operations for the crew including Murray were then flown thus:

It is possible that Murray flew previous tours to this late war tour, considering he'd been in the RNZAF since 1942. As of yet more details have not come to light. He returned to New Zealand and to Karapiro, Cambridge, in October 1945.

Date of Death : Murray died on the 8th of February 2003, at Mt Maunganui
Buried:

Connection with Cambridge: Murray was born and raised at Karapiro in the Cambridge district

Waikato Independent reports that mention Murray Garland
24th of October 1945 - Airmen Return Home (notes him as M.J. Garland)

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