36145 Flight Officer James Edward Vernon DFC, 21/8/1915-7/6/1940.

James Vernon was born in Roxburgh to a mining family who had moved there from Waikaia and moved on to Glenorchy.  He went to Otago Boys High School and was a keen young sportsman. He took a job as manager of an alluvial mining company in Queenstown.

In 1937 James applied for a Short Service Commission with the Royal Air Force, was accepted and went to No. 1 Service Flying Training School at Wigram, Christchurch.  On 15/11/1937 he was commissioned as a Pilot Officer.  He left for Britain in July, 1938 and, on reporting to the Air Ministry in London was posted to RAF Depot, Uxbridge for a short disciplinary course.  (This may have been required to smooth some of the rough edges off a "colonial" officer.)  He was then posted to his Squadron, 150, flying Fairey Battle single-engined bombers.

Boxtop image from the Airfix Battle kitset.

The Fairey Battle was an advanced, single-engined, low-winged monoplane crewed by three men.  All of that description was true in 1936 when the Battle flew for the first time.  It might have been true when James joined 150 Squadron.  By the time 150 saw combat, however, the word "advanced" no longer applied.  Opposing German fighter planes  in 1940 had a 160km/h speed advantage over it.  The Battle's defences were a single machine gun in front and one behind - no self-sealing fuel tanks or armour for the crew.

After the declaration of war in September, 1939, James went on a short navigation course then stayed with his Squadron when it embarked for France.  The Battle soon showed its shortcomings but the RAF had nothing to replace it with and its crews had to do what was required of them.  James was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for an action which showed his accomplished flying skills:

From "Traces of World War Two - 150 Squadron:"

26/05/1940: Roumont

type: Fairey Battle 1
serial number: L5459, JN-?
operation: Roumont
lost: 26/05/1940
F/O J.G. Vernon Evd
Sgt G. Busby PoW

LAC A.W. Rutland PoW

Airborne 0925 from Pouan to attack a Château at Roumont. Attacked by Me110s and crash landed near Avioth (Meause), 6 km NNE of Montmedy, France and burned by the crew. Sgt G.Busby was interned in Camp 357. PoW No.38248. LAC L.W.Rutland in Camps 8B/L6/357, PoW No.18162.

Flying Officer Vernon, who was with No. 150 Battle Squadron, led a particularly daring attack on a German headquarters at a chateau near Recogne, in Belgium. In the vicinity of the target the formation he was leading lost touch while flying through a storm, but Vernon went on to locate and bomb his objective.

On the return flight he was attacked by six Messerschmitts, but by skilful flying he evaded their initial attacks and his gunner was able to shoot down one Messerschmitt and set fire to another. However, the remaining fighters continued to attack and seriously damaged the British bomber. With its engine failing, the Battle began to lose height rapidly and Vernon was forced to land in enemy territory. He assisted his wounded crew from the aircraft and set it on fire.

A German patrol approached and took the wounded men prisoner, but Vernon managed to escape, reach the French lines, and make his way back to his unit.  On 07/061940 he was lost while making a low-level attack on a German convoy.

 

Coincidentally, the day James won the DFC was the day that British forces were ordered to evacuate France.  James' last flight was, as noted above, 12 days after that.  He took off to bomb a vehicle convoy south of Dunkirk and failed to return.  He announced as missing in the New Zealand papers 11 days later and his remains lie beside those of his crew in the cemetery at Vergies, France.

In one of his last letters home, reported the Lake Wakatip Mail, he said "that if he were reported missing again to allow a considerable time to elapse before giving up hope."

Roxburgh Cemetery.