403463 Sergeant Pilot James Frederick Lewthwaite, (2/11/1918-5/1/1942). "first pilot to leave"

AIRMAN HONOURED 

The Duvauchelle hall was filled to overflowing when a social was given in honour of Sergeant Pilot J. F. Lewthwaite, the first pilot to leave the district for seryice Overseas. Members of the Duvauchelle Home Guard and returned soldiers were present. Mr E. A. Pettigrew, on behalf of the residents of the district, wished the guest of honour Godspeed and presented him with a gold wristlet watch and a parcel from the Duvauchelle subcentre of the Red Cross Society. Mr C. Dalbeth. president of the Peninsula Returned Soldiers’ Association, also expressed good wishes. Dance music was played by Reynish’s band, and extras by Miss Bailey.  -Press, 9/4/1941.

ENGAGEMENTS

The engagement is announced of Kathrine Margaret, twin daughter of Lieutenant-Colonel J. B. Mawson, headmaster of St. Andrew's College, and Mrs Mawson, to Sergeant Pilot James Frederick Lewthwaite, R.N.Z.A.F., only son of Mr and Mrs F. A. Lewthwaite, Duvauchelle, Banks Peninsula.  -Press, 19/4/1941.

James Lewthwaite served with 40 Squadron, RAF, based on Malta and flying Wellington bombers. In support of Commonwealth forces in North Africa, 40 Squadron bombed Italian airfields and ports and would also send individual planes on nuisance raids which would keep workers awake with the guns firing at them.

It seems that it was on one of those lone flights that James' plane was shot down over Sicily.  He and his crew are buried in the Catania war cemetery.

BANKS PENINSULA PILOT

BELIEVED KILLED IN AIR OPERATIONS

Mr and Mrs F. A. Lewthwaite, of Duvauchelle, have received advice that their only son, Sergeant Pilot James Lewthwaite. who was reported missing from Malta on January 5 of this year, is now listed as missing, believed killed. The Red Cross has also advised that the Rome radio stated that Sergeant Pilot Lewthwaite was killed in an air raid over Sicily. 

Sergeant Pilot Lewthwaite was the first Banks Peninsula airman to qualify as a pilot in New Zealand, and he left for England on Anzac Day, 1941. After his arrival in England he was engaged in air operations over enemy territory during September and October, and was then transferred to Malta. Sergeant Pilot Lewthwaite was educated at the Akaroa District High School and the Christchurch Boys’ High School. Before enlisting, he was a pupil of the Christchurch Training College, and was also taking the engineering course at Canterbury University College. At the time of his death he was 23 years of age.  -Press, 3/7/1942.

Regret at the death in action of Mr James Frederick Lewthwaite, a former student of the Christchurch Training College, and Mr Bertie O’Brien, formerly sole teacher at the Koiterangi School, was expressed by the Canterbury Education Board yesterday.  -Press, 19/7/1942.

Duvauchelle Cemetery.  Photo from "Find a Grave."