James Naylor came from Clyde and was educated at Otago Boys High School. He enlisted in the Air Force in 1941 and did his initial training at the Taieri Training School.
He then went to Ontario, Canada, for further flying training but was reassigned for training as an Air Observer. In April, 1942, he was presented with his Observer's badge and eventually promoted to Flying Officer. He embarked for Britain the following June. He was given more training and eventually mustered to an operational squadron in February, 1943.
At 7.50pm on March 27, James took off in a four-engined Halifax bomber, serving as bomb-aimer. The plane was hit by anti-aircraft fire and crashed in western Germany. None of the crew survived. They were posted as missing until information from the International Red Cross confirmed their deaths.
James Naylor and his crew are buried in the Becklingen War Cemetery, Soltau, Niedersachsen, Germany.
The above information is from the RNZAF Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939-1945.
AIRMAN'S LETTER
The following interesting letter is from Pilot Officer Jim Naylor, son of Mr and Mrs L. Q. Naylor, late of Clyde: —
"Although) I have been writing regularly ever since I arrived in Canada, you don't seem to be receiving all my letters. It would probably be a good idea if I wrote a short description of my stay in Canada, had it cyclostyled and sent you a copy every month or so, then you will probably get one copy.
l arrived in Canada and started flying training at Dunnville, Ontario. I liked Ontario very much and the people were very hospitable. That chapter lasted a month and included trips to Toronto and Niagara. The next started when I was transferred to Trenton 100 miles east of Toronto. All my letters from Trenton must have been sunk so you won't know what a terrible place it is. There is no training of any kind there — it's merely a depot where you await a new posting. Some chaps wait months but luckily I was there only three weeks. Those three monotonous weeks were bad enough though sandwiched between very enjoyable trips to Ottawa on the week-ends. It is a very pretty city with plenty to see even if you know nobody. From Trenton I was transferred to a navigation school at Portage near Winnipeg and about 2,000 miles from Trenton. We spent 14 weeks at Portage and not a moment was wasted. The winter came while I was there — 20 below zero for days on end and all day too and sometimes 40 below zero in the "Ansons". We managed to get into Winnipeg fairly often. The people are very kind and we New Zealanders are very often invited out to private homes (You've probably had letters from our hostesses — it's a quaint Canadian custom). After leaving Portage we had three day's leave before reporting to our next station. Seven of us decided to visit the States so a friend in Winnipeg arranged for us to be the guests of various families in St. Paul Minneapolis. (We left on Thursday afternoon for U.S.A. having we thought we needed to cross the border; the train stopped for inspection and later steamed out leaving six airmen on the station). As only one of us had the correct passport, he was the only one who got through. We spent the night in gaol with the door open, there being nowhere else to sleep. However, the one who got through explained the position to our hosts in St. Paul who after moving heaven and earth violently in all directions managed to obtain permission from the State Dept. Washington for our passage. Meanwhile another friend of ours in Winnipeg hearing of our plight spent an entire day fixing up the Winnipeg end of the business. He practically runs the city and the way he rushed around macheted his way through a jungle of red tape supplying us with visas, border crossing cards, permits for this and that including the famous Form H filled us with envy and admiration. Our hosts in St. Paul ended up by reserving seats on the plane giving instructions to the airline that the plane was not to leave unless we were on it. We had a great trip down with the plane almost to ourselves. It was overcast so we couldn't see the ground and it was dark when we arrived. The Twin Cities Minneapolis and St. Paul are two cities whose suburbs enjoy populations 700,000 and 350;000 and when flying over them fairly low the lights seemed to extend miles in every direction. We were met by our hosts, reporters photographers and half of St. Paul. (I'm enclosing photos from two newspapers). It was fairly late when we left the drome and we were driven round St. Paul, and finished up at a circus. Next morning we had a look over the University and the 2000,000 dollar recreation hall attached to it. It's a huge place — second largest college in America. We had been invited to a luncheon by the Minnesota Club — it took about three hours and didn't leave much time for the shopping. we had intended doing.
We had a marvellous time, the Americans entertained us like royalty and we were very sorry we had only the one day. We covered about 1500 miles for that one day by train, bus, taxi and by private car and I've never done so much in so little time before. For the last month I have been at a bombing and gunnery school 20 miles north of Portage where the work is much easier and more practical. The winter is now over too. Spring has made several false starts and we had a nasty jolt three weeks ago when we had three or four feet of snow. I'm enclosing a few photos of it but they are not very good and don't indicate the great depth. We finish here in two weeks, proudly pin on our wings and are raised to sergeanthood before proceeding to our next station for astro navigation. Before I leave Canada whichever way I go, I am going to make a desperate effort to reach New York. Some of the Naylor clan have invited me to be their guest if I ever have the opportunity. (I hope you treat the Canadians and Americans in New Zealand as they treat us here).
At my next writing I'll probably be on leave, a qualified navigator, meteorologist, radiotrician, signaller, photographer, sketcher, bombaimer and gunner."
Since the above was written Jim has gained his commission as Pilot Officer. -Alexandra Herald and Goldfields Gazette, 12/8/1942.
BEREAVEMENT NOTICE
NAYLOR. — Mr and Mrs L. G. Naylor and Betty wish to convey to all relatives and friends their Appreciation of the kind expressions, letters, and telegrams in the loss of their son and brother, Jim, Flying Officer J. H. Naylor, also his great friend and pal, Pilot Officer Ron Hopkins, of Kaiapoi. Both died in the service of their country over enemy territory. -Otago Daily Times, 4/8/1943.
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