Stanley Charles Jones

Pilot Officer [Pilot]

Conflict:

WW2

Additional Information:

Son of Ethel Jones and stepson of Ronald James Coakley, of Lower Hutt, Wellington, New Zealand.

References:

CWGC

Martyn (2008)

Relatives Who Are Also Casualties:

Ronald Seaforth Jones, Father, Killed in action 24/08/1918

NZ WAR GRAVES

CONTRIBUTED

Stanley Walter and Stanley Charles Jones

Public Contributions:

Son of Sgt Ronald Seaforth Jones, Killed in Action 24 August 1918.

Submitted by: Stephen Jones

Relationship to casualty: Cousin

Pilot Officer Stanley Charles Jones 41085 Born 16 Jan 1918 Died 11 Feb 1942 Pilot Officer Jones was the only son of Ronald Seaforth Jones 5/599 NZMGC and Ethel Jones (nee Gray). Ronald was from Peton...e, New Zealand and met Ethel when he was stationed at Grantham, training. Ronald was killed near Bapaume, France, only 7 months after his son was born. Ethel (Peggy) and Stan moved to Petone, New Zealand about 1921. She later married Ron Coakely in Lower Hutt, New Zealand. Only a few of Stan’s letters home have survived but they show a little of his experiences: Stan enlisted in the RNZAF in 1941. He went to Harewood, Christchurch for his initial training. He enjoyed the training, doing well at signals class. He could send and receive about 20 words per minute when only 8 words per minute were required. By mid 1941 he had done about 34 hours flying in Tiger Moths, with 14 hours solo. He found flying a great thrill. “It is strange but there is no feeling of height at all and no sensation of speed.” The camp at Christchurch was a pretty cold place. Accommodation at Harewood was basic, with two to a room. Beds, a work desk and wardrobes were sufficient, but he found conditions were freezing without any sort of heating. A typical training day was a busy one. Up at 6.00 am to clean the rooms, wash and shave, polish boots etc., then off to breakfast by 7.00 am. The days activities were either flying or lectures till 4.00 pm, with an hours break at noon. Tea was at 4.30 pm then off to bed at 7.30 pm. Extra study was done in their own time. By mid 1941, and after only 10 weeks flying, he had his first experience at night flying. He found it a great thrill. “Pretty difficult to judge the height when landing as you can’t see the ground.” Stan had a positive attitude to life and learning and took most things in his stride. Taking a plane up alone was by now a matter of course and doing a few spins and loops just added to the fun. Even crashing the plane was of no concern. On landing a little low they clipped a fence and dived into the ground, flipping the plane onto it’s back. There was some damage to the Moth but the occupants escaped without a scratch. By August 1941 he had passed his exams for his wings and is now stationed in Woodbourne, Blenheim. Here he was doing the advanced training course and getting good reports for his flying. Woodbourne had the twin engined Oxford aircraft which he found was a good plane to fly. Bombing runs and machine gun training was promising to be entertaining! January 1942 saw Stan posted overseas. Shipped off to England, he arrived in London mid-winter. He spent a few days seeing the sights of London before getting to Gloucester. He found the countryside much as expected, ‘old dignified and mellow’. The snow in January was a thick carpet of white over everything, and very cold. The RAF Station, Staverton, once again saw him flying Tiger Moths. On arrival he was disappointed to find that he was to be an instructor. However his attitude was that someone has to do it so it might as well be me. The colder weather meant extra layers for warmth. Their flying gear consisted of an inner double layer of silk with an inch of wool in between, an outer layer of canvas type cloth, gloves, helmet and scarves, with boots lined with wool. He found the mail to be very slow now since the Japanese have entered the war, but wants everyone to keep the pens moving, he wants all the news. While he was wishing he was back home, his letters were full of optimism. The last letter was written 4 days after his birthday, three weeks later he was killed in a flying accident. From Smoke Signal No 28, August 1999 AVIATION ARCHAEOLOGY by Cyril Richardson More immediately relevant to our own locality was a fatal mid-air collision over Cheltenham on 11 February 1942 between a De Havilland Tiger Moth flown from the Flying Instructors’ School at Staverton and a Miles Master of the Flying Training School, Hullavington. The wreckage of the Tiger Moth came to earth near Parkward Mansions adjacent to the Shurdington Road-Moorend Park Road junction. The collision was witnessed by John Dance, then a member of 537 (Cheltenham Grammar School) Squadron, Air Training Corps, who watched as the Master dived towards the Tiger Moth, in what he thinks was a mock attack which went horribly wrong. (Retrieved from the internet) Miles Master N7766 of No 9 Flying Training School 67054 Pilot Officer F W Buckland R55815 Sgt A J Maher (Canadian) De Havilland Tiger Moth T7850 of No 6 Flying Instructor’s School 88652 Flying Officer G W Pledger 413085 Pilot Officer S C Jones (New Zealand) All four airmen were killed when the aircraft came down near Parkward Mansions, in the Shurdington Road area of Cheltenham. Thanks to John Rennison, Wings Over Gloucester, for providing the aircraft details. [Record since amended - NZWGT] Read More

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Casualty

Service Number:

413085

Name:

Stanley Charles Jones

Rank:

Pilot Officer

Additional Rank:

Pilot

Date of Birth:

16 January 1918

Place of Birth:

Grantham, Lincolnshire, England

Education:

Wellington College

Date of Enlistment:

25 May 1941

Marital Status:

Single

Occupation on Enlistment:

Electrical Fitter

Employer:

Hutt Valley Electric Power Board

Unit:

Royal New Zealand Air Force, 6 Flying Instructors School (RAF)

Casualty Details

Cause of Death:

Killed in aircraft accident

Date of Death:

11 February 1942

Day of Death:

Wednesday

Age at Death:

Conflict:

WW2

Embarkation Details

Text in italics supplied by Cenotaph Online, Auckland War Memorial Museum

Cemetery

Cemetery:

Gloucester Old Cemetery

Cemetery Reference:

Plot B. Grave 9443.

Cemetery Location:

United Kingdom