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R.E.G. Van der Kiste   to   A.E. Vivian

Van der Kiste, Robert Edgar Guy Youngest son (with three brothers) of Lt.Col. Freegift William Van der Kiste, DSO (1875-1948), Royal Artillery, and Evelyn Grace Shipley (1876-1939), of Salisbury, Wiltshire. Married (06.11.1939, Norwich district, Norfolk) Nancy Kathleen "Jummy" Holman ((09?).1921 - ), elder daughter of Dr Alec George Holman, MRCS, LRCP (1891-1956), and Grace Kathleen Brown (1899-1985), of Aylsham, Norfolk; one son, two daughters (and one son deceased). Brother-in-law of F/Lt. Charles Patrick Holman, DFC, RAFVR.	20.07.1912 Limerick, Ireland - 29.09.1999 Ivybridge, South Hams district, South Devon	(A) P/O (prob) 02.11.1936 [39248] P/O 31.08.1937 F/O 31.03.1939 F/Lt. 03.09.1940 (T) Sq.Ldr. 01.12.1941 (WS) Sq.Ldr. 23.05.1942 Sq.Ldr. 01.09.1945 25.02.1947, seniority 01.01.1945 (T) W/Cdr. 23.02.1942 W/Cdr. 01.10.1946 (retd 31.08.1959) W/Cdr. RAuxAF 12.01.1960, seniority 05.12.1959 DSO 30.05.1941 gallantry displayed in flying operations against the enemy * OBE 13.06.1957 HM's birthday 57 39|45 St - - Atl St - & France & Germany clasp Def M - - WM 39|45 - - MID 24.09.1941 ? MID 01.01.1945 ? GenSM - & Malaya clasp CBD 15.03.1946 ? Sub C ? ? * In April this officer was the captain of an aircraft which carried out a reconnaissance of the Norwegian coast from Hammerfest to Harstad, entailing a flight of many hours. The greater part of the reconnaissance had to be carried out at less than 2,000 ft., but Flight Lieut. Van Der Kiste made a skilful use of the low cloud and the topographical features of the country that very little oppostion from the ground was encountered. At Harstad, where there was no cloud, he approached the twon flying just above the water level and, despite anti-aircraft fire, flew right in and completed his reconnaissance. By skilful low flying among the fjords he was able to avoid any damage to his aircraft. On a previous occasion Flight Lieut. Van Der Kiste carried out a reconnaissance at a low altitude under extremely trying conditions. Although his aircraft was damaged by enemy fire, he completed his mission and skilfully flew back to base.	Education: Cheltenham College (Jones and Boyne House; 05.1926-04.1929). Worked as an engineer for Renault first in Paris and then as one of their Field service engineers in the Scandinavian and Baltic countries. 02.11.1936     commissioned, RAF (General Duties Branch) [short service commission] (RAF Depot, Uxbridge) 14.11.1936 - 29.06.1936 No. 7 Flying Training School (Peterborough) 30.06.1937 - 18.06.1939 206 (General Reconnaissance) Squadron (Bircham Newton) 19.06.1939 - 17.07.1939 flying-boat conversion course, Calshot 18.07.1939 - 07.07.1941 210 Squadron RAF (Pembroke Dock) [carried out 156 sorties] 01.08.1941 - 15.11.1941 31 Squadron of America (Toronto, Canada) 16.11.1941 - 03.12.1941 RAF Ferry Command 03.12.1941 - 22.02.1942 HQ RAF Coastal Command 23.02.1942 - 01.05.1943 Air Ministry (attended Staff College from 14.11.1942) 04.05.1943 - 15.07.1944 Commanding Officer, 201 Squadron RAF (Castle Archdale, then Pembroke Dock) [carried out 12 sorties] 15.07.1944 - 11.1944 HQ 19 Group RAF 01.09.1945     permanent commission 20.12.1945 - 06.03.1946 RAF Mission to China 30.03.1946 - 18.12.1946 No. 3 Officer Advanced Training School RAF (Kandy) 19.12.1946 - 04.02.1947 Commanding Officer, 88 Squadron RAF (Hong Kong) 04.02.1947 - 01.1948 Commanding Officer, No. 2 Staging Post RAF (Saigon) 15.01.1948 - 20.08.1948 Commanding Officer, RAF Sembawang (Malaya) 26.10.1948 - 24.04.1949 Joint Services Staff Course (Latimer) 01.05.1949 - 10.07.1949 No. 1 Air Navigation School RAF (Toppcliffe) 11.07.1949 - 10.09.1950 No. 1 Air Navigation School RAF (Hullavington) 12.09.1950 - 30.05.1952 Air Ministry 04.06.1952 - 26.09.1954 Air Element, Military HQ (Chatham) [attached to 201 A.F.S Tarrant Rushton No 16 Jet Familiarisation Course 24.06.1953-24.07.1953] 27.09.1954 - 25.08.1957 HQ RAF Coastal Command (for air staff duties) 26.08.1957 - 31.09.1959 HQ 19 Group RAF 12.01.1960     commissioned, RAuxAF (Reconstituted) (General Duties Branch) 12.01.1960 - 12.01.1964 Commanding Officer, No. 3 (County of Devon) Maritime Headquarters Unit Director, Plymouth Incorporated Chamber of Trade and Commerce, 1974-1980 (Secretary, 1964-1974).
Verity, Victor Bosanquet [Strachan] Son of Mr & Mrs C.S. Verity, Cave, South Canterbury, New Zealand.	05.11.1918 Timaru, New Zealand - 02.02.1979 Wellington, New Zealand	(A) P/O (prob) 13.05.1939 [42164] P/O (prob) 06.11.1939 P/O 16.03.1940 F/O 06.11.1940 (WS) F/Lt. 06.11.1941 (reld 15.12.1943) Sq.Ldr. RNZAF ? (reld 11.1945) DFC 15.08.1941 * * Squadron Leader Verity has shown a fine example by the skill with which he has intercepted enemy aircraft at night and the determination he has displayed in his attacks. He has destroyed at least two and damaged two other hostile aircraft. In most of his combats, Squadron Leader Verity has been accompanied by Sergeant [Frederick William] Wake [who got the DFM] who, as an air gunner, has displayed great skill, determination and courage.	Education: Timaru Boys’ High School (1932-1934. Worked on father's farm. 09.1938     enlisted 01.02.1939     sailed in "Tainui" to UK to join RAF 13.05.1939 commissioned, RAF (General Duties Branch) [short service commission] 11.1939 - 10.1940 229 Squadron RAF (patrols in Blenheims over the North Sea fishing fleet, then flying Hurricanes in France) [on 20.05.1940 shot down 2 Heinkel He 111, got shot up himself, but managed to crash land and make it safe back to his base; over Dunkirk on 31.05.1940 he destroyed a Messerschmitt Bf 110, shot down himself and picked out of the sea; shot down a Heinkel He 111 and damaged a Messerschmitt Bf 110 on 10.09.1940 and shot down a Junkers Ju 88 on 04.10.1940 in battles over London] 15.10.1940 - 12.1940 422 Flight RAF (Shoreham) (experimental fighter unit) [damaged a Junkers Ju 88 06.11.1940, and again on 13.11.1940, while sharing destruction of a Junkers Ju 88 that same day] 12.1940 - 03.1942 96 Squadron RAF (Shoreham) (flying Hurricanes & Defiants) [15.03.1940 probable destruction of a Junkers Ju 88; 08.05.1941 destroyed one Ju 88; 11.05.1941 destroyed a He 111, and probably destroyed a Ju 88; 08.07.1941 destroyed a He 111] 03.1942 - 08.1942 73 Squadron RAF (Western Desert) (flying Hurricanes) 08.1942 - 01.1943 Aircraft Delivery Unit (flying Beaufighters) 01.1943 - 10.04.1943 89 Squadron RAF (Egypt, then squadron’s detached flight at Luga in Malta) 10.04.1943 - 06.1943 108 Squadron RAF (Malta) [destroyed a He111 off Trapani, Sicily; when posted away he had flown 375 sorties overall] night intruder controller at HQ Fighter Command in the UK 15.12.1943 transferred, RNZAF 1622 Flight RAF ? - 08.1944 Commanding Officer, 650 Squadron RAF (engaged in target towing for Army personnel being trained for anti-aircraft duties) 08.1944 - ? Squadron Leader Flying at 62 Operational Training Unit RAF training navigators (RAF Hereford) Resumed farming until 1959, and went back to the UK to form a roofing business, returning again to New Zealand 10 years later.
Vigors, Timothy Ashmead "Tim" 2nd son of Capt Ludlow Ashmead Cliffe Vigors, of Coolmore, Fethard, Co Tipperary. Married 1st (1942) Jan ...; three daughters. Married 2nd (1963) Alice Devin Atalanta Clifford (Mrs Richard Fairey); one son. Married 3rd (1972) Heidi Bohlen; two daughters. Married 4th (1982) Diana Bryan.	22.03.1921 Hatfield - 14.11.2003 Cambridge, Cambridgeshire	P/O 23.12.1939 [33554] ... ... (WS) Sq.Ldr. 24.01.1944 (retd 08.11.1946) (A) W/Cdr. 09.04.1945 W/Cdr. 08.11.1946 DFC 01.10.1940 destroyed 9 enemy aircraft	Education: Eton; Cranwell       see: Australian War Memorial Published: Life's too short to cry : the inspirational memoir of an ace Battle of Britain fighter pilot (2006)
Vivian, Archibald Elgar	04.04.1917 -	Wt.Offr. ? [519713] P/O (prob) 13.03.1944 [54350] (WS) F/O 13.09.1944	13.03.1944     commissioned, RAF (Administrative and Special Duties Branch) [emergency commission]       navigator on PBY Catalina flying boats (08.1945)     stationed in Rangoon, Burma
Vlasto, Alexis Peter	see:	RAFVR officers' section

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