WONZ 179 – Jack Davis and Colin Brown

Guest: Oswald John “Jack” Davis (RAF 1337768, Wireless Operator-Air Gunner,WWII, born 18 May 1921 at Castleton, Wales), plus Jack’s son Barry Davis, and Jack’s neighbour WWII RNZAF Wireless Mechanic Colin Brown. Host: Dave Homewood Recorded: 16th of of July 2012 Released: 27th of April 2018 Duration: 32 minutes 08 seconds This episode is a conversation in the Whangarei RSA with Jack Davis, a Welshman living in Whangarei who joined the Royal Air Force and became a Wireless Operator-Air Gunner. He was posted onto No. 429 Squadron RCAF who were equipped with Handley Page Halifax bombers. He was shot down and became a POW in Stalag IV-B at Muhlberg. He managed to escape but was recaptured. We also hear from Colin Brown, who was Jack’s neighbour and had come to the sit in on the conversation. Colin was a Wireless Mechanic in the RNZAF during WWII, and he worked with the Hawker Hinds of No. 20 (Army Co-operation) Squadron, Grumman Avengers of No. 31 Squadron, and the fighters of the Fighter Gunnery School at Gisborne, as well as working on Catalinas. The photos and articles below are all from Jack Davis’s collection, and were kindly sent by Barry Davis