464:
385:
fighter. His
Hurricane was damaged in the encounter and he landed back at Biggin Hill, just as it was being bombed. Attempting to take off, he had to abort his effort due to his aircraft receiving shrapnel damage from nearby bomb blasts. Although he was unhurt, other RAF personnel were killed in the
536:
on 6 October 1942. The citation noted Tracey's feat in rescuing Hoffe and also credited him with six enemy aircraft destroyed. Aviation historians
Christopher Shores and Clive Wiliams credit him with six German aircraft destroyed, three probably destroyed and one damaged.
441:, No. 274 Squadron, now based further west in Egypt, at Gerawla, flew in support of the Allied forces on the island, flying patrols over the shipping in the area and strafing the German forces that had landed on Crete. During this time, on 26 May, Tracey destroyed a
268:
and following this, a subsequent application made later in the year was successful. A scheduled departure in
February 1939 for the United Kingdom had to be postponed for health reasons and it was not until the middle of the year that he left New Zealand aboard the
1001:
264:(RAF) but was declined, supposedly due to a lack of vacancies. Another application, made in April 1938, was also unsuccessful and he discovered that his school grades were insufficient. He received private tuition from the headmaster of
452:. A Bf 109 then chased him and Tracey went into a dive; while he pulled out, his pursuer did not and crashed into the sea. Tracey was credited with this Bf 109 as an aerial victory. Three days later, while patrolling over the
401:
On 5 September Biggin Hill was again targeted by an incoming bomber raid, but No. 79 Squadron was able to intercept it. Tracey claimed a Do 17 as probably destroyed. A few days afterwards the squadron was sent to
917:
523:(Italian Air Force) but his Hurricane received machine gun fire to the cockpit area and dived into the ground, where it burst into flames. Tracey was given a battlefield burial near his crashed aircraft.
1016:
1006:
513:. They encountered German and Italian fighters and engaged them. However, their opposition were soon reinforced and the RAF fighters became outnumbered. Tracey was seen engaging a
317:
296:
Having proceeded to No. 3 Initial
Training Wing, the Second World War had broken out by the time Tracey had completed his flight instruction and was consequently awarded
855:
For Your
Tomorrow - A Record of New Zealanders Who Have Died While Serving with the RNZAF and Allied Air Services Since 1915 - Volume Three: Biographies & Appendices
430:
in Egypt. At the time he joined the squadron, it was resting after having been engaged in operations against
Italian forces in Libya. In April, Tracey was promoted to
1011:
406:
for a rest and refit and from here it resumed operational flying, mostly convoy patrols with the occasional interception of bombing raids on the area around the
966:
986:
527:
171:
159:
386:
bombing raid. Two days later, about 20 miles (32 km) south of Biggin Hill, he destroyed another He 111. The following day, 31 August, he shot down a
961:
976:
862:
843:
551:, who he had married in England, and his son, and they subsequently emigrated to New Zealand and settled in Tracey's home town of Dunedin.
942:
900:
881:
253:
463:
309:
606:
499:, force landed in the desert, close to the Axis ground troops. Tracey made a landing to pick up Hoffe and returned him to base.
377:
No. 79 Squadron returned to Biggin Hill on 26 August and was promptly heavily engaged in the aerial battles over London as the
277:
971:
246:
351:, forming part of the area's aerial defences. Under the control No. 13 Group, it fought in several engagements over the
265:
381:
began to focus its efforts on the city. On 28 August, Tracey claimed a He 111 as probably destroyed and also damaged a
541:
316:
for further training and in late April 1940 was assigned to an instructors course. The following month he went to
206:, shooting down a number of German aircraft. In April 1941, he was sent to the Middle East where he flew with
496:
285:
472:
301:
257:
893:
Aces High: A Tribute to the Most
Notable Fighter Pilots of the British and Commonwealth Forces in WWII
996:
991:
423:
382:
207:
112:
514:
491:, while flying in the Sidi Rezegh area on 1 December, one of the squadron's Hurricanes, piloted by
364:
336:
199:
116:
810:
815:
795:
756:
652:
532:
488:
270:
215:
144:
411:
938:
921:
896:
877:
858:
839:
519:
476:
410:. On 21 September, Tracey claimed a Do 17 as probably destroyed 15 miles (24 km) west of
203:
134:
102:
911:
252:
Interested in aviation, Tracey learnt to fly at the Otago Aero Club and in 1937 obtained his
981:
790:
751:
647:
503:
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324:
321:
313:
188:
129:
445:
438:
407:
340:
261:
211:
198:, Tracey joined the RAF in early 1939. After completing flight training, he was posted to
184:
139:
84:
218:, in Libya. He was killed when he was shot down during a dogfight with Italian fighters.
431:
427:
368:
344:
297:
955:
457:
442:
387:
371:
305:
176:
422:
In early 1941, Tracey was assigned to service overseas and, in March, was posted to
506:
281:
191:. He was officially credited with the destruction of at least six enemy aircraft.
256:
with some financial assistance from his mother. He applied twice that year for a
249:. After completing his education, he worked as a storeman for a firm in Dunedin.
484:
403:
502:
On 8 December, No. 274 Squadron was engaged in an escort mission, accompanying
546:
492:
453:
232:
180:
925:
414:
in southwest Wales. He was confirmed in his pilot officer rank in
November.
391:
358:
352:
230:, New Zealand, Owen Vincent Tracey was the son of Owen Tracey and Margaret
1002:
New
Zealand recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
348:
238:
339:. At the time, his squadron, which operated the Hurricane, was based at
227:
195:
45:
935:
A Clasp for 'The Few': New
Zealanders with the Battle of Britain Clasp
483:. The squadron mostly carried out ground support operations, strafing
510:
471:
The following month No. 274 Squadron was back to operations over the
449:
242:
63:
698:
696:
694:
692:
690:
688:
686:
684:
682:
462:
395:
918:
Official History of New Zealand in the Second World War 1939â45
773:
771:
769:
767:
456:
ships evacuating Allied forces from Crete, Tracey shot down a
669:
667:
665:
663:
355:
and in one of these, an interception on 15 August of a large
210:. During his time with the squadron, he was involved in the
586:
584:
582:
580:
578:
576:
574:
572:
570:
568:
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564:
630:
628:
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479:
in late August and was appointed one of the squadron's
278:
No. 19 Elementary & Reserve Flying Training School
838:. Anzac Battle Series. Auckland: Exisle Publishing.
475:, still flying from Gerawla. Tracey was promoted to
175:(15 March 1915 â 8 December 1941) was a New Zealand
540:After the war, Tracey's remains were reinterred at
276:. Arriving in England on 1 August, he proceeded to
155:
122:
108:
98:
90:
78:
70:
52:
32:
25:
1007:Royal Air Force personnel killed in World War II
920:. Vol. I. Wellington: War History Branch.
874:Fighter Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft
544:in Egypt. He was survived by his wife, Frances
308:with effect from 9 October 1939. He went on to
702:
1017:People educated at St Kevin's College, Oamaru
891:Shores, Christopher; Williams, Clive (1994).
509:attacking Axis positions to the southwest of
467:Pilots of No. 274 Squadron at Amirya airfield
202:in July 1940. He flew extensively during the
8:
356:
819:(Supplement). 6 October 1942. p. 4342.
22:
304:, for four years, and was made an acting
777:
726:
673:
913:New Zealanders with the Royal Air Force
738:
714:
607:"Flight Lieutenant Owen Vincent Tracey"
560:
1012:Burials at Halfaya Sollum War Cemetery
634:
601:
599:
545:
231:
7:
967:New Zealand World War II flying aces
609:. Commonwealth War Graves Commission
590:
526:Tracey was posthumously awarded the
363:(German air force) raid heading for
310:No. 3 Service Flying Training School
241:, at Monte Cecilia College, and in
987:Aviators killed by being shot down
284:shortly afterwards, where he flew
14:
876:. London: MacDonald & James.
760:. 28 February 1941. p. 1208.
530:, the announcement being made in
857:. Christchurch: Volplane Press.
656:. 27 October 1939. p. 7179.
343:but shortly afterwards moved to
335:On 6 July, Tracey was posted to
318:No. 60 Operational Training Unit
962:New Zealand World War II pilots
836:Dogfight: The Battle of Britain
977:New Zealand military personnel
487:transports and troops. During
18:New Zealand flying ace of WWII
1:
937:. Auckland: Kenneth G. Wynn.
799:. 18 July 1941. p. 4125.
237:Tracey. He went to school in
266:Mosgiel District High School
542:Halfaya Sollum War Cemetery
1033:
703:Shores & Williams 1994
528:Distinguished Flying Cross
160:Distinguished Flying Cross
933:Wynn, Kenneth G. (1981).
426:, which was stationed at
226:Born on 15 March 1915 in
910:Thompson, H. L. (1953).
302:short service commission
286:de Havilland Tiger Moths
258:short service commission
895:. London: Grub Street.
872:Rawlings, John (1976).
497:South African Air Force
853:Martyn, Errol (2008).
834:Claasen, Adam (2012).
468:
357:
466:
367:, Tracey destroyed a
91:Years of service
972:New Zealand aviators
383:Messerschmitt Bf 109
780:, pp. 386â387.
705:, pp. 591â592.
676:, pp. 194â195.
593:, pp. 391â393.
390:medium bomber over
300:. He was granted a
168:Owen Vincent Tracey
816:The London Gazette
796:The London Gazette
757:The London Gazette
653:The London Gazette
533:The London Gazette
489:Operation Crusader
469:
320:to convert to the
247:St Kevin's College
216:Operation Crusader
145:Operation Crusader
864:978-0-473-12829-6
845:978-1-921497-28-5
717:, pp. 91â94.
520:Regia Aeronautica
481:flight commanders
477:flight lieutenant
331:Battle of Britain
204:Battle of Britain
187:(RAF) during the
165:
164:
135:Battle of Britain
103:Flight Lieutenant
1024:
948:
929:
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504:Bristol Blenheim
460:medium bomber.
424:No. 274 Squadron
362:
322:Hawker Hurricane
292:Second World War
236:
208:No. 274 Squadron
189:Second World War
183:who flew in the
174:
130:Second World War
113:No. 274 Squadron
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40:
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517:fighter of the
446:transport plane
439:Battle of Crete
420:
412:St David's Head
408:Bristol Channel
337:No. 79 Squadron
333:
294:
262:Royal Air Force
224:
212:Battle of Crete
200:No. 79 Squadron
185:Royal Air Force
170:
151:
140:Battle of Crete
117:No. 79 Squadron
115:
85:Royal Air Force
61:
57:
56:8 December 1941
44:
38:
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28:
19:
12:
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743:
741:, p. 127.
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707:
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639:
637:, p. 478.
620:
595:
559:
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473:Western Desert
432:flying officer
419:
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369:Heinkel He 111
345:RAF Acklington
332:
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60:(aged 26)
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944:0-86-465-0256
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778:Rawlings 1976
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747:
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729:, p. 86.
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727:Thompson 1953
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674:Rawlings 1976
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507:light bombers
505:
500:
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495:Hoffe of the
494:
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486:
482:
478:
474:
465:
461:
459:
458:Junkers Ju 88
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443:Junkers Ju 52
440:
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388:Dornier Do 17
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372:medium bomber
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306:pilot officer
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177:fighter pilot
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48:, New Zealand
47:
43:15 March 1915
35:
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24:
21:
16:
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912:
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873:
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835:
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785:
755:
746:
739:Claasen 2012
734:
722:
715:Claasen 2012
710:
651:
642:
613:25 September
611:. Retrieved
549: Slater
539:
531:
525:
518:
515:Macchi C.200
501:
470:
436:
421:
400:
378:
376:
334:
314:South Cerney
295:
282:RAF Fairoaks
272:
251:
235: Laffey
225:
193:
167:
166:
123:Battles/wars
58:(1941-12-08)
20:
15:
997:1941 deaths
992:1915 births
811:"No. 35731"
791:"No. 35222"
752:"No. 35090"
648:"No. 34718"
635:Martyn 2008
437:During the
418:Middle East
341:Biggin Hill
254:'A' licence
74:New Zealand
27:Owen Tracey
956:Categories
828:References
493:Lieutenant
454:Royal Navy
428:El Amiriya
222:Early life
181:flying ace
71:Allegiance
39:1915-03-15
926:270919916
591:Wynn 1981
392:Dungeness
379:Luftwaffe
365:Newcastle
359:Luftwaffe
353:North Sea
347:, in the
94:1939â1941
349:Midlands
273:Rimutaka
239:Auckland
194:Born in
79:Service/
982:The Few
511:El Adem
404:Pembrey
325:fighter
260:in the
228:Dunedin
214:and in
196:Dunedin
66:, Libya
64:El Adem
46:Dunedin
941:
924:
899:
880:
861:
842:
450:Maleme
243:Oamaru
156:Awards
81:branch
555:Notes
448:over
298:wings
245:, at
62:near
939:ISBN
922:OCLC
897:ISBN
878:ISBN
859:ISBN
840:ISBN
615:2022
485:Axis
396:Kent
179:and
109:Unit
99:Rank
53:Died
33:Born
547:nÊe
394:in
312:at
280:at
271:SS
233:nÊe
172:DFC
958::
916:.
813:.
793:.
766:^
754:.
681:^
662:^
650:.
623:^
598:^
563:^
434:.
398:.
374:.
327:.
288:.
947:.
928:.
905:.
886:.
867:.
848:.
617:.
41:)
37:(
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