Bruce Innes Clifford-Jones
Pilot Officer, 9 Sqdn, Royal Air Force
Son of Harry & Ellen Hanley Clifford-Jones, of New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand
Died 8 September 1939
22 years old
Row A, Grave 3
Pilot Officer, 9 Sqdn, Royal Air Force
Son of Harry & Ellen Hanley Clifford-Jones, of New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand
Died 8 September 1939
22 years old
Row A, Grave 3
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Born: 31 July 1917 Pilot Officer Clifford-Jones was engaged to Miss Dorothy Dickey, Christchurch Bruce Clifford-Jones was a pilot with 9 Squadron and was killed in a flying accident on 8/9/39, one of the early casualties. He was second pilot aboard Wellington L4320 - Clifford-Jones first served with the RNZAF as a short service commission officer, then transferred to the RAF after completing his pilot training. Well known as a Canterbury hockey and tennis representative. He underwent a years training at Wigram before leaving for England by the Tainui. He was 22 years of age |
Pilot Officer Bruce Innes Clifford-Jones, son of Mr. and Mrs. H. Clifford-Jones, New Plymouth , killed in an aircraft accident at Burner's Heath. Though he attended schools at Hastings, Levin and Palmerston North, Pilot Officer Clifford-Jones received his main secondary education at the Stratford Technical High School where he distinguished himself on the athletic field. He captained the school first football fifteen, was a member of the first eleven at cricket and won the senior athletic and tennis championships. When carrying off the athletic title in 1934 he created school records for the 100 yards, 220 yards, high jump and broad jump. While serving in the school cadets he was adjudged the best cadet nco in the Central Military Command and a framed photograph of him in uniform is now hanging in the school. After leaving school he played a prominent part in Rugby football and tennis in Taranaki. He played first for the Stratford and then the New Plymouth Old Boys Senior Rugby teams. When undergoing his training at Wigram he played for the Air Force Team which took a leading part in the Christchurch Senior competition. At tennis he won the Eltham championship when his father was postmaster at the town and as fourth ranking player in the province represented Taranaki. Quite recently he was a semi finalist in the Royal Air Force championships at Wimbledon where he defeated the title holder in the fifth round. Previous to that fixture he won a combined doubles tournament when partnered by Miss Dorothy Round.
Biography for Bruce Innes Clifford-Jones. RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force]
Bruce Clifford-Jones was born at Masterton on 31 July 1917 and received his secondary education at Stratford Technical High School, attaining Matriculation standard. He was a member of both the first rugby fifteen and the first cricket eleven while at school and other games he played were tennis and golf. During 1935 he won the school senior athletic championship,. After leaving school he accepted an appointment with the Ngaire Dairy Factory where he was employed as a milk tester and grader, and also kept the company’s books. In April 1937 he applied for a short service commission in the Royal Air Force and on being accepted on 4 January 1938, was assigned to the Canterbury Aero Club for his elementary flying training. While undergoing this part of his training he was successful in gaining his “A” Flying License. This elementary flying training completed, on 5 April 1938 he proceeded with the rank of pilot officer, to No 1 Service Flying Training School, Wigram. It was while he was at Wigram that on 28 July 1938 he was awarded his flying badge. Later in the year he embarked for England to take up hi short service commission in the Royal Air Force.
On arriving in England, Pilot Officer Clifford-Jones reported to Air Ministry and was instructed to proceed on 15 March 1939 to the Royal Air Force, Depot, Uxbridge, Middlesex, for a short disciplinary course. On completing this course he was posted on 29 March to No 75 (Bomber) Squadron, then being formed on an aerodrome in Norfolk. His next posting was on 7 July 1939 to No 9 Squadron, Honington, Suffolk.
Pilot Officer Clifford-Jones was second pilot of a bomber aircraft engaged in carrying out an air firing exercise on 8 September 1939. While flying low over the air firing range, the aircraft hit some trees and in the resulting crash all the crew of the aircraft were killed. Pilot Officer Clifford-0Jones was buried with full service honours in the village churchyard, Honington, Suffolk
Mrs E H Clifford-Jones, 8 Holdsworthy Road, New Plymouth.
Bruce Clifford-Jones was born at Masterton on 31 July 1917 and received his secondary education at Stratford Technical High School, attaining Matriculation standard. He was a member of both the first rugby fifteen and the first cricket eleven while at school and other games he played were tennis and golf. During 1935 he won the school senior athletic championship,. After leaving school he accepted an appointment with the Ngaire Dairy Factory where he was employed as a milk tester and grader, and also kept the company’s books. In April 1937 he applied for a short service commission in the Royal Air Force and on being accepted on 4 January 1938, was assigned to the Canterbury Aero Club for his elementary flying training. While undergoing this part of his training he was successful in gaining his “A” Flying License. This elementary flying training completed, on 5 April 1938 he proceeded with the rank of pilot officer, to No 1 Service Flying Training School, Wigram. It was while he was at Wigram that on 28 July 1938 he was awarded his flying badge. Later in the year he embarked for England to take up hi short service commission in the Royal Air Force.
On arriving in England, Pilot Officer Clifford-Jones reported to Air Ministry and was instructed to proceed on 15 March 1939 to the Royal Air Force, Depot, Uxbridge, Middlesex, for a short disciplinary course. On completing this course he was posted on 29 March to No 75 (Bomber) Squadron, then being formed on an aerodrome in Norfolk. His next posting was on 7 July 1939 to No 9 Squadron, Honington, Suffolk.
Pilot Officer Clifford-Jones was second pilot of a bomber aircraft engaged in carrying out an air firing exercise on 8 September 1939. While flying low over the air firing range, the aircraft hit some trees and in the resulting crash all the crew of the aircraft were killed. Pilot Officer Clifford-0Jones was buried with full service honours in the village churchyard, Honington, Suffolk
Mrs E H Clifford-Jones, 8 Holdsworthy Road, New Plymouth.
Pilot: P/O Harold Rosofsky
Obs: P/O Bruce Innes Clifford-Jones
W/Op/Air/Gnr: AC1 Hugh M McGreevy
W/Op/Air/Gnr: AC1 Thomas Purdie
Air/Gnr: AC2 William Charles Hilsdon
P/O Harold Rosofsky and crew took off from RAF Honington for an air firing practice over Berners Heath. The cause of the accident is not known, but the aircraft flew into trees and crashed near Elveden, Suffolk. Berners Heath was a high-altitude bombing range that became available to the RAF on 13 December 1936 for training exercises.
Obs: P/O Bruce Innes Clifford-Jones
W/Op/Air/Gnr: AC1 Hugh M McGreevy
W/Op/Air/Gnr: AC1 Thomas Purdie
Air/Gnr: AC2 William Charles Hilsdon
P/O Harold Rosofsky and crew took off from RAF Honington for an air firing practice over Berners Heath. The cause of the accident is not known, but the aircraft flew into trees and crashed near Elveden, Suffolk. Berners Heath was a high-altitude bombing range that became available to the RAF on 13 December 1936 for training exercises.