Looking for the family of a NZ Mosquito Navigator, Rex Frederick Cottrell

[gilles collaveri]

Good morning all,

we are looking for the family of Rex Frederick Cottrell (NZ) for the following reason :

a friend of mine found this door in France (see picture here under) and it comes from the Mosquito NFXIII HK399 from 256th squadron (See http://francecrashes39-45.net/page_fiche_av.php?id=3623 )

The navigator (Rex Frederick Cottrell) was killed during the crash and my friend would like to give this door to the navigator’s family, who was the last one to jettison it.

could some of you help us trace this family ?

You will see that he was the son of Albert George et Ella Mary Cottrell, from Rotorua, in Auckland and that we were able to gather some data on his family.

Thanks in advance.


GC

[Col Bruggy]

Hello,

The pilot of No.256 Sqn Mosquito NF.XIII HK399, was NZ415751 W/O (Pilot) Thomas David De RENZY RNZAF POW, not as described in your attachment.

Col.

[Alex Smart]

Hello,
From somewhere in the past I recorded the a/c individual letter as being "D" at some point in its service with 256 Sqdn.
One of the older books on my shelves, Could be Fighter or Bomber Sqdn of the RAF or the later Coastal Support And Special Sqdns books or from other Mosquito books.
Sorry that I cannot be more precise.
Alex

[Col Bruggy]

Hello,

The late Chaz Bowyer's, Mosquito Squadrons of the Royal Air Force, records HK399 as "D" (p.87). Likewise, Fighter Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft/Rawlings (p.363).

Col.

[Alex Smart]

Thanks Col,

[gilles collaveri]

Thanks for your answers chaps,

I dropped "messages in a bottle" on other forums including RNZAF forum, I did had some answers but I could not reach Cottrell's family.

Anybody living near Auckland, that could help me ?

Another picture of the door (profile) is attached..

Thanks

GC

[edwest2]

You may want to try here:


http://www.nzdf.mil.nz/personnel-rec...-the-files.htm


Rex was killed after bailing out of Mosquito NF.XIII, HK399, JT-D. He was buried at Lyon-La Guillotière cemetery and then re-interred at La Douna national cemetary at Villeurbanne. The aircraft was shot down by flak on 2 July 1944.



Ed