P/O Peter Price

Peter March Price was born 6 March 1924 in Remuera, Auckland New Zealand to parents Captain Frederick Ashton Price MC, and Mrs Hazel Maud Price. At the time of writing, it is known that he had two half siblings, sister Gwendolen and brother Frederick. Prior to enlisting, Peter attended Wanganui Collegiate School, Whanganui, New Zealand from 1938 to 1940, and worked at the Bank of Australasia, Napier Branch.Upon enlistment, we have been provided the following details:

ENLISTMENT: RNZAF

2 May 1942 – Initial Training Wing Rotorua (ITW/Rotorua) as Airman Pilot under training.

23 July 1942 – 3 Elementary Flying Training School (3 EFTS), Harewood, Christchurch, New Zealand.

7 August 1942 – 1st Solo flight16 October 1942 – 2 Service Flying Training School (2 SFTS), Woodbourne, near Blenheim, New Zealand25.

January 1943 – Pilots Badge with effect from6 March 1943 – Promoted to Sergeant

Attached to RAF

4 April 1943 – Embarked for UK, SS Northumberland from Auckland, New Zealand.

11 May 1943 – Arrived New York, New York, USA28.

May 1943 – 12th Personal Despatch & Receiving Centre, Padgate, Warrington, Chesire, England.

6 July 1943 – 17 (Pilots) Advanced Flying Unit ((P)AFU) RAF Calveley, near Nantwich, Cheshire, England.

16 November 1943 – 55 Operational Training Unit (55OTU) (Hurricane) RAF Aston Down, Gloucestershire, England.

24 January 1944 – 53 Operational Training Unit (53OTU) (Spitfire) RAF Heston, Middlesex, England.

23 February 1944 – No. 1 Tactical Exercise Unit (1 TEU) (Hurricane), Angus County, Scotland.

31 March 1944 – No. 3 Tactical Exercise Unit (3 TEU) (Hurricane, Typhoon), (location unsure – Cumberland, England?).

30 May 1944 – 84 Group Support Unit (84 GSU) (Typhoon), (Aston Down, Gloucestershire, England).

3 June 1944 – 609 Squadron, RAF Thorney Island, West Sussex, England18 June 1944- Funtington, Sessex (609 Movement).

1 July 1944- B10/Plumetoot, France (also a detachment at Hurn, Hampshire), (609 Movement).

9 July 1944- B5/Camilly, France (609 Movement).

19 July 1944- B7/Martragny (609 Movement).

22 July 1944 – Commissioned Pilot Officer.

27 July 1944 – KAO. The 27th of July marks the tragic loss of Peter Price while flying JP843, this was his only operation whilst flying this aircraft.

Below is a list of all operations Peter Price flew with 609 compiled using Squadron ORB's with the help of Mark Crame.

Pilot: NZ424518 P/O Peter March PRICE, RNZAF - Age 20. 472 hrs. 10th op. 10/6/44

Peter Price Flying Typhoon MN520. 18:00 to 19:30 Squadron with 10 aircraft of 198 Squadron, attacked concentrations in a wood given as Target T.9162-T.9267 South of Battle area. Aircraft then attacked transport on roads in looslity. Claims 1 M.E.t. destroyed, 3 damaged.

Half of the Squadron up early again and eager for action but no show was put on until 12:40 hours when the C/O led Pagnam, Blanco, Rowland. F/Lt Geerts led Bliss, Coorman and Merrett. And Roberts with Buchanan, Holmes and Gibson on Ramrod 986. Owing to cloud, the first 8 A/C failed to locate target near St. Vallery-en-Caix. Roberts and his team attacked the Coast watcher at Cap de la Heve when strikes were claimed with cannon and near misses with R/P.

At 18:00 the C/O was out again with Price, Seguin, Inches, Roberts, Bavington, Adam, Bryant, Gibson, Roysten, Holmes and Harkness. Royston’s R?T was u/s and he had to return. The others set out on Assu.GLM 1. To attack an enemy concentration in a wood given as target T9162/T9267 South of the Battle area. The Squadron then attacked transport in the locality and claimed 1 MET destroyed and 3 MET damaged.In the last light of day, Geerts took off with Billam, Merrett, Bliss, Blanoo, Jaspis, Watelet, Cooreman, Cables, Rowlands, and Pagnam. Buchanan was spare man and flew with them almost over the Channel in the hope that someone would fall out but he had to return somewhat disgusted. The others carried on to attack enemy tanks harbouring in a orchard (ASSU.UHT/5) at T904703 in the Battle area. Attack was made after signal from own troops with both R/P and cannon. 4 A/C on secondary target failed to locate and did not attack and brought their R/Ps back. The Squadron returned at 23:20 in the dark and all made good landings with no excitement. Blanoo was flying a new machine and in his way showed he was very pleased with it. Watelet had a rail come loose which flapped about and dented his main plane.

14/6/44 09:30 to 10:55

Peter Price Flying Typhoon R8772. After breakfast the CO took off with Royston, Inches, Seguin, Roberts, Price, Buchanan and Adam on Ramrod 999 to attack an Army support target. No red smoke was seen as arranged over the target pinpoint but red smoke signals were seen at a village West of the target and our fellows went in and removed the village.

14/6/44 14:10 to 14:50

Peter Price Flying Typhoon JP851. W/Cdr. Brooker leading 609 Squadron took off from Thorney Island and landed without incident in Normandy.

14/6/44

Peter Price Flying Typhoon JP851. At 18:35 S/Ldr Wells took off amid the dust and sand to attack crossroads and village at T7454 and another village held by the enemy as a strong point was removed.

14/6/44 21:55 to 23:10

Peter Price Flying Typhoon JP851. At 21:55 the Squadron with W/Cdr Brooker leading took off again to attack a rail bridge U18585. Direct hits with at least 8 R/P’s on bridge and line were observed and more direct hits on rail sheds at Bencaville-Campagne with the track North of it. 2 A/C did not attack. There was much heavy Flak and fellows admitted that they were shaken by it. The formation was broken up and the pilots landed all safely at Thorney Island in twos and threes around 23:00 hours. There was much chatter in the Dispersal Hut before going over to Intelligence amongst those who stayed behind and those who went. Holmes had picked a bunch of wild flowers and grasses for Manu as a reminder that they were getting near to his native land. Price came home with a Jerry helmet and Buchanan had won a diary written in German and was much annoyed to have it taken from him by the ‘Chief Spy’ and so ended a memorable day.

18/6/44 12:55 to 14:40

Peter Price Flying Typhoon JP851. The Squadron finally cleared Thorney Isle by 10:00 and the airlift party close on 13:00. We found the new airfield already in shape with tents up for Dispersal and Orderly and the pilots busy pitching sleeping quarters. Everybody seems to like the new location but the amenities of Thorney will be missed.

At 12:55 W/Cdr Brooker took 7 of our bodies on Ramrod 1015 for an Armed Recce. Weather was very bad with 10/10th cloud on the French coast and the attack was abandoned.

Later at 20:05 F/Lt Geerts with Cables, Cooreman, Bliss, Blanco, Billam, Rowland and Merrett set out on Ramrod 1015 for an Armed Recce. Vise - Falaise - Lisieux area. 15 MET seen on main roads between Falaise and Argentan and attacked with R/P and cannon. 8 lorries left on fire claimed Destroyed. 3 AFV Damaged with cannon. The Squadron returned at 21:45 in high spirits. They had met no Flak and given the lorries a good prang. The Belgians on the trip were all talking at one to another 19 to the dozen. Manu was so determined to destroy one truck that he says he nearly hit the deck. He claims two lorries. Merrett came back with a hole in his mainplane caused by debris. Price says it was the best trip he had been on so far.

18/7/44 07:35 to 08:15

Peter Price Flying Typhoon EK2108. A busy day. The first call comes before breakfast and at 07:35 Geerts takes Seguin, Buchanan, Inches, Roberts, Price, Royston and Scott on XLE3 GC2 to attack gun positions at 207649, 200657, 194650, 196646 and 198640. This was in the area St Ouen du Mesmel Oger. All R/P’s in target area except at 196646. A wood at 192641 attack and well covered. Buchanan was hit by Flak in the undercarriage.

18/7/44 10:05 to 10:20

Peter Price Flying Typhoon EK2109. The first show was not quite successful so at 10:00 Geerts takes out Inches, Roberts, Seguin, Adam, Buchanan, Scott, Royston and Price on the same target. Again targets were well covered and cannon strikes were observed on 200657 but guns still firing. There was a direct hit at 194656.

25/7/44 19:20 to 19:55

Peter Price Flying Typhoon MN868. GC56/CWJ1, a gun position at Rocquancourt when the CO led Price, Buchanan and Scott. They located the gun position and the gun was hit. Inches went out with Harkness, Adam and Bavington on GC57 to attack another gun position, which was also located and hit. Again the pilots had to contend with intense light accurate Flak and so the day closes – the busiest since leaving England.

26/7/44 12:25 to 14:00

Peter Price Flying Typhoon MN868. The first call today comes at 12:25 when the CO takes out Ashworth, Buchanan, Harkness, Inches, Adams and Price on GC18 (Bavington starts his engine but breaks an oil pipe so is out of it). This time the target is railways at Yvetot-Charleval. The CO gets a direct hit on the station after a low level attack. Stationary goods trains at Yvetot are pranged with R/P’s and strafed with cannon. Trucks are hit at Monteville with many Flamers. Price dives through cloud and on coming up sees aircraft and is somewhat surprised when they go down again. He finds that he has joined up with the wrong Squadron and after he has made five attacks is short of petrol and lands at B.9. For once there was no Flak and all had a good time.