Thomas Buckley is an Anzac who served in World War Two.

Biography

parents - Michael Patrick Buckley and Mabel Alice (White) Buckley of Devonport

Warrant Officer (Pilot) Thomas Wadeson Buckley NZ413021 RNZAF / RAF 73 Squadron

Thomas Wadeson Buckley was an accounts clerk before the war. He first enlisted with the RNZAF in May, 1941, and became a Spitfire Fighter Pilot. ^[1] He was posted to 43 Squadron RAF.

43 Squadron RAF ^[2]

43 Squadron fought during the Battle of Britain; and then, in November 1942, the Squadron was transferred to North Africa, where, they first flew Spitfires. The squadron was posted to Italy in October 1943.

In 1944, 43 Squadron moved to France; and, in April 1944, Thomas Buckley was one of a detachment of 43 Squadron who began to fly fighter / bomber ops over the Balkans

In January 1945, they returned to Italy; and a few months later, in April 1945 Thomas Buckley moved with his detachment of the squadron to a base in Yugoslavia; flying with 73 Squadron.

New Zealand Herald 18th January 1944 page 4 [5]

SPITFIRE PILOTS

KAIN'S OLD SQUADRON - MIDDLE EAST OPERATIONS

Flying now in Italy with the late Flying-Officer E. J. (Cobber) Kain's old squadron (73 Squadron) is Flight-Sergeant E. M. Karatau, of Turakina, the first Maori Spitfire pilot. Since the Allied invasion of Italy he has flown dozens of sorties over landing beaches, above the front and across the Adriatic Sea in support of the Yugoslav Partisan forces. Until recently the squadron was commanded by a New Zealander, Squadron Leader E L. Joyce, D.F.M., of Hamilton, and he had two Maoris, Flight-Sergeant Karatau and Pilot-Officer Ted Bennett, a brother of Lieutenant Colonel Charles Bennett, former commander of the Maori Battalion. Pilot Officer Bennett, who was the first Maori fighter pilot to join the Desert Air Force, was a night fighter pilot in Africa. He completed his tour of operations in Spitfires in Italy.

Led by New Zealanders - Ever since Flying-Officer Kain became the Royal Air Force's first fighter ace in this war New Zealand has always been well represented among this squadron's mixed group of British and Dominions pilots. Twice in Africa it was commanded by New Zealanders, Squadron Leader Joyce in Tunisia and Squadron Leader Derek Ward, D.F.C. and bar, of North Auckland, in Libya. When Squadron-Leader Ward was leading the squadron on night strafing raids across the Luftwaffe's airfields in Cyrenscia one of his most prominent young sergeant-pilots was Squadron Leader Joyce. Within a few months Squadron Leader Joyce became the desert's leading night fighter pilot. In five nights over El Aiamein he shot down three German bombers. Soon after the squadron's total bag reached 300 in Tunisia. He returned from a training period to be the squadron's commander at the end of the North African campaign. During the Sicilian invasion and in Southern Italy his promotion from warrant-officer to Squadron Leader in less than a year was one of the most rapid known in the R.A.F. in Africa. Sweeps Over Balkans Two other New Zealanders, one of whom is now the pilot with the longest service in the squadron, flew with Squadron Leader Joyce during the invasion and from airfields in Southern Italy. They are Warrant-Officer W. J. Mygind of Pahiatua and Flight Sergeant John Horn of Wellington. Both Squadron Leader Joyce and Flight Sergeant Horn had brothers fighting in North Island infantry battalions in the New Zealand Division. Yet another New Zealander, Flight Sergeant T. W. Buckley of Auckland has been with the squadron on recent offensive sweeps over Albania and Yugoslavia.

from New Zealanders with the Royal Air Force vol: 3 chapter 9 — Beyond the Italian Battlefront ^[3]

Air operations in support of the Yugoslav Partisan Army were begun as soon as the Allies were firmly established in Italy. Our long-range fighters and bombers were also required to do everything possible to hinder the Germans building up their air force in Yugoslavia, to disturb the enemy's control of the Dalmatian Islands, to keep open the sea routes for supplying the partisans and, indirectly, to prevent reinforcement of the Italian front from the Balkans. .............

As the air effort over the Balkans increased New Zealand fighter pilots were particularly prominent. Wing Commander R. Webb, as commander of No. 1435 Squadron and with No. 323 Wing, frequently led Spitfires to attack enemy transport in the Balkans and shipping off the Dalmatian coast. On one occasion when four Messerschmitt 109s were shot down within five minutes, Webb and one of his flight commanders, Flight Lieutenant W. E. Schrader, got one each and shared in the destruction of the others. Schrader also did good work in leading his flight against enemy shipping. In one dawn reconnaissance off Corfu an E-boat was set on fire; in another attack a similar vessel exploded amidships. In the middle of May 1944, Webb led his wing on a typical bombing and strafing attack in the Vinjerac area. He had just set a petrol bowser on fire when his Spitfire was hit and two explosive bullets burst in the cockpit. Webb was knocked unconscious and badly wounded in one eye, but, recovering quickly, he asked another pilot to lead him the 200 miles back to base at Foggia where, despite his injury, he landed his aircraft safely. Flight Lieutenant N. D. Harrison, after distinguished service with Webb's squadron, joined No. 73 Squadron as flight commander and continued to do good work in bombing missions across the Adriatic. Other pilots prominent with this squadron were Pilot Officer Horn, Warrant Officer Karatau and Flight Sergeant Buckley.

Thomas Buckley was killed on active service in Yugoslavia on the 26th of May 1944, he was 24 years old.

Burial

Belgrade War Cemetery, Serbia

grave 10. A. 9.

Historical Information from the Commonwealth Graves Commission -

"Belgrade War Cemetery was created to receive the remains of British and Commonwealth casualties brought in from more than sixty small burial grounds and from isolated sites all over Yugoslavia. The largest number from any one place came from Milna Military Cemetery and the Royal Naval and Harbour Cemeteries on the island of Vis (Lissa) which was our base. ^[4]

Thomes Wadeson Buckley is remembered in the establishment of the Thomas Wadeson Buckley Memorial Home for elderly people in Torbay, Auckland

Thomas left a Charitable Trust in his Will in order to nurture and provide opportunities for disadvantaged children and young people so they can face the future with hope - administered by the Anglican Trust for Women and Children

Sources

1. ↑ WW2 Talk [1]
2. ↑ No. 43 Squadron RAF [2]
3. ↑ New Zealanders with the Royal Air Force (Volume III) chap: 9 — Beyond the Italian Battlefront [3]
4. ↑ Commonwealth War Graves Commission [4]

• N.Z. Birth Registration - 1920/8840 - Buckley Thomas Wadeson - parents : Mabel Alice & Michael
• N.Z. Death Registration - 1945/63716 - Buckley Thomas Wadeson aged 24 years
• No. 43 Squadron RAF [6]
• New Zealanders with the Royal Air Force (Volume III) chap: 9 — Beyond the Italian Battlefront [7] (pdf) [8]
• WW2 Talk [9]
• Commonwealth War Graves Commission [10]
• Auckland War Memorial Museum Online Cenotaph [11]