Lest we Forget
Born Hastings 19 Oct 1919 Attended Norsewood D.H.S. where he played first X1 and XV Occupation Farmer working for T. Western at Takapau before joining the R.N.Z.A.F 30 Nov 1940. Initial training at Levin Ground Training School as Airman Pilot under training. On 19 Jan1941commenced training at 2 E.F.T.S. (Elementary Flying Training School at Bell Block New Plymouth ) but was in Station Sick Quarters between 25Jan and 1 Feb. and flight training was terminated. He remustered as Air Observer under training on 15 Feb 1941 and with the Initial Training Wing at Levin 15 March 1941. Embarked for Canada 29 April 1941 and attached to R.C.A.F on 14 May 1941, commencing with 6 Air Observers School on 3 Aug, 1941 at Dafoe, Sask. His Air Observers Badge was awarded and he became Rank of Sergeant, then to No 1 Air Navigation School Manitoba on 15 Sept 1941 He commenced operations training with 31 O.T.U RAF on Hudsons. ( an RAF unit operating at Dedert Nova Scotia. ) Embarked for UK and attatched to RAF 13 Dec 1941. After passing through the Personnel Reception Centre at Bournmouth Hampshire, ( 26 Dec 41 – 16 Jan 42 Resumed training at 1 Air Observers School ( which on 1 Feb 42 became 1 A.F.U.( Advanced Flying Unit ) On Ansons. Then to Operational Training Unit on Blenheims, 10 March 42 till May 42 when he joined 107 Sqn flying Bostons, he was remustered as Air Navigator on 23 July 42 a few days before being killed on air operations on 28 July 1942, after carrying out 4 operations with 107 Sqn. Sgt Schofields last operation with 107 Sqn as Navigator in the crew of Boston iii bomber A.L.765 was the night of 28 July. It was an intruder operation ( in support of a raid on Hamburg Germany by other squadrons ) by 43 aircraft of which 3 were lost, 107 Squn was part of 2 Group of Bomber Command and based at Great Massingham in the north west of Norfolk. The Boston captained by Flight Sgt. R.A.Russel R.C.A.F.., took off at 2201 hours for an attack on airfield at Alkmaar, Netherlands. At 2300 hours the Boston was shot down by flak crashing at Egmond aan de Hoef, 6km wsw of Alkmarr. All four crew were lost and buried 6 km to the NE at BerganGeneral Cemetary ( 1B.22 ) in North Holland Netherlands. Sgt Schofield, the only New Zealander in the crew was aged 22., had flown 259 hours when he died on his 4th operation. On the same night, during the main raid on hamburg carried out by 256 aircraft of which 33 were shot down or crashed enroute, 13 of the lost aircraft carried New Zealanders as crew members ( 5 from Hawkes Bay ) 6 of the downed aircraft were Wellington Bombers of 75 Sqn ( NZ Sqn ) all skippered by R.N.Z.A.F., pilots, only one of whom survived.