Date of birth:

February 13th, 1913 (Eketahuna/Wairarapa, New Zealand)

Date of death:

November 30th, 1981 (Great Britain)

Service number:

36095

Nationality:

New Zealander

Minden Blake was shot down on August 19th, 1942 and was made POW. He stayed POW until May 1945.

Promotions:
March 9th, 1937: Pilot Officer (seniority June 9th, 1935);
September 9th, 1937: Flying Officer (seniority December 9th, 1936);
March 9th, 1939: Acting Flight Lieutenant;
September 9th, 1939: Flight Lieutenant (seniority December 9th, 1938);
September 1st, 1940: Temporary Squadron Leader;
December 16th, 1941: Temporary Wing Commander;
November 24th, 1942: Squadron Leader (seniority September 1st, 1940);
October 1st, 1946: Wing Commander.

Career:
October 1937 - April 1940: Group Captain No. 17 Squadron;
April 1940 - August 1940: Instructor Operational Training Unit;
August 1940 - October 1940: Squadron Leader No. 238 Squadron;
October 1940 - August 1941: Squadron Leader No. 234 Squadron;
August 1941 - 1942: Commanding Officer Exeter;
1942 - 1945: Commanding Officer Portreath.
January 28th, 1958: Retirement.

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• Photo: New Zealand Air Force
  
• - The London Gazette of 26th March 1937, Issue 34383
  - The London Gazette of 14th June 1938, Issue 34521
  - The London Gazette of 12th September 1939, Issue 34679
  - The London Gazette of 20th September 1940, Issue 34949
  - The London Gazette of 7th January 1941, Issue 35037
  - Supplement to The London Gazette of 14th March 1941, Issue 35107, dated 17th March 1941
  - The London Gazette of 16th December 1941, Issue 35383
  - Third Supplement to The London Gazette of 11th August 1942, Issue 35667, dated 14th August 1942
  - Second Supplement to The London Gazette of 17th November 1942, Issue 35791, dated 20th November 1942
  - Second Supplement to The London Gazette of 8th November 1946, Issue 37784, dated 12th November 1946
  - The London Gazette of 31st January 1947, Issue 37868
  - Third Supplement to The London Gazette of 24th January 1958, Issue 41296, dated 28th January 1958
  - Auckland War Memorial Museum