Date of birth:

February 7th, 1918 (Wellington, New Zealand)

Date of death:

November 30th, 1948 (Ruahine Ranges/Manawatu, New Zealand)

Service number:

42691

Nationality:

New Zealander

Charles Bush's last post was a General Purpose Communications Flight based at Ohakea. He died when his aircraft crashed in the Ruahine Ranges.

Promotions:
September 18th, 1939: Acting Pilot Officer;
April 20th, 1940: Pilot Officer on probation;
July 27th, 1940: Pilot Officer;
April 20th, 1941: Flying Officer (war subs.);
April 20th, 1942: Flight Lieutenant (war subs.).
February 1944: Acting Squadron Leader;
1945: Acting Wing Commander.

Career:
?: No. 8 E & RFTS;
?: No. 5 Operational Training Unit, Ashton Down;
May 1940 - June 1940: No. 615 Squadron, Frankrijk;
June 5th, 1940 - December 1940: No. 242 Squadron;
December 1940 - juli 1941: No. 258 Squadron;
July 1941 - August 1941: No. 610 Squadron;
August 1941 - end 1941: No. 41 Squadron;
end 1941 - March 1942: Instructor Operational Training Unit;
July 1942 - December 1942: Instructor Operational Training Unit, Pacific;
December 1942 - February 1944: No. 15 (RNZAF) Squadron;
February 1944 - February 1945: Squadron Leader No. 21 (RNZAF) Squadron.
March 31st, 1946: Transfer RAF to RNZAF.

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Acting Flight Lieutenant

Unit:

No. 41 Squadron, Royal Air Force

Awarded on:

October 17th, 1941

Citation:
"This officer has carried out 48 operational sweeps over enemy territory and has destroyed at least 3 hostile aircraft. Flight Lieutenant Bush also took part in the air operations in France and later fought in the Battle of Britain. He has at all times displayed courage and keenness and has set an excellent example."

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Received with "BATTLE OF BRITAIN" clasp.

• Photo 1: Tom MacNeill
• - The London Gazette of 3rd October 1939, Issue 34700
  - The London Gazette of 14th May 1940, Issue 34849
  - The London Gazette of 27th September 1940, Issue 34954
  - The London Gazette of 20th June 1941, Issue 35196
  - Third Supplement to The London Gazette of 14th October 1941, Issue 35312, dated 17th October 1941
  - The London Gazette of 10th July 1942, Issue 35628
  - Second Supplement to The London Gazette of 31st May 1946, Issue 37590, dated 4th June 1946