Date of birth:

August 22nd, 1913 (Christchurch/Canterbury, New Zealand)

Date of death:

May 3rd, 1980

Service number:

NZ391856

Nationality:

New Zealander

Geoffrey Panell achieved five confirmed victories, four probable and damaged five other enemy aircraft.

Promotions:
June 28th, 1940: Sergeant;
?: acting Flight Lieutenant;
?: acting Squadron Leader;
? Flight Lieutenant.

Career:
?: Waitaki Boys High School;
March 1939: RNZAF;
December 17th, 1939: Ground Training School, Weraroa;
January 15th, 1940: No. 1 Elementry Flying Trasining School, NZl;
March 11th, 1940: No. 1 Flying Training School, Wigram;
September 10th, 1940: On. 6 Operational Training Unit, Sutton Bridge, GB;
September 29th, 1940: No. 3 Squadron, Turnhouse;
December 6th, 1940: No. 260 Squadron, Castletown;
May 16th, 1941: No. 41 Squadron, Catterick;
July 16th, 1941: No. 91 Squadron, Hawkinge;
July 31st, 1941: No. 111 Squadron;
April 20th, 1942: Morris Motors, Cowly;
September 26th, 1942: No. 91 Squadron;
July 12th, 1943: No. 84 Group Communications Squadron;
August 20th, 1944: No. 33 Squadron;
September 12th, 1944: No. 222 Squadron;
November 25th, 1944: Flight Commander Communications Squadron, Notholt;
July 5th, 1945: New Zealand;
January 25th, 1945: Reserves.

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Acting Flight Lieutenant

Unit:

No. 91 (Nigeria) Squadron, Royal Air Force

Awarded on:

June 29th, 1942

Citation:
"Flight Lieutenant Pannell has completed a large number of operational sorties, including patrols, sweeps, shipping reconnaissances and flights as escorts to bombers. He has displayed an exceptional enthusiasm for operational flying and a keen desire to engage the enemy. In October, 1941, this officer was leading an air escort provided for an Air Sea Rescue operation. The formation was attacked, but, showing fine leadership and tenacity, Flight Lieutenant Pannell succeeded in protecting the rescue craft and in personally destroying one of the attacking aircraft. In all, he has destroyed 2 enemy aircraft and damaged several more."

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Unit:

No. 91 (Nigeria) Squadron, Royal Air Force

Awarded on:

January 20th, 1943

For operations over France and distinguished services to Free French pilots in operations.

With palm

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

With "Battle of Brittain" clasp

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

• Photo 1: Wilco Vermeer collection (CC Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives 4.0)
• - PANNELL Geoffrey Charles Russell
  - Geoffrey Charles Russell Pannell - Online Cenotaph - Auckland War Memorial Museum
  - Battle of Britain London Monument
  - RAFCommands Archive :: NZ391856 Sqn Ldr G C R Pannell, RNZAF
  - Supplement to The london Gazette of 30th June 1942, Issue 35614, page 2871