Ronald Leslie Brewer

Ronald Brewer was born at Portsmouth, England on the 19th January, 1912, arriving in New Zealand at the age of fifteen years. He was educated at Napier's School, Buckingham Place Academy, Portsmouth, England. His sporting interests included rugby, cricket, golf and soccer.

Prior to enlisting in the Royal New Zealand Air Force on the 7th May, 1940, he was employed by the Tokanui Mental Hospital, Awamatu.

After completing his initial training at Levin, he was posted to No. 2 Elementary Flying Training School, New Plymouth on the 3rd June, 1940, where he carried out his elementary flying training. In July he proceeded to No. 2 Service Flying Training School, Woodbourne where he qualified as a service pilot, being awarded the flying badge on the 30th September and promoted to Sergeant on the 22nd November, 1940.

Sergeant Brewer embarked for the United Kingdom in December 1940, arriving at No. 58 Operational Training Unit, Grangemouth, Stirlingshire, Scotland on the 3rd February, 1941. He commenced his operational flying training on Miles Master aircraft and a month later converted to Spitfires. Early in April he proceeded to No. 616 Squadron, Tangmere, Sussex, where he engaged on operations as the pilot of a Spitfire aircraft. On the 9th May he moved with the Squadron to Westhampnett, a satellite landing ground of Tangmere. A week later he made an interception at 14,000 feet, shooting down a Messerschmitt Me109.

On June 25th, 1941 Sergeant Brewer was acting as escort to bombers on a mission over enemy territory. An engagement took place with enemy aircraft in the vicinity of Le Touquet inside France and Sergeant Brewer failed to return to his base. In due course his death was officially presumed to have occurred on the 25th June, 1941.

249 hours as Pilot.

Information provided courtesy of the RNZAF Personnel Archives.