Leicester Bond Ware

Leicester Ware was born at Christchurch on the 14th May 1918 and received his secondary education at the Christchurch West High School, passing the University Entrance examination. He afterwards studied at the Technical College during night classes for the Professional Accountants' examination and passed in seven subjects. He played football for his school 1st XV, and was also tennis champion. After leaving school he accepted employment with the Hydro-electric Branch of the Public Works Department, and was stationed at Invercargill, when applying for enlistment in aircrew, on the 1st September 1939.

Pilot Officer Ware was enlisted at the Initial Training Wing, Levin, on the 27th October, 1940, and proceeded to No.1 Elementary Flying Training School, Taieri, on the 25th November, to commence his flying training, then on the 18th January 1941, to No.1 Service Flying Training School, Wigram. Here, on the 12th April 1941, he was awarded the flying badge and promoted to the rank of Sergeant. While overseas, on the 1st November 1941, he was further promoted to Flight Sergeant, and commissioned in the rank of Pilot Officer on the 3rd December 1941. Meanwhile, on the 29th April 1941, he had embarked for the United Kingdom.

Pilot Officer Ware proceeded by way of Canada, and arrived at No.3 Personnel Reception Centre, Bournemouth, on the 29th June. He was posted on the 15th July to No.58 Operational Training Unit, Grangemouth, Scotland, and flew Spitfire fighter aircraft, before posting on the 26th August to No.132 Squadron at Peterhead, Scotland. From this base he took part in three operational patrols, being two scrambles and a fighter patrol, before rejoining No.616 Squadron first at Westhampnett, Sussex, then at Kirton-in-Lindsey, Lincolnshire, and Kings Cliffe, Northamptonshire. From these bases, he took part in a further forty-five operational flights being scrambles, convoy patrol, offensive fighter sweeps over enemy occupied France, and providing top cover to our bombers operating to targets in Northern France. On the 25th May he was credited with having damaged a Dornier 217 aircraft.

Pilot Officer Ware was the pilot of a Spitfire aircraft, engaged on a squadron sweep on the 26th May 1942, and which crashed at Dunholme, Lincolnshire, Pilot Officer Ware losing his life. He was buried in the Scampton Cemetary, Lincolnshire.

476 hours as Pilot.

Information provided courtesy of the RNZAF Personnel Archives.

The operational record book gives a different account of his end:

May 26. A tragic day, for Pilot Officer Ware (New Zealand) lost his life in a practice interception exercise with 303 Polish fighter squadron. The circumstances of his death are not known except that he was seen to dive down at great speed, the wings of the aircraft fell off and the aircraft itself burnt on crashing near RAF Station, Scampton. He was a most popular fellow and his loss is keenly felt by the Squadron.

May 30. Pilot Officer Ware is buried at RAF Scampton with full Air Force Honours and representatives are sent from this Squadron.