I am enormously grateful to the Adrian Wallis and the Blunden family for permitting me to share these diary entries with you via this website. I would respectfully request that the text from these diary entries is not copied or distributed in any form, printed or otherwise without first seeking and receiving written permission from the owner of the material who may be contacted via me archieraf@yahoo.co.uk

Linzee Druce, October 2003

This diary, written in two NZ Government Memorandum Books, describes his daily life from the time he embarked on the MV Awatea on April 29th 1941 until his untimely demise during a bombing raid on the German battleship the'Tirpitz' in Norway on the night of 30/31st March 1942. It leads the reader through his ocean voyage across the Pacific, his trans-Canada rail journey, his dangerous voyage across the Atlantic, further training in England, service as a bomber pilot with 10 Squadron based in Leeming, Yorkshire where he took part in many highly courageous raids over Germany in Whitley bomber aircraft, his subsequent conversion to Halifaxes, and his final mission to Norway to destroy the Tirpitz, from which he did not return. It gives the reader a flavour of the incredibly dangerous times our air force personnel endured.

Adrian Wallis 2003
(Nephew of Neil Blunden)

Foreword in first diary;
If the worst should occur and in consequence I would have no further use for this diary, I wish it to be forwarded to my sister Mrs A T Wallis. Address as follows:- P.O. Box 178 Greymouth, New Zealand.

Foreword in second diary;
I wish this diary to go, along with my other personal effects, to my sister in New Zealand. Mrs A T Wallis, Box 178, Greymouth, Westland, New Zealand (signed) N.R. Blunden P/O RNZAF.

N.R. Blunden
No. NZ 403419, RNZAF
P.O. Box 178
Greymouth
New Zealand

Address in England:
C/O - High Commissioner,
NZ House
415 Strand
London.