Olson, Edward

Edward George Olson was the son of Percy and Ellen Olson and was born at Egmont Village in 1906 where his parents and grandparents had farmed. His grandparents were Edward and Mary Olson, early settlers of the Egmont Village area.

Edward, or Ted as he was known, attended New Plymouth Boy’s High School until 1922 when at the age of 16 he embarked on a career with the Air Force that lasted all his life.

From 1925 to 1930 he served with the Royal Air Force, firstly in England, then in Egypt, India, Pakistan (where amongst other tasks he was instrumental is transporting Lawrence of Arabia safely out of Pakistan and back to the UK after rumours began to circulate that he was involved in espionage activities as well as leading the building of an airstrip on a remote valley floor in the Hindu Kush mountain range).

In 1930 he returned to New Zealand where he was an instructor at aero clubs around the country. During this time he married Myrtle Mabel Luxton of Ōmata and flew back to New Plymouth from Taieri for the wedding before the couple departed for their honeymoon in a Moth aircraft.

In 1935 he joined the RNZAF and in 1939 he was transferred to Wellington where he was appointed to Air Board as Air Member for Personnel and was instrumental in the planning of the RNZAF to cope with the demands of the outbreak of war. In 1941 he was sent to England as New Zealand Liaison officer at the Air Ministry. In 1942 he was appointed Group Captain and in command of 75 (NZ) Squadron which was at the time heavily involved in the bombing of the Ruhr, Germany.

In 1943 he was awarded the DSO and returned to New Zealand to command Central Group, RNZAF with the rank of Air Commodore.

Early in 1945 he was again sent to England and stationed in London as Commanding Officer, RNZAF. However due to failing health he was returned to New Zealand for treatment and rest but died in New Plymouth on 15 May 1945, aged 39 years, a few weeks after his return. He was accorded full Air Force honours at his large funeral in New Plymouth. He was survived by his wife Myrtle and young daughter.

Books

Lest we Forget: a tribute by New Plymouth Boy's High School, New Plymouth, to the 227 men of the School who died while serving their Country during the Second World War, 1939-1945, by Jack West, TRCT940.5467 WES