Chan Kewl Ying (Willie Lee)

Willie Chan Lee in pilot gear during training possibly in China. Photo Credit: Dan Chan Lee https://john-caulton-spitfire-pilot.com/full-story/

Chan Kewl Ying 陳橋英 (also known as Willie Lee), was born on 12 January 1914, in Dannevirke,^[1]^[2]^[3] and was the fifth son of Chan Ming Fun (also known as Ching Shing Lee^[1] or Hop Wah Chan^[3]), of Hargee Village^[1]^[2], a fruiterer on Queen Street in Auckland, and Mrs. Wong Lee of 380^[4] or 386^[1]^[2] Karangahape Road, Auckland.^[1]^[2]^[4]

He was educated in Rotorua^[3] and at Pui Ching Middle School, Canton.^[1]^[2] He attended night school and studied mathematics for two years and then attended the Central Military Airforce School at Hangchow where he completed 100 hours flying^[1]^[2], and passed the required examinations to serve in the Air Force in China.^[3]In 1937 there were reports that he was Missing in Action however his parents are reported to have received no such notification^[3]. In 1938 he returned to New Zealand, and he worked for his brother Stanley Chan, a fruit grower in Auckland. ^[1]^[2]

Chan Kewl Ying enlisted with the Royal New Zealand Air Force on 2 December 1940^[1]^[2] and he was initially based at the Initial Training Wing at Levin, from 9 November 1941 and trained on Harvard aircraft.^[1]^[2] He was commissioned with the rank of Pilot Officer, with the Serial No.: 416123^[1]^[2].

During World War Two, he was stationed in the United Kingdom, and served with the 61 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit at RAF Heston.^[5]

AS19370821.2.34-a4-377w-c32 — PILOT AT SHANGHAI. NEW ZEALAND-BORN CHINESE. (1937, August 21). *Auckland Star*, *LXVIII*(198), 9. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS19370821.2.34

Chan Kewl Ying died on 14 November 1942, aged 28^[1]^[2]^[4]^[6]^[7], after crashing the Spitfire I (Serial number X4621) he was flying during a training exercise over Ridley, Cheshire.^[5] He is buried at Oswestry General Cemetery, in the United Kingdom, Sec. T. Grave 10.^[7] His death was reported in The Evening Post, 21 November 1942.^[4]