He
joined the RNZAF at Levin/GTS as Air
Gunner on 12 March 40, and was sent
to 1AOS on 8 April 40.
He changed training to Air Observer
per 2 May (3 June) 1940, and
received his Air Observer Badge on
26 July 40. He was promoted to
Sergeant the next day. He
embarked for the United Kingdom on
the ship 'Akaroa' and was attached
to the Royal Air Force on 10 August
1940.
After
arriving in the UK, he was sent to
17 O.T.U. for training on Blenheims
on 5 October 1940. After
finishing his training period he was
posted to 21 Sqn on 17 February
1941, flying with Blenheims. He flew
28 operations with this squadron,
including a trip to Malta with a
Squadron Detachment late April, only
to return to the UK late May.
In May, 1941 Sgt Overheu
and his pilot, Sergeant Leavers
were both awarded the Distinguished Flying
Medal. In the Gazette of 23 May, 1941 the
following announcement was published:
"In April,
1941, Sergeant Leavers and
Sergeant Overheu were the pilot and observer
respectively in an aircraft which
participated
in an attack on a large enemy convoy. In
the face of heavy anti-aircraft fire,
Sergeant
Leavers displayed great determination and
tactical ability which enabled Sergeant
Overheu to score two direct hits on a large
ship.
In March, 1941, these airmen successfully
attacked an enemy destroyer which
was escorting a convoy of some 13
ships. Pressing home his attack from an
extremely low level, Sergeant Leavers
machine gunned the deck while Sergeant
Overheu scored two direct hits on the
destroyer with his bombs."
Sgt. Overheu
and F/S Leavers and were killed in action
about three weeks later,
on 16 June 1941, on the type of anti-shipping mission
off the German Wadden Ilses, on which they had
been so successful before.
Sgt Leavers,
Sgt Overheu and Sgt. Joseph Phelps took off at 13.19 from their base Watton in Norfolk. Their operation was
codenamed Beat17 and they were flying
Blenheim V6034 YH-D. It was Sgt. Overheu's 28th
mission.
Three Blenheim
bombers of 21 Sqn engaged a German patrol
vessel near the Island of Borkum. This
dramatic picture was taken during the attack
on the ship by the third (and last)
Blenheim. On the horizon you see the first
Blenheim. On the left is the Flight Sergeant
Leavers's Blenheim after it just bombed the
ship.
(picture from En Nooit Was Het Stil, Deel
II)
It either hit
the ship's mast or was hit by debris from
the ship, which tore off a piece of the
right wing. The Blenheim rolls over to the
right to crash into the sea, just moments
after this picture was taken. Flight
Sergeant Leavers is buried at Den Andel
Protestant Cemetery. Sgt Phelps also
washed ashore and is buried in Sage War
Cemetery in Germany.
Sgt Overheu is
still missing. He is commemorated at the
Runnymede Memorial.
He was 23.
