The 2 NZEF and Maori Battalion members will tell you how the constant air pounding and attacks of all kinds were a serious and constant threat in all theatres of operations i.e Greece, Crete, North Africa, Italy and Pacific arenas. Enemy air attacks often arrived undetected and at break neck speed with only seconds to take evasive action.
What is relatively unrecorded was the powerful impact on general morale and emotional wellbeing these air attacks had. With constant vulnerability and making one so aware of being well spread out, always on the look out, worried about being camouflaged as best possible..it never really stopped,even at night when the bombers took over and made sleep impossible..our boys on the ground certainly scoured the air, they must have felt like the New Zealand Moa bird who was the favourite prey of the worlds biggest air hunter..the mighty Haast Eagle.
Flightless as our national icon bird the Kiwi is, not so our native Maori, who were very busy also in the RNZAF/RAF in varied aircrew roles and squadrons throughtout most theatres of the Air War fighting against the German, Italian and Japanese air and grounds forces within the Royal Air Force, Bomber, Fighter and Coastal Commands.
Below is a number of Maori and descendents of Maori aircrew who had to work and train extremely hard to "Fly in the RNZAF" and of course were absorbed within RAF bomber, fighter and coastal command squadrons and were operational in serious action. But many were in various training units as instructors teaching others to do a variety of things such as Gunnery, Bomber co operation(aka fighter affiliation),Navigation,Beam approach,Air Bombing, Terrain instructing...WELL DONE to all these Maori boys indeed, who will be inspirational to the many who have living family members remaining
Adamson,David Maurice. F/O Navigator RNZAF/RAF Units Unknown
Amohanga, Kiwi Ernest. Pilot. Wellingtons. Lancasters. RAF 75 (NZ) Sqd.
Baker, Phillip (Phil) Air Gunner. Lancasters. RAF 75 (NZ) Sqd.Marton
Bennett, Edward Te Keu.(Ted) Pilot. Hurricanes. Spitfires. North African campaign. RAF 152 sqd.
Cowan, F.L. Flt.Sgt. WOP/AG Bombers.RNZAF/RAF. Prisoner of War. Units Unknown
Chesson, Frederick John Charles. Flt.Sgt. Mid Upper Gunner. Bombers. RAF Units Unknown
Fenton, Thomas Michael (Ike)Flying Officer. Pilot. Hurricanes. Typhoons. RAF 486 (NZ) Sqd. Coronation Medal (1953) Waitara
Going,Raymond Cyril. Air Gunner. RAF 75(NZ)Sqd. KIA. Ngapuhi
Gray, Edward Henry (Ted) Flt.Sgt. Wireless Op/Air Gunner. RAF 75(NZ)Sqd. Otaki
Hayward,Cecil Matene (Blokie) P.O. Pilot. Fighters. Gunnery unit instructor. Typhoons. RAF. Rotorua
Hayward,Eric Rotana. Pilot. Fighters. Fighter affiliation training Unit. RAF. Rotorua
Heperi,Taipua (Tap) WOP/AG. Wellingtons. Lancasters. RAF 75 (NZ) Sqd. Okaihau
Higgins, Stanley (Stan) Air Bomber .Lancasters. RAF 75 (NZ) Sqd. Murupara
Iwikau,TeMatauira Te Ariki. DFC. Air Gunner. RAF 75(NZ)sqd.
Karatau,Eruera Mangahuka (Ted) Pilot. Fighters. North African campaign. RAF Desert Air Force.
Karena,Peeti Rotana. Pilot. RNZAF/RAF Unit unknown
Kereama, William Laurence (Bill) Flying Officer. WOP/AG. Lancasters RAF 75 (NZ) Sqd. Marton
Leaf, Jock. Air Gunner. Hudsons. Catalinas. Pacific campaign. RNZAF 1 Sqd. Ngapuhi
Maaka, Inia Whangataua "Mac" Air Bomber (aimer) Lancasters. RAF 75 (NZ) Sqd. Taradale
Manawaiti,M.T. Pilot Officer. DFM. wireless operator/air gunner. Wellingtons, Lancasters RAF 75(NZ)sqd.
Marshall,Genn Osmond P.O. WOP/AG Stirlings. Lancasters. RAF 75 (NZ) Sqd.
Mataira, Ratu Jack. WOP/AG. Lancasters. RAF 75(NZ)sqd.
Mataira,Te Rahu Calvin. rear air gunner. Lancasters. RAF 75(NZ)sqd.
Milich,Mate Alexander. Pilot Officer. DFC. Lancasters RAF 198 sqd..
Meyer,Hoturoa Arnel Dean. F/O. DFC. Pilot, Lancasters RAF 75 (NZ) Sqd.
Munn,Hugh. Flt.Sgt. Air Bomber. RAF Units Unknown
Naera,Joeseph Cassidy.Flying Officer (unit unknown) Hokianga
Nicholas, Ta Tio Tuaine "Tai" P/O. WOP/AG. Lancasters (2 operational tours) RAF 75 (NZ) Sqd
Paraone,Hoani. Flt Sgt. Air Bomber (aimer) Stirlings. Lancasters (2 operational tours) RAF 75 (NZ) Sqd. Taumarunui
Parata,Marama Tahu O'Tangi Potiki TeWhaiti (Tom). WOP/AG Wellingtons RAF 75 (NZ) Sqd. Auckland
Pinka, Mita. Navigator. Lancasters. RAF 75 (NZ) Sqd. Matata
Pohe,Porokoru Pautapu (Johnny). P/O. MID. (unit unknown) POW Germany
Potaka,Utiku Albert (Bert). P/O. Kings Commendation. RAF 148/624 Halifax Sqds and RAF 161/46 Stirling Sqds.
Raharuhi,Roy William. P/O. Wellingtons. RAF 75(NZ)sqd.
Riwai,Tohunga Richard.P/O. Mosquitos. RAF 488 (NZ) sqd.
Rangiuaia,Wi. P/O Lancasters 75(NZ)sqd RAF
Snowden,Edward Simon (Haimoana) DFC. PFF. Polish Cross. CBE. QSM. Navigator and Air Bomber. Stirlings. Lancasters. 75(NZ)sqd.RAF
Spooner,Maxwell (Max) Air Gunner. Lancasters. RAF 75 (NZ) Sqd. Taihape
Swinton, William Jeremiah (Rangi) Pilot Officer. Typhoons. RAF 486(NZ) sqd. POW 17.5.44 Germany
Te Aika,Iwikau Te Matauira (Iwi) Rear Gunner. DFC. Stirlings. Lancasters. RAF 75 (NZ) Sqd. Christchurch
Tomlins, Guy. Air Bomber. Lancasters. RAF 75 (NZ) Sqd. Pakipaki
Urlich,Richard John.P/O. Pilot. Lancasters. RAF 75(NZ)sqd.
Uru,Henare Whakatau. Pilot Officer. Bombers. RAF 297 and 299 Squadrons. KIA 6.08.1944
Waera, Tame Hawaikirangi "Tom" Rear Gunner. Stirlings. Lancasters. RAF 75 (NZ) Sqd. KIA 27 Sep.1943 Rotorua
Wehi, Tamaterangi. Flt.Sgt. Pilot and Flt. Engineer. Lancasters. RAF 75 (NZ) Sqd. and Tiger Force. Takapau
Wetere,James Himiona. Pilot Officer. DFC. RAF 174 and 184 Typhoon Squadrons.
Whitmore, Richard Charles. P/O Pilot. RNZAF/RAF Units Unknown.
Wipera,George. Air Bomber (aimer) RAF 514 Sqd.
Wipiti,Bert Sam.DFM. Pilot. Hurricanes. Spitfires. Corsairs. RAF 485 (NZ) Sqd. also flew Burma,India,Pacific, battle zones.
Zinzan,Vernon John. Flying Officer.Pilot. Lancasters. RAF 75 (NZ) sqd. (understood to be Allblack, Zinzan Brooke's name sake)
I will have unfortunately not found other Maori who flew during WW2 for the RNZAF/RAF and as i come across them will add to this list,some of you will know the Tribal affiliations as i do not but will note if i have that info.
Although this Maori Battalion website is cleary not dedicated to Air force and Naval Maori it is in esscence the ground breaker and holds serious mana in terms of Maori WW2 fighting veterans who were brothers or cousins in different parts of the NZ Defence Force as it was then. I thank the administrators for this ability to state these beloved names onto this Iwi/whanau generated arena.
My choice of positioning these names on this website is purely one of relative invisability..and undoubtably a pleasant sight for any RNZAF and RAF Kiwi personnel to then behold..a line of destroyed 109s.
US Army Official file, Denis Clough archive
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