Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 8, 2010 8:10:46 GMT 12
This thread pertains to pre-war, wartime and postwar, but I figure that most would have been in WWII so have put it into this board.
Other than the fighter aces, I'm wondering who were the really great personalities either in the RNZAF or connected to the service (and the NZPAF). Who are the stand out people? The household names, important figures, the ones everyone in the service knew of and encountered?
I will make a few suggestions here:
- Of course there's Sir Henry Wigram
- The legend himself, Squadron Leader James "The Bull" Duncan (Discipinarian to the RNZAF in WWII)
- A huge number of airmen seem to recall and/or served under Ron "Nugget" Cohen, a pre-war and wartime pilot and armaments officer
- Fred 'Popeye' Lucas of course
- Bill Jordan, New Zealand's High Commissioner to Great Britain, personally looked after, visited and checked on all the New Zealand airmen based in Britiain and did his best to help them. Very well respected.
- Len Isitt was a very well known and respected pilot and leader before and during the war
- Nola Luxford, the kiwi who became a Hollywood actress, was a legend with the RNZAF boys as she welcomed them all to her New York home and established the ANZAC Club there for them to have R&R whilst they trained in Canada, etc.
- I think Sqn Ldr 'Johnny' Walker was well known for his pre-war exploits and well respected as a wartime leader.
- Less well known nowadays but Flt Lt Eric Griffiths was an incredibly heroic figure and well liked by those who served with him. He was an adventurer, explorer, and soldier of fortune before joining the RNZAF.
Who else would you add to the list of great well known personalities of or connected to the RNZAF?
Other than the fighter aces, I'm wondering who were the really great personalities either in the RNZAF or connected to the service (and the NZPAF). Who are the stand out people? The household names, important figures, the ones everyone in the service knew of and encountered?
I will make a few suggestions here:
- Of course there's Sir Henry Wigram
- The legend himself, Squadron Leader James "The Bull" Duncan (Discipinarian to the RNZAF in WWII)
- A huge number of airmen seem to recall and/or served under Ron "Nugget" Cohen, a pre-war and wartime pilot and armaments officer
- Fred 'Popeye' Lucas of course
- Bill Jordan, New Zealand's High Commissioner to Great Britain, personally looked after, visited and checked on all the New Zealand airmen based in Britiain and did his best to help them. Very well respected.
- Len Isitt was a very well known and respected pilot and leader before and during the war
- Nola Luxford, the kiwi who became a Hollywood actress, was a legend with the RNZAF boys as she welcomed them all to her New York home and established the ANZAC Club there for them to have R&R whilst they trained in Canada, etc.
- I think Sqn Ldr 'Johnny' Walker was well known for his pre-war exploits and well respected as a wartime leader.
- Less well known nowadays but Flt Lt Eric Griffiths was an incredibly heroic figure and well liked by those who served with him. He was an adventurer, explorer, and soldier of fortune before joining the RNZAF.
Who else would you add to the list of great well known personalities of or connected to the RNZAF?
