Sir Edmund Hillary in the RNZAF

[Dave Homewood]

I did a quick Google search to find what Ed Hillary did in the RNZAF in WWII, and I found a fascinating page with his personal photos and memorabilia.

Start here, and use the arrows above the card (right arrow) to move through more RNZAF ralted stuff and comments by him.

www.mtaspiring.school.nz/hillary/cd/resource/bush/rnzaf/44card1.htm

Fascinating stuff.

[corsair67]

Wasn't Sir Ed involved in an accident aboard a Catalina? I seem to recall hearing somewhere that he suffered burns during a fire on a RNZAF Catalina during the war.

[Dave Homewood]

I'm not sure. There was an epic documentary series on his life a few years ago. maybe you saw it in that?

[Dave Homewood]

Dec 21, 2005 18:32:19 GMT 12 corsair67 said:

Wasn't Sir Ed involved in an accident aboard a Catalina? I seem to recall hearing somewhere that he suffered burns during a fire on a RNZAF Catalina during the war.

All these years later I can add the details to answer your question, Craig.

CLIMBER’S FEAT OF ENDURANCE

ACCIDENT TO HILLARY IN 1945

SEVERE BURNS SUFFERED IN LAUNCH FIRE

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, June 4.

Some of the physical endurance that took Edmund Hillary to the summit of Everest was shown by him after an accident while serving with a Catalina squadron of the Royal New Zealand Air Force at the wartime base of Halava, in the Solomon Islands.

With another New Zealand airman Hillary was out boating in a launch when the petrol tank broke loose and the launch burst into flames. A wave crashed against the disabled craft just as Hillary and’his companion were about to plunge into the sea. Hillary was thrown on to the top of the burning cabin and suffered severe burns to the back.

Both men swam to an island nearly a mile away. Hillary then had to walk some distance to obtain a boat to get back to Halava. He was then admitted to an American forces’ hospital, where he stayed for a month.

“They did not expect him to pull through,” commented his brother, Mr R. Hillary, tonight.

Hillary joined the Air Force in 1944. He trained at the Delta station, near Blenheim, and served at New Plymouth before being posted to the Pacific as a sergeant navigator. The accident occurred toward the end of 1945.

PRESS, 5 JUNE 1953

[McFly]

"Launching the 'Jolly Roger' boat at Halavo Bay, Florida Island. All are believed to be members of No. 6 Squadron.
In the water at left is Navigator Sergeant EP Hillary. On the bow is the Squadron Adjutant, Flight Lieutenant AMcG Scott, pouring beer to christen the boat - Circa 1945." (2014-212.22)

(Air Force Museum Collection)

[shorty]

The guy next to Ed is pretty well dressed!

[Dave Homewood]

Reporter's Diary
PRESS, 25 JULY 1977

THE FIRST programme in “The Adventure World of Sir Edmund Hillary” on TV1 on Friday evening was watched with particular interest by a former R.N.Z.A.F. officer in Christchurch. In 1944 he had Sergeant Hillary on his navigation instruction course at Bell Block, New Plymouth. At the end of the course, each pupil had his results recorded and his abilities assessed on a card. In May, 1953 the then-retired officer, having one of those periodic domestic clean-outs at his home, found a heap of the assessment cards in his loft. They went on a bonfire. He had not heard of Hillary in the meantime, but recalls vividly looking at his course card before it went on to the flames. A week later he bitterly regretted its destruction, for Hillary was in the news, having just climbed Mount Everest. He wished he had kept the document as a joke against himself. For the last words he saw, before the card was consumed in the flames was the final assessment — “Simply a plodder”.

[Dave Homewood]

Reporter's Diary
PRESS, 29 JULY 1977

Anywhere but here
THE PARAGRAPH about the R.N.Z.A.F. confidential personal assessment (C.P.A) of Sir Edmund Hillary during World War II reminded Mr F. J. Harvey, of Blenheim, of a good example of the C.P.A.-writer’s art. He was serving in a “holding unit’’ at the time — one which assembled dribs and drabs of troops into units for posting abroad. The colonel in command had done 28 years pre-war service, and had reenlisted to "do his bit.” He asked for Mr Harvey’s help with the C.P.A. of an officer who was industrious, but not very suited to command. Mr Harvey declined, but the colonel later showed him his single-handed assessment of the officer: “This officer has made some progress since being with this unit. He will make a reasonable administrative officer in any unit except mine.”

[robb]

Aug 24, 2022 23:19:36 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

Reporter's Diary
PRESS, 25 JULY 1977

THE FIRST programme in “The Adventure World of Sir Edmund Hillary” on TV1 on Friday evening was watched with particular interest by a former R.N.Z.A.F. officer in Christchurch. In 1944 he had Sergeant Hillary on his navigation instruction course at Bell Block, New Plymouth. At the end of the course, each pupil had his results recorded and his abilities assessed on a card. In May, 1953 the then-retired officer, having one of those periodic domestic clean-outs at his home, found a heap of the assessment cards in his loft. They went on a bonfire. He had not heard of Hillary in the meantime, but recalls vividly looking at his course card before it went on to the flames. A week later he bitterly regretted its destruction, for Hillary was in the news, having just climbed Mount Everest. He wished he had kept the document as a joke against himself. For the last words he saw, before the card was consumed in the flames was the final assessment — “Simply a plodder”.

The "former R.N.Z.A.F. officer in Christchurch" was my late "Uncle Dick" (R.T.Brittenden). I recall him wryly relating this episode.
He served as a navigator in Coastal Command- the "Hudson" was his favourite - and earlier, took part in the first "thousand bomber raid".
He became the Senior Sports Editor at the "Christchurch Press" and wrote many(!) books on his passion: Cricket.

[Dave Homewood]

Great to know who it was, thanks Rob.