Race Relations in the wartime Pacific

[Dave Homewood]

Something I have been thinkign about lately is the kiwis and the Americans side-by-side in the Pacific.

The US military was racist in WWII and was very prejudiced against their own black soldiers. They gave them only the dirty jobs and largely segregated them form the whites.

I've talked with several kiwi veterans who have mentioned how they made friends with the black US troops at places like Guadalcanal and Bougainville. They were given roles such as manning searchlights and anti-aircraft batteries, or driving trucks and working in the mess halls. The kiwis who were mostly white had no problems mixing with the black Americans and many made good freinds among them it seems.

I have wondered how the white Americans felt about the white kiwis mixing with black troops.

I have also wondered what reaction white American troops had to Maori airmen, as there were a good number of such in the various RNZAF units. How did the Americans react to the whites and Maoris all mixing together as one both at work and after hours?

And how did the white Americans treat the Maori airmen? Did they treat them as equals or the same way they treated their own dark skinned troops

There were fights and even riots over race lines in NZ when Yanks tried to mistreat Maori, so I wonder how it was in the Paciifc. Has anyone ever looked into this aspect of the RNZAF history? Were there any nasty incidents?

PS- I don't mean that all white Americans were racist by the way, but the system they worked under clearly was.

[Luther Moore]

This is something that I have been thinking also.I'm suprised that they let Maori Servicemen fly but it looks like New Zealanders have a much more excepting nature than the Southern Rednecks that started the fights(probably still mad from the Civil War).There are a few stories of Australian soldiers brawling with the Yanks over here too.I know Uncle Peter had Maori in him but he has taken a few photos of USAAF planes with what it looks to be American Pilots, if he was sore at them or they gave him trouble I doubt he would want to take photos of their planes,or maybe he just liked their planes,i'm not sure.If there was a time and place for trouble it would of been when the RNZAF went to America to train,it's in the logbook but not 100%they did train there or maybe just passing through? The fight was started by Southerners so i'm not suprised.It also was a very racist time back then.

It must of looked like the scene from the movie 1941.

QAustralian troops resent the fact that the
Americans are better dressed, more affluent, and
by reason of their manners, appearance, etc. seem to
have taken over a fair share of the Australian
womanhood … However, I will say that friction among
the troops of the two countries … is most evident in
large communities far from the smell of cordite—once
the scene of battle is reached, the two bodies of troops
get along exceedingly well.
An American war correspondent in J.H. Moore.

[Dave Homewood]

Why are you "suprised that they let Maori Servicemen fly"? They were just as capable as anyone else if they met the standards for aircrew. Some of them did very well indeed, such as ace Bert Wipiti.

[Luther Moore]

I dont doubt their ability to fly but I thought there would of been some sort of racism back in the old days against Maoris flying but I guess there wasn't, my Uncle is an example.

[John L]

I can recall Dad saying that, when it came to unloading 44 gal drums of petrol off trucks, the white G.I.s had proper fabricated unloading ramps, the blacks normally had a couple of planks, whereas the Kiwis usually had a couple of branches cut from the bush, if they couldn't get hold of (liberate) some planks........