Surviving veteran fighter pilots

[mre]

Hello,

I am conducting research in the lead up to writing a novel about New Zealand fighter pilots in WW2 and was wondering if and/or where I would be able to find any living veterans of one of the RNZAF fighter squadrons who would be willing to share their experiences. My book will largely focus on Kiwis serving in the European Theatre, so veteran pilots from one of the squadrons that were based there (i.e. No.485 or No.486) would be preferable, but survivors from any NZ fighter squadron based in Europe or the Pacific would be appreciated. 

With the number of WW2 veterans dwindling every year, time is of the essence, and I have already missed out on what would have been a wonderful opportunity with one such veteran who sadly passed away last year. If anyone can give me guidance as to how or where to locate at least one veteran fighter pilot who retains a good memory, I would be very grateful.

Thanks

[Dave Homewood]

Can you please explain what it is you are planning? You say a 'novel' so is this to be a fictional book?

I and several people here know some veteran WWII fighter pilots, some of whom flew in Europe and some in the Pacific. But some of these veterans have already written their own autobiographies, and some are also currently tied up helping a couple of other authors with book projects. As they're well into their 90's we like to be a bit protective of them and try not to swamp these gents, so if we could get to know a little bit more about your intentions and your background, it would be appreciated.

[Dave Homewood]

Are you based in New Zealand?

[corsair5517]

I would have thought that there is a wealth of information out there about NZ pilot experiences in the ETO during WW2 without having to go to what seems to be an extraordinary amount of trouble to gather yet more of the same!!
Consider this: the NZ experience in Europe 1939-1945 wasn't that different to anyone elses and there are hundreds of books written by people who were there, at the the time.
I would point you towards books by Bob Spurdle, Johnny Checketts, Vincent Orange, Leslie White and others for the NZ angle....

[mre]

Here is a reply to both of you, I am writing a novel which is a work of fiction, however, it is "historical fiction" with emphasis on the historical. I don't intend on making things up out of thin air, this book is very much grounded in reality and will be very heavily based on the type of operations that whichever squadron I happen to choose took part in (and it will be a real squadron). I will even include the actual aerodromes on which the pilots were stationed with as much detail as possible. The two main characters are fictional people, as are a few of their friends, relatives, and comrades, however they will be interacting with real people, events and operations in real places, as has been done in a number of films. An example of this is the 1969 film The Battle of Britain, which had fictional characters placed in real events, but also had composite characters who were based on one or more individuals who actually existed (other films that did this were Memphis Belle, The Great Escape and I believe also the miniseries Band of Brothers). I will probably include real people in the story if they are particularly notable, however, because I didn't know these real people, they will just pass through without being major or side characters in the story. I am taking great lengths to be respectful and to not portray real men in the wrong way, regardless of whether they are alive or dead. If I happen to know a lot about a real individual and what they were like as a person, then I will include them in the story, but only if I can make an accurate portrayal, and even then they will not be main characters as this is still a work of fiction. I would also be open to heavily basing fictional characters on real people to include them more in the story, but I would be reluctant to do this, as I feel it would be erasing them from history and removing the role they actually played. This is why I find the war genre particularly difficult to write and I do have to make some tough decisions which can stifle creativity, but as I said, this is to show respect and make things historically accurate. This book is one of several I am working on that are of different genres, but this could very well be the first one I publish, and if anything, is a top priority. I have had plenty of practice in fictional writing, so I should be able to do a respectable job of this book.

I don't wish to be a burden to any remaining veterans, and I will probably not ask them anything that cannot be found in a book, i.e. details of aerial combat. I also do not wish to force them into recalling any unfortunate memories they would rather forget, most of what I need to know is what life was like in a New Zealand squadron, what sort of protocols and procedures they followed and any other details that books do not highlight. All I intend to do is to give an accurate and respectful representation of Kiwi fighter pilots in WW2.

I have been very fortunate to have spoken to someone just last night, who recommended several books to me by men such as Bob Spurdle, Jim Sheddon, and others. To say he has a wealth of knowledge would be something of an understatement, I was absolutely amazed by how much he knew. What's more, he personally knows two or three veteran fighter pilots who I may be lucky enough to contact (as well as a few of their deceased comrades), but if anyone else on this forum happens to know of any others who can be contacted, I would be very grateful.

And yes, I am based in New Zealand.

Thanks

MrE