My Pacific Star

[clint]

Has anyone read "My Pacific Star" by Harry Dean DFC? I found it randomly while shopping on my Kindle and its a great read.

Dean served as a WOP/AG with 2 Squadron RNZAF throughout most of the war.

www.amazon.co.uk/My-Pacific-Star-Harry-Dean-ebook/dp/B01M8MTXCL/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1495592667&sr=8-1&keywords=my+pacific+star

[Dave Homewood]

Wow, great find. I'd not heard of this. I wonder if he's still around today.

[clint]

Sadly he died in 1976. It appears that he wrote the book shortly after the end of the war and his family have recently put it into print. He was an early volunteer at the outbreak of war and flew in Vildebeestes, Hudsons, Venturas (Where he was Signals Leader) and a short stint in Dakotas. Highly recommended.

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks Clint, yes I have come across him in my research in the past. Interesting that the family has published it bow, good on them.

[davidd]

"Pacific Star" was also the title of Phillip Wilson's novel of flying PV-1s with the RNZAF in the Pacific during WW2, and first published (hardback) in 1976. It was later marketed under the title "Kiwi Strike" as a paperback from 1977. The narrator of this novel was cast as a navigator, but Phillip (actually John Phillip Wilson) completed at least two operational tours in the Pacific with 3 and 9 Squadrons as a pilot. There are not many fictional accounts of RNZAF aircrew operating twin-engine aircraft in the Pacific theatre, and even fewer autobiographies.
David D

[Dave Homewood]

Yes that's a great book, David. Another fictional book written about an RNZAF Ventura crew by an author who served in them himself is Errol Brathwaite's first book 'Fear In The Night' which was followed up by 'A Affair of Men' which saw the same story from the Japanese angle.

[davidd]

In connection with the above reference to Phillip Wilson's book, I had a quick re-read of some parts at random, and came across the following passage in chapter 9 (pages 62/63). This passage detailed operations from Funafuti in early 1945, which consisted almost entirely of locating and identifying American ships traversing the vastness of the Central Pacific, "to join General MacArthur's forces in the Philippines. All you have to do is pinpoint them and identify each ship by its code number". (Remember, this is a NOVEL! But much informed by the author's own experiences.)

"It's like this", the intelligence officer said. "These ships have to stay on radio silence from the time the leave the coast of California, in case they're attacked by enemy submarines. But General MacArthur wants to know how they're going, so he can work out when they're likely to arrive. Another thing, for every ship you guys pinpoint, the United States Government pays the New Zealand Government five hundred dollars. Not much, for the work involved, but it's a nominal search fee."
"I'm glad somebody's getting paid for something in this war", I said.

Well, this is the first I have ever heard of such an arrangement, and quite frankly, I am doubtful that the "search fee" story has much credence, but I would be delighted to be proved wrong. However, there were probably occasions when crews participating in these operations must have grumbled that they wished THEY could be paid such a fee for every American ship located. To look at the big picture, our Venturas (and Catalinas, as well as all other types flying under American command) were provided (at no initial cost) under lend-lease arrangements, the NZ Govt did not pay for the fuel, lubricants, ordnance, ammunition, etc, consumed, nor did it pay for use of American aerodromes or facilities, as this was part of the whole deal. Nor did the American govt pay for the use of NZ-built aerodromes used by their aircraft. Also important to acknowledge that the major aerodrome at Nadi (Fiji) was built at American expense. And so far as I know, the New Zealand govt did not pay for the loan of American equipment issued to the RNZAF in the forward area (marine craft, vehicles, electricity, food, and all camp services, as well as all parachutes, and much (but not all) of the flying and other work clothing used by units in the forward areas. The only acknowledged "fees" that I know of that New Zealand was a party to was as a result of the Naval "prize money" system which had been started by the Royal Navy eons ago, and which was still administered by the UK government. The New Zealand govt was awarded a certain amount of this "prize money" on behalf on the activities of NZ Article XV squadrons in the European theatre (although I am not certain of the exact details of this, as many of the crews in these units were NOT members of the RNZAF, or even New Zealanders). However records were maintained during the war in the UK, and a sum was credited to New Zealand postwar; it is highly probable that prize money was awarded, not for ships sunk, but those which were captured under various circumstances. Perhaps I had better google "Naval Prize money".
David D

[Dave Homewood]

Hmm, interesting there David. I have certainly never heard of the US paying a fee for successful searches. As you say they were already paying for practically everything involved in those searches. But more importantly RNZAF reconnaissance bombers (Hudsons, Venturas, Catalinas,Singapores, Vildebeests, Vincents, Express and Rapides) were conducting searches every day from Pacific islands and New Zealand bases to keep track of the Allied shipping. Every day there would have been perhaps dozens of contacts with convoys in the waters around New Zealand, Fiji, Espiritu Santo, New Caledonia, Guadalcanal, Bougainville, and beyond. The monthly bill would have soon racked up. I think this has to be a case of novelist's licence?

[davidd]

As you can see, I do have my doubts, but hey! For something REALLY interesting Google Naval Prize money or similar, a remarkable history of outrageous behaviour, used to stimulate captains to attack anything which could be construed as a vessel with sympathies for your enemies. You can also find references to how the RAF got roped into a similar system, although this also dated back to the RNAS of earlier years.
David D