|
Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 25, 2018 13:08:16 GMT 12
Has anyone ever compiled a full list of the New Zealanders who served operationally in defence of Britain, during the period of the Battle of Britain (July-Sept 1940) but in other Commands - particularly RAF Bomber Command and RAF Coastal Command, and possibly also with the Fleet Air Arm?
These airmen were doing important work attacking invasion barges, ships, ports and supply lines, etc, but they are not among the 136 New Zealand airmen who received a Battle of Britain Clasp after the battle was over, so don't seem to be regarded as part of The Few. There were more then 600 Kiwis in the RAF just before WWII began, and many more hundreds were attached to the RAF between Sept 1939 and Sept 1940, so logic tells me there were probably at least a hundred in front line roles in the bombers and coastal aircraft putting their lives on the line too whilst the fighter pilots were getting all the glory. It would be nice to know the total number of Kiwis who actually flew operationally during that period.
|
|
|
Post by ErrolC on Sept 25, 2018 16:29:29 GMT 12
It's amazing how non-Fighter Command aircrew were 'written out' of The Few when reading the speech makes it clear that they are included.
|
|
|
Post by errolmartyn on Sept 25, 2018 19:52:21 GMT 12
Has anyone ever compiled a full list of the New Zealanders who served operationally in defence of Britain, during the period of the Battle of Britain (July-Sept 1940) but in other Commands - particularly RAF Bomber Command and RAF Coastal Command, and possibly also with the Fleet Air Arm? These airmen were doing important work attacking invasion barges, ships, ports and supply lines, etc, but they are not among the 136 New Zealand airmen who received a Battle of Britain Clasp after the battle was over, so don't seem to be regarded as part of The Few. There were more then 600 Kiwis in the RAF just before WWII began, and many more hundreds were attached to the RAF between Sept 1939 and Sept 1940, so logic tells me there were probably at least a hundred in front line roles in the bombers and coastal aircraft putting their lives on the line too whilst the fighter pilots were getting all the glory. It would be nice to know the total number of Kiwis who actually flew operationally during that period. That would be quite a time consuming task. Perhaps more important would be a similar exercise covering those who fought in the Battle of France, a debacle that could have turned out much differently, avoiding the need for a BoB at all, had the RAF not so quickly forgotten the lessons of how the First World War was finally won. Errol
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 25, 2018 20:50:55 GMT 12
Yes you're right Errol, I am sure it would be a huge task. And I agree we need a list of the Kiwis who fought in the air in the Battle of France. I have started a new thread on that, and people can add names there as they find them. rnzaf.proboards.com/thread/27137/zealand-airmen-fought-battle-franceAnd people can add names here on the original topic too when they are found.
|
|