Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 16, 2007 22:10:05 GMT 12
I picked up a book a few days ago called "Mates and Mayhem - World War II: Frontline Kiwis Remember."
The book is a compilation of first hand accounts by NZ WWII veterans tellign their stories in their own words, and it was compiled by Lawrence Watt in 1996.
I'd never heard of it before this. It covers two airmen, a bomber pilot called Ron Stewart, and the much more well known Geoff Fiskin, fighter ace. It is fascinating to read his own words.
It made me wonder, has he ever written about or told his experiences elsewhere? I know he was interviewed by Mary Lambie for the 1995 epic documentary series New Zealanders At War but like all the interviews only clips were used, and that he wrote the foreword in Chris Rudge's book 'Air to Air'.
But has Mr Fisken ever written his memoirs or shared his first hand experiences in other books? I expect he must have been interviewed for Buffaloes Over Singapore but I've never seen that book physically.
He is a person who seems to be universally known for his service in the Pacific by RNZAF historians, modellers and enthusiasts. I'm certain a book by him would be a best seller.
On another note, I'd also love to see TVNZ release the full versions of the interviews on DVD that Lambie did with the many veterans she interviewed. Some of the most well known and amazing pilots were involved, Geoff Fisken, Colin Gray, Des Scott, Johnny Houlton, John Hutchenson, Al Deere (from memory) and many more took part. Not to mention the soldiers and sailors. I'm sure the full transcripts will be in the archives.
The book is a compilation of first hand accounts by NZ WWII veterans tellign their stories in their own words, and it was compiled by Lawrence Watt in 1996.
I'd never heard of it before this. It covers two airmen, a bomber pilot called Ron Stewart, and the much more well known Geoff Fiskin, fighter ace. It is fascinating to read his own words.
It made me wonder, has he ever written about or told his experiences elsewhere? I know he was interviewed by Mary Lambie for the 1995 epic documentary series New Zealanders At War but like all the interviews only clips were used, and that he wrote the foreword in Chris Rudge's book 'Air to Air'.
But has Mr Fisken ever written his memoirs or shared his first hand experiences in other books? I expect he must have been interviewed for Buffaloes Over Singapore but I've never seen that book physically.
He is a person who seems to be universally known for his service in the Pacific by RNZAF historians, modellers and enthusiasts. I'm certain a book by him would be a best seller.
On another note, I'd also love to see TVNZ release the full versions of the interviews on DVD that Lambie did with the many veterans she interviewed. Some of the most well known and amazing pilots were involved, Geoff Fisken, Colin Gray, Des Scott, Johnny Houlton, John Hutchenson, Al Deere (from memory) and many more took part. Not to mention the soldiers and sailors. I'm sure the full transcripts will be in the archives.
