Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 25, 2009 21:52:03 GMT 12
Over this weekend I have had the extreme privilege to be a guest at the Bayview Wairakei Resort near Taupo where a reunion, perhaps the last, of the New Zealand Fleet Air Arm Association took place. And a major feature of the reunion was the launch of a superb new book called Flying Navy - New Zealanders who Flew in the Fleet Air Arm.
The book has been compiled and written by former WWII FAA pilot David Allison, and published by the Fleet Air Arm Museum, who are based at MOTAT in Auckland. The main drive behind getting it published has been my friend Ray Richards, who is also a former WWII FAA Corsair pilot and combat veteran.
Ray gave a very stirring speech at the launch dinner last night about the New Zealanders who flew and fought in the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy in World War Two. This book in fact covers New Zealanders who served in the FAA from 1916 to 1957, and it gives biographical detail about all 179 airmen aircrew members from New Zealand who lost their lives in the war in WWII.
I have seen the book and have to say at first glance it looks like a magnificent effort. It has some great photos and as David Allison was a founding member of and driving force behind the Fleet Air Arm Museum, I'm sure that the text will be a very historic, accurate and interesting story of this almost unknown group of men.
Sadly David himself was unable to attend the book launch, due to medical problems earlier this week forcing him to end up in hospital for observation and testing. I'm sure it must have been a huge blow for him after the reunion was put together to launch his book, and veterans of the FAA and their families came from all over New Zealand, for him not to be able to make it. However, at shot notice, David's daughter Robin and son Everard stepped into the breech and both gave nice speeches on their father's behalf.
The book is around 300 pages, illustrated, very nicely presented.
Ray says they have printed just 1400 copies, and it is selling steadily to veterans and their families, but I promised to give it some publicity here to get it to a wider audience. The price was I believe $50.00, which looking at it is a very good price. It will take a lot of sales for the men behind this book to break even and then any profits after that will go back into the museum, so if you can, please support them.
Books on the New Zealanders in the Fleet Air Arm are very rare and I'm certain this one will become a sought after collectable in years to come. The book will be available from the New Zealand Fleet Air Arm Museum, and probably other outlets. I suggest for the time being till I get an official contact address you can enquire about the book directly to Ray Richards on rla.richards@clear.net.nz
By the way the painting on the cover may look familiar, it's one of the FAA Museum's murals at MOTAT. The painting depicts an Avenger setting off for the second Palembang raid. The pilot, New Zealander Bernie Fitzgerald, is now dead but his widow Hazel was at the reunion, and the Radio Gunner as the FAA called them was Sid Vincent, whom I was pleased to meet at the reunion. He was British but now lives in Auckland.
The book has been compiled and written by former WWII FAA pilot David Allison, and published by the Fleet Air Arm Museum, who are based at MOTAT in Auckland. The main drive behind getting it published has been my friend Ray Richards, who is also a former WWII FAA Corsair pilot and combat veteran.
Ray gave a very stirring speech at the launch dinner last night about the New Zealanders who flew and fought in the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy in World War Two. This book in fact covers New Zealanders who served in the FAA from 1916 to 1957, and it gives biographical detail about all 179 airmen aircrew members from New Zealand who lost their lives in the war in WWII.
I have seen the book and have to say at first glance it looks like a magnificent effort. It has some great photos and as David Allison was a founding member of and driving force behind the Fleet Air Arm Museum, I'm sure that the text will be a very historic, accurate and interesting story of this almost unknown group of men.
Sadly David himself was unable to attend the book launch, due to medical problems earlier this week forcing him to end up in hospital for observation and testing. I'm sure it must have been a huge blow for him after the reunion was put together to launch his book, and veterans of the FAA and their families came from all over New Zealand, for him not to be able to make it. However, at shot notice, David's daughter Robin and son Everard stepped into the breech and both gave nice speeches on their father's behalf.
The book is around 300 pages, illustrated, very nicely presented.
Ray says they have printed just 1400 copies, and it is selling steadily to veterans and their families, but I promised to give it some publicity here to get it to a wider audience. The price was I believe $50.00, which looking at it is a very good price. It will take a lot of sales for the men behind this book to break even and then any profits after that will go back into the museum, so if you can, please support them.
Books on the New Zealanders in the Fleet Air Arm are very rare and I'm certain this one will become a sought after collectable in years to come. The book will be available from the New Zealand Fleet Air Arm Museum, and probably other outlets. I suggest for the time being till I get an official contact address you can enquire about the book directly to Ray Richards on rla.richards@clear.net.nz
By the way the painting on the cover may look familiar, it's one of the FAA Museum's murals at MOTAT. The painting depicts an Avenger setting off for the second Palembang raid. The pilot, New Zealander Bernie Fitzgerald, is now dead but his widow Hazel was at the reunion, and the Radio Gunner as the FAA called them was Sid Vincent, whom I was pleased to meet at the reunion. He was British but now lives in Auckland.
