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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 22, 2010 22:53:15 GMT 12
In Colin Hanson's book By Such Deeds, he mentions that the New Zealand fighter ace Derrick Westenra "may have helped start the tradition of painting of 'shark's teeth'on 112 Sqn aircraft."
Does anyone have a photo of his P-40 with the sharks teeth?
He seems to have had an interesting career, flying Gladiators in the Greece campaign, Hurricanes in the Crete campaign, Tomahawks and Kittyhawks in Egypt and Libya, then Spitfires in Italy and Mustangs in Europe. Does anyone know if he was ever interviewed or wrote about his wartime experiences?
I'm also curious as to whether he was any relation to Hayley Westenra? A grandfather perhaps?
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Post by Andy Wright on Nov 22, 2010 23:08:50 GMT 12
Fascinating stuff, Dave. I've 'discovered', via another forum, a chap who flew 102 ops with Bomber Command. It never ends. While I have not heard of Westenra I would recommend asking Brian Cull (brian on RAF Commands) as he published his book Gladiator Ace about S/L 'Cherry' Vale DFC, AFC and may have come across your man in his research. This is interesting (sorry, I have no reference on my shelves re 112 other than Clive Caldwell books - need to rectify that) - raf-112-squadron.org/raf_112_squadron_photos_1941.html - while there does not appear to be a photo of 'his' aircraft, the comment about the artwork being quite consistent is good to note. Sorry, not much help. |
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Post by oggie2620 on Nov 22, 2010 23:29:48 GMT 12
Re photo have you tried the RAF Museum at Hendon or IWM? Glen got loads to pics when he visited both of 75 Sqn stuff so maybe they have 112 Sqn P40s as well.  |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 23, 2010 0:05:17 GMT 12
I have not tried anywhere Dee, I only read about it tonight. I'm not desperate for a photo, just interested, and thought someone here may know more and have researched it further. It's just idle curiosity.
By the way I have found the RAF Museum seldom bother to respond to queries sent from this side of the world.
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Post by angelsonefive on Nov 23, 2010 5:10:52 GMT 12
A biography of S/L Westenra DFC in the NZ Fighter Pilots Museum site: www.nzfpm.co.nz/article.asp?id=westenraGerry Westenra's career in the RAF was unusual in that he had been a member of that Service for about two years before actually setting foot in the UK. He went from NZ to Southern Africa to train as a pilot. From there to North Africa, Greece, Italy etc. In civvy street, post-war he was very active in establishing gliding in NZ. |
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Post by shamus on Nov 23, 2010 8:44:34 GMT 12
Dave, re your comment about the RAF Museum 'seldom' responding to queries from this side of the world. I have 'never' had a reply to many queries sent in the last two years.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 23, 2010 10:29:51 GMT 12
Actually Shamus, thinking about it, yes, I have never had a reply from them. They are not up to the excellent standard of our own RNZAF Museum.
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Post by smithy on Nov 23, 2010 21:49:03 GMT 12
Dave,
I've seen it mentioned in a few books that it may have been Westenra who started the 112 shark mouth thing, supposedly after seeing a photo in a magazine of a II/ZG76 Me110.
In terms of the RAF Museum, I received a very helpful and speedy reply from them awhile back in relation to a family member's service during WWII. I personally can't say a bad word about them in terms of my experiences with them.
Tim
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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 23, 2010 22:02:15 GMT 12
I guess looking into a service record of an individual who's details are handed to them is a simple task compared with perhaps more broad ranging queries. At least a simple reply saying they can't help would be something, being ignored is just plain rude.
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Post by smithy on Nov 23, 2010 22:22:13 GMT 12
I'll admit that is a bit on the nose.
Perhaps it's a case that they prioritise enquiries regarding family members?
On another note I've also found the AHB and the IWM to be very helpful and quick to respond as well.
Maybe I've been lucky!
Cheers,
Tim
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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 28, 2010 23:44:42 GMT 12
I just came across this article on Papers Past from the Evening Post dated 4th of January 1944 N.Z. AIRMEN UNUSUAL CAREER (Special P.A. Correspondent.) Rec. 10.30 a.m. LONDON, Jan.) A New Zealand fighter pilot with the unusual experience of being trained in Kenya and Irak and then participating in the campaigns in Greece, Crete, and the desert as well as m Tunis, Sicily, and Italy is Squadron Leader O. F. Westenra, D.F.C., of Dunsandel, Canterbury. He is now commanding a squadron of Spitfires near Naples. After his training, he joined a Gladiator squadron in Greece in January. 1941. He shot down a Macchi ' 200 while operating from an aerodrome in the Tepelini area. He served in Crete in Gladiators, shooting- down a Messerschmitt 110 shortly before the invasion. He next flew Tomahawks, shooting down a Macchi near Tobruk and two more near Gambut. Later he flew Kittyhawks in. General Auchinleck's campaign. For seven months Westenra tested Kittyhawks near Helwan while resting from operations, and then he joined a Spitfire squadron at El Agheila after the battle of M Alamein. He has since participated in. the campaigns in Tripoli, Tunisia, Sicily, and Italy. While providing cover for Kittyhawks bombing shipping at Cape Bon, he shot down a Mos.=orschmitt 109. Later he got a Junkers 87 near Augusta. Westenra was appointed squadron leader while in Sicily. He has recently been leading his squadron in sweeps over the Rome area, escorting the usual Mustang dive-bombing attacks on shipping-in the mouth of the Tiber. His lament is the same as that of other R.A.F. men—"the Germans just won't come up and fight at all these days." Flight Sergeant H. I. Herbert, of Morrinsville,- is in Westenra's squadron. Recently, in one of five Spitfires escorting fighter-bombers, "he saw two Messerschmitts trying to dive out of harm's way near Gaeta. He chased them for thirty miles, and then was able to get on the tail of one of them.. He saw chunks of the wing fly off, but unfortunately did not see the enemy crash. Herbert, who is 20 years ,^,-kQld, joined the squadron in Tunis in December, 1942, and is one of its . "oldest members." His flight commander during the Tunisian campaign was Flight Lieutenant D. J. V. Henry, D.F.C., of Invercargill. Herbert missed the Sicilian campaign owing to malaria, but returned in time to take part in the Salerno operations. Flight Sergeant H. L. Tambour, of Waimauku. is. also in the squadron, which he joined last July. He operated in Sicily and with other members of the squadron carried out many patrols over the front line in the Volturno area. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=EP19440104.2.12&srpos=19&e=-01-1943--12-1945--10--11-byDA---0italy+new+zealand+pilot-- |
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Post by kb on Aug 24, 2011 20:05:38 GMT 12
I have just found a photo of Derrick Westenra's Mustang III in Squadron's P-51 Mustang in Color. YT-J but I can't read the serial.
His aircraft would make a great modelling subject. Presumably Tiger Moth and Harvard followed by his combat aircraft.
Does anyone have an idea why he spent so long as a Squadron Leader?
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Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 24, 2011 20:14:22 GMT 12
I agree that his various aircraft would make a great subject for a model project. You'd need to find his logbook to get some serials.
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Post by Andy Wright on Aug 24, 2011 22:04:56 GMT 12
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Post by errolmartyn on Aug 24, 2011 22:37:18 GMT 12
The website is in error regarding which service Westenra was a member of in 1940 - it was not the RNZAF. Westenra began his flying career as a member of the Kenya Auxiliary Air Unit c.1939 to 15 Feb 1940 Then as a member of the RAF 16 Feb 1940 to 31 Dec 1943 (as 89782) And finally the RNZAF 1 Jan 1944 to 26 Jun 1945 (as NZ2374). Errol |
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Post by Andy Wright on Aug 24, 2011 23:37:05 GMT 12
I thought it was a bit screwy having just read the thread again but got distracted by the Nicky Barr details further down. Seemed a little out of place.
Hope the post-war life is more accurate as it was quite a life!
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