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Post by hairy on Jan 12, 2008 18:53:14 GMT 12
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Post by beagle on Jan 12, 2008 20:58:18 GMT 12
Pretty sure I saw on tv last night, it was saying he was a navigator in the air force. am I right or wrong
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Post by Naki on Jan 12, 2008 21:14:20 GMT 12
He was a Navigator in a Catalina
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Post by turboNZ on Jan 12, 2008 23:22:40 GMT 12
If anyone knew how to navigate, he did.
RIP Sir Ed.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 13, 2008 10:47:37 GMT 12
Yes, a No. 5 Squadron member, he was also the Patron of the No. 5 Squadron Association till his death.
He statred the war as a conscientous objector but changed his views when the Japs looked set to invade. It was while he was training at Woodbourne (or Omaka perhaps) that he discovered mountaineering.
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Post by John L on Jan 14, 2008 17:04:45 GMT 12
He statred the war as a conscientous objector but changed his views when the Japs looked set to invade. . His family were, what you would currently call "alternative lifestylers". Ed was trying to get out from under his fathers strict influence and was going to join up at the beggining of the war. The war coming to the Pacific, firmed his opinions and he then joined up, with his mountaineering developing from there on.. His brother Rex, spent the war as a C.O. The Hillary family were very strong principled! |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 15, 2008 10:16:36 GMT 12
Thanks for that info Jon.
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Post by John L on Jan 15, 2008 17:21:38 GMT 12
Ed was the last of Mums generation in the family. That means me and those of my generation are now the "oldtimers"
My - how time flies...........
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 16, 2008 14:10:04 GMT 12
You were related to him?
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Post by vs on Jan 16, 2008 15:50:28 GMT 12
they are busy looking at different ways to remember him....how about this as one......Paint the RNZAF museums PBY in his aeroplanes paint scheme...I am not to sure wether they flew mainly on individual aeroplanes or their own crews aeroplane? Anyway,he would easily be the most famous PBY flight crew member!......just a thought!
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 16, 2008 15:59:23 GMT 12
That's not a bad idea VS, and maybe the Government and Hillary Commission could chip in to finish the restoration.
That's a good point regarding individual aircraft assigned to crews, I'm not sure. I've never seen Servicing Units attached to Catalina squadrons like with the bombers and fighters so maybe they did keep the same aircraft? I know the 5 Sqn Singapore crews generally did.
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Post by John L on Jan 17, 2008 16:52:38 GMT 12
His mothers father, was my great grandfather, of whom I'm an almost spitting image! - 2nd cousins. He took after his mothers side of the family, looking the same as I recall one of my great aunts looking when she was his age..........  |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 18, 2008 11:35:53 GMT 12
Cheers Jon.
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, nice gesture guys. 
, nice gesture guys. 
