New Zealanders at Pearl Harbor During The Attack?

[Dave Homewood]

I have been wondering if there were any Kiwis present when the Japanese attacked Hawaii on the 7th of December 1941.

I know that a bunch of RNZAF trainees went through Hawaii on the way to Canada just weeks or days before the attack, one of them was my old friend Gordon Easter. He said they got a tour of the Air Force base while their ship refuelled, and all the Kiwis were surprised how close together all the aeroplanes were parked, and they thought it pretty lax even for a neutral country since the Japanese had been threatening war for ages. But they moved on to Canada before the attack occurred.

I did a search of Papers Past and found only this from the GISBORNE HERALD, dated 16 December 1941:

Cable advice has been received by Mr. C. E. Brown, Gisborne, of the safety of his three sisters, Mesdames Robert Chase, C. S. Jackson and Jas. Crozier, who reside in the Hawaiian group. Mesdames Chase and Jackson live at Pearl Harbour, the American naval station which suffered heavy bombing last week, and Mrs. Crozier is at Honolulu.

I am not sure if the ladies were all Kiwis, or was Mr C. E. Brown a Hawaiian/American living in New Zealand?

[errolmartyn]

Dec 9, 2020 18:20:49 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

I have been wondering if there were any Kiwis present when the Japanese attacked Hawaii on the 7th of December 1941.

I know that a bunch of RNZAF trainees went through Hawaii on the way to Canada just weeks or days before the attack, one of them was my old friend Gordon Easter. He said they got a tour of the Air Force base while their ship refuelled, and all the Kiwis were surprised how close together all the aeroplanes were parked, and they thought it pretty lax even for a neutral country since the Japanese had been threatening war for ages. But they moved on to Canada before the attack occurred.

I did a search of Papers Past and found only this from the GISBORNE HERALD, dated 16 December 1941:

Cable advice has been received by Mr. C. E. Brown, Gisborne, of the safety of his three sisters, Mesdames Robert Chase, C. S. Jackson and Jas. Crozier, who reside in the Hawaiian group. Mesdames Chase and Jackson live at Pearl Harbour, the American naval station which suffered heavy bombing last week, and Mrs. Crozier is at Honolulu.

I am not sure if the ladies were all Kiwis, or was Mr C. E. Brown a Hawaiian/American living in New Zealand?

Gordon Easter sailed from Auckland to San Francisco on the Mariposa 20 Oct - 4 Nov. Airmen were also on board the Stirling Castle from Auckland to Liverpool via the Panama Canal 25 OCt - 28 Nov 41, and on the Ceramic from Wellington to Liverpool via the Panama Canal 27 Oct 20 Dec 41, and on the Wairangi from Auckland to Liverpool via the Panama Canal 7 Nov - 11 Dec 41. It is unlikely that any of the UK-bound ships called in at Honolulu.

The next sailing of airmen from New Zealand was on the Monterey from Auckland to San Francisco 17 Nov – 1 Dec 41. My uncle Fred was on board as one of the pilot u/t group for training in Canada. Shortly after arrival in Canada he began a diary, in which he also recorded a brief account, presumably from memory, of his journey from New Zealand. Regarding the Monterey’s transit of Honolulu, he wrote:

In Honolulu on approx. November 26th and had marvellous trip and half day’s shore leave, had swim in Waikiki beach, hottest day of our whole trip. American Red Cross women gave us a marvellous time, travelled over almost the entire island in lovely new American Lincoln-Zephyr latest model, first time driven on right hand side of road. Had free lunch, got some souvenirs and had my photo taken with a real Hula girl. Heard real Hawaiian dance band, took some good photos. Jim got very pickled on good whiskey, nearly missed boat. Got a marvellous farewell to the most beautiful of islands. Waiters also very pickled at dinner on boat, only half could carry their trays.
Visited Hickham [sic] Field and Pearl Harbor at Honolulu, saw over Flying Fortresses and Tomahawk fighters. Great number of American warships in harbor make [for] perfect shooting, Sugar and pineapple plantations. Most modern highways. Got great shoot up on arrival at [illeg] morning by every kind of plane.

The next ship to sail across the Pacific from New Zealand with aircrew was the Rangitiki but this did not depart Auckland until 13 December 1941 and almost certainly would not have called in at Honolulu.

Errol

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks Errol. So Gordon was there about a month before. That sounds right. It's great to see your uncle's diary notes and interesting to read that he had the same thoughts about all the warships making good targets for shooting as Gordon had about the aeroplanes.

[Dave Homewood]

I just learned that the New Zealand doctor, military leader, health administrator, politician, anthropologist and museum director, Dr Peter Buck, was at the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor the Director of the Bishop Museum in Hawaii. He lived in Hawaii from 1927 till his death in 1951. The Bishop Museum is just six miles from Pearl Harbor. So there is a very good chance he might have seen some of the attack and certainly the aftermath.