Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 10, 2022 14:18:22 GMT 12
I came across this item in The Press dated 26th of July 1961. I figure that if he had a new career teaching at Yale he would also have done a lot of writing for his occupation and so possibly also for his own interest, and I wonder if he perhaps ever wrote about his own experiences in the RNZAF flying P-40's, Corsairs and Vampires. Has anything come across anything written by him about his Air Force days?
Did he stay in the USA for the rest of his life? He is not listed on the NZ Death Register so he either died overseas or is still living, aged 99. I'd love to get a copy of his Flying Logbooks.
FELLOWSHIP AT YALE
Officer Commanding Whenuapai
"The Press” Special Service AUCKLAND, July 25.
Wing Commander R. C. C. Nairn, officer commanding the Command and Staff School, Royal New Zealand Air Force station, Whenuapai, is resigning his commission to take up permanent residence in the United States. He has secured a fellowship at Yale University where he will specialise in Asian affairs. Joining the Air Force in 1942, Wing Commander Nairn had three tours of duty as a fighter pilot in the Pacific and was credited with destroying three Japanese aircraft. He served in Japan during the occupation. He was a flight commander in the No. 14 (Fighter) Squadron, the first to be equipped with Vampire jets. In 1953 Wing Commander Nairn went to the Royal Australian Air Force Staff College. For three years he was a planning officer at the South-east Asia Treaty Organisation’s permanent military planning office at Bangkok. He took up his present post in April, 1960.
Did he stay in the USA for the rest of his life? He is not listed on the NZ Death Register so he either died overseas or is still living, aged 99. I'd love to get a copy of his Flying Logbooks.
FELLOWSHIP AT YALE
Officer Commanding Whenuapai
"The Press” Special Service AUCKLAND, July 25.
Wing Commander R. C. C. Nairn, officer commanding the Command and Staff School, Royal New Zealand Air Force station, Whenuapai, is resigning his commission to take up permanent residence in the United States. He has secured a fellowship at Yale University where he will specialise in Asian affairs. Joining the Air Force in 1942, Wing Commander Nairn had three tours of duty as a fighter pilot in the Pacific and was credited with destroying three Japanese aircraft. He served in Japan during the occupation. He was a flight commander in the No. 14 (Fighter) Squadron, the first to be equipped with Vampire jets. In 1953 Wing Commander Nairn went to the Royal Australian Air Force Staff College. For three years he was a planning officer at the South-east Asia Treaty Organisation’s permanent military planning office at Bangkok. He took up his present post in April, 1960.
