|
|
Post by flyinghilly on Jun 14, 2022 11:00:28 GMT 12
Lew Day was a personality around ardmore for many years during the 60s and 70s. He was partly responsible for setting up Waitemata Flying School.
Lew few in the RAF and won the DFC for his efforts flying Sunderlands in the Mayalan crisis in the 1960s
After he retired he and his wife Doreen lived in the Met Life Care ment Village in Takanini and I know he was there in 2018 when he was 94 - I don't think he is alive now and if he was he would be 98.
Does any one know if he has family still alive anywhere.
I recently stumbled on his DFC for sale internationally - its odd that its just the DFC and no other campaign medals etc. or log books
Perhaps its been lost from the family and they might like to know its where abouts
|
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 14, 2022 13:34:58 GMT 12
|
|
|
|
Post by planewriting on Jun 14, 2022 14:50:50 GMT 12
I wasn't aware he was a Sunderland pilot. The club he was involved with was the Waitemata Aero Club ( not Flying School). I think too he was the resident pilot for New Zealand Forest Products. If my memory serves me right he was often flying for NZFP between Ardmore and Kawerau.
|
|
|
|
Post by pjw4118 on Jun 14, 2022 16:00:54 GMT 12
I spent some time with Lew in late 2018 , he was in fine form .
As well as a DFC he was awarded a NZ Order of Merit.. He entered the RNZAF at ITW Levin in March 1943. After pilot training in Canada he flew Sundelands with 230 sq ( August 1944) , Lancasters ( Oct 48 3236 OTU ) and back on Sunderlands in Jan 49.
I have a copy of his wartime log and a few Sunderland pictures copied from his album if anybody is interested.
|
|
|
|
Post by Peter Lewis on Jun 14, 2022 22:31:39 GMT 12
I met him at an Auckland Aero Club AGM just a couple of years ago.
|
|
|
|
Post by flyinghilly on Jun 16, 2022 16:28:13 GMT 12
I tracked him down and he is still in reasonable shape at the age of 99. There cant be many old WW2 left these days. Im going to seext week and I will report back to any people intereste
|
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 16, 2022 16:47:14 GMT 12
You're right, the WWII generation is shrinking very fast. I'd be interested in knowing if he'd be up to doing an interview with me at some point, if his memory is still good.
|
|
|
|
Post by errolmartyn on Jun 16, 2022 18:38:01 GMT 12
You're right, the WWII generation is shrinking very fast. I'd be interested in knowing if he'd be up to doing an interview with me at some point, if his memory is still good. On the subject of memory, I'm reminded of the story about British PM Margaret Thatcher who was visiting an old folks home. Approaching one of the elderly residents she asked (presumably loudly!) "Do you know who I am?" To which said resident responded "No, but if you ask at the office I'm sure they will be able to help you." Cheers, Errol |
|
|
|
Post by errolmartyn on Jun 16, 2022 18:40:07 GMT 12
You're right, the WWII generation is shrinking very fast. I'd be interested in knowing if he'd be up to doing an interview with me at some point, if his memory is still good. On the subject of memory, I'm reminded of the story about British PM Margaret Thatcher who was visiting an old folks home. Approaching one of the elderly residents she asked (presumably loudly!) "Do you know who I am?" To which said resident helpfully responded "No, but if you ask at the office I'm sure they will be able to assist you." Cheers, Errol |
|
tifosi
Leading Aircraftman
Posts: 2
|
Post by tifosi on Feb 18, 2023 16:12:00 GMT 12
Lew (my dad) is well and currently living in Taradale, Napier. He is 99, and he and wife Doreen had their 75th wedding anniversary last May. Let me know if you want chis contact details.
|
|
|
|
Post by planewriting on Feb 18, 2023 21:01:50 GMT 12
I met Lew on occasion at Ardmore through an acquaintance (Barrie Hepburn). Good memories of Lew. Well done on the 75th wedding anniversary. A rare feat.
|
|
|
|
Post by planewriting on Feb 18, 2023 21:05:12 GMT 12
I spent some time with Lew in late 2018 , he was in fine form . As well as a DFC he was awarded a NZ Order of Merit.. He entered the RNZAF at ITW Levin in March 1943. After pilot training in Canada he flew Sundelands with 230 sq ( August 1944) , Lancasters ( Oct 48 3236 OTU ) and back on Sunderlands in Jan 49. I have a copy of his wartime log and a few Sunderland pictures copied from his album if anybody is interested. I would be interested in seeing a record of the Sunderlands he flew to compare with the 121 examples my father had in his logbook. |
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 18, 2023 23:44:25 GMT 12
Lew (my dad) is well and currently living in Taradale, Napier. He is 99, and he and wife Doreen had their 75th wedding anniversary last May. Let me know if you want chis contact details. Hi, and welcome to the forum Tifosi. I wonder, would there be any possible way your Dad might be able to get online and be interviewed via Zoom by me for my Wings Over New Zealand Show podcast? It would be great to interview him for the show, I am sure a lot of people would enjoy hearing his memories of Sunderlands and the RAF, and his flying in New Zealand. |
|
tifosi
Leading Aircraftman
Posts: 2
|
Post by tifosi on Feb 24, 2023 9:53:23 GMT 12
Hi Dave
I will see what can be arranged, give me a call on 0274 884411.
Also correction to above comment, his DFC was awarded during the Korean War.
|
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 24, 2023 15:55:50 GMT 12
We have made contact now and hopefully I will be able to record an interview with Lew soon. Cannot wait.  |
|
|
|
Post by FlyingKiwi on Feb 25, 2023 9:47:06 GMT 12
I'm pleased to hear Lew is still well, I used to see him regularly when I worked at Auckland Aero Club in the early/mid 2010s, he would pop in almost without fail at the weekend to see how things were going. Apart from being understandably rather deaf he was very sharp and interested in what was going on around the club and still had a good sense of humour (his usual go-to on a wet day was 'where are all the students? Oh I suppose you've got them out solo!'). I was fortunate to hear a few stories particularly about the Sunderlands but also some of the other aircraft he flew.
|
|
