A Living No. 485 (NZ) Squadron Pilot Has Surfaced

[Dave Homewood]

I have been under the impression that the late Max Collett was the very last living No. 485 (NZ) Squadron pilot, but this morning the Air Force museum of New Zealand posted that they were visited by a 485 Sqn pilot, 99-year-old Owen (Oliver) Hunter. Does anyone know anything about him please?

[McFly]

485 Sqn History has:

F/Sgt Oliver O Hunter, NZ437299. 485 Sqn from 2-45/8-45 until disbandment. (known as 'Owen')...

[McFly]

Sgt O O Hunter - Front row, 2nd from left...

Oct 22, 2017 14:16:18 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

OK, catching up with some of the research I have been doing behind the scenes here. First of all an update to Tim's list of pilots who flew with No. 485 (NZ) Squadron at Predannack giving more details: (home towns mentioned are their towns at the time in 1945 from Dave Iggo's version of the group photo, seen below, as sent bu Dave's daughter Sue)

S/L Keith James Macdonald DFC NZ40981 (of Auckland)

F/L Stanley Franklin Browne DFC* NZ411853 (known as Stan, or Flower)
F/L Owen Leslie Hardy DFC* NZ411399
F/L Lloyd Mackay Ralph DFC NZ401779

F/O Edward Te Keu Bennett mid NZ411359 (known as Ted, the only Maori on the squadron at that time, of Hastings)
F/O James Darragh NZ422074 (known as Jim, of Wellington)
F/O David L. Iggo
F/O Maurice Colgan Mayston mid NZ422304 (known as Red, of Nelson)
F/O Al Roberts (of Christchurch)

P/O Russell Murray Clarke DFC NZ42190 (of Taupiri)
P/O Maxwell Amner Collett mid NZ422260
P/O G.C. Earle (of Auckland)
P/O G. Henderson
P/O James Norby King NZ413089
P/O C. Trevor Wilton (known as Trev, of Masterton)

W/O H.M. Esdaile

Sgt Patrick J. Donnelly (known as Pat, of New Plymouth)
Sgt Murray John Charles Lind NZ428129 (of Rongotea)
Sgt Ashley J. Greer (known as Ash, from Palmerston North)
Sgt William A. Hoskins (known as Bill, from Palmerston North)
Sgt P.T. Humphrey (of Rotorua)
Sgt O.O. Hunter (of Christchurch, first name in signature looks like Ousten?)

Additional names on the photo, looks like P Fleet (of Te Puke)? And W. Parker and L. Gordon (both of England - not sure if they were No. 485 (NZ) Squadron or on the station, perhaps as instructors)

[Dave Homewood]

Superb! So he flew the Typhoon and/or Tempest too.

I wonder where he lives.

[Dave Homewood]

I would love to have the opportunity to interview him. He was with the squadron in a period which is probably the least documented and known about.

[Dave Homewood]

Good work Marty, by the way!!

[McFly]

"Group. Pilots course 47b, No. 2 Service Flying Training School, RNZAF Station Woodbourne.
L-R: Back; OO Hunter, RW Glasgow, NJ Ryder, KL Albert, RF Jans, AJ Nicholas, JR Priestley.
Third Row; J Crafer, CH Hardacre, FD Reid, K McGowan, MG Kirk, SR Sparrow, HJ Corbett, MA Choat.
Second Row; RM Westrupp, RJ Stewart, JG Kyles, GM Goldsack, HP Webster, HJ Hamilton, ND Schofield.
Front; DR Trolove, RD Yetton, EA Thompson, RJ Leete, LJ Wilson, BK Barstow, CT Cheeseman, SJ Down. Circa 1944 - (MUS0702234)"

[oj]

This is a long shot, but there was an Owen Hunter living in Richmond Street, Thames in the 1950's.
He was a bulldozer owner and operator. I wonder what the one above did after he de-mobbed?

[Dave Homewood]

The Air Force Museum of New Zealand staff have passed on my details to his family, so see if he'd be interested in being interviewed. Fingers crossed.

[Deleted]

Good luck Dave!