To Fly a Desk "Sir Geoffrey Roberts" O/T

[steve]

This book although not strictly RNZAF is well worth a read from your library or purchasing from a 2nd hand book store. Sir Geoff was the father of air NZ and a Air Comordore in the RNZAF in WW2. His position was effectively second only to AVM Issit..in the pacific theatre of operations and established an excellent relationship with those american "invaders".
As as group captain he was i/c Whenuapai in 1943 and he covers the two most serious crashes at the station at that time ie.. the B17 and C87 crashes with the jap exchange prisioners on board. RNZAF info covers at least one half of the book with excellent pacific war photos.

[Dave Homewood]

Good call, this is a good book. It's a pity that Geoff Roberts didn't write a book himself as he'd probably have added much more detail from his vast career, but Noel Holmes did a very good job all in all to piece together such a varied and wide ranging career. I personally find the RAF and RNZAF stuff much more interesting than the Air New Zealand stuff, but it's all good.

Geoff Roberts also has a Cambridge connection, which is not yet on my site. His wife moved here in 1942 and lived here till at least 1943, so Cambridge was 'home' to him then whilst away around the Pacific, and he used to visit the town when he could on leave. Cambridge has connections with many very significant airmen, it's wonderful.