New Zealand pilots in the battle Britain - help

[silverfox]

I'm involved in putting together a large dispplay of Battle of Britain aircraft for the 70th Anniversary in 2010 at the IPMS(UK) Nationals. We hope to have at least one aircraft of each combat unit on both sides.

I've had no problem find NZ Spitfire pilots but drawn a blank for Hurricane pilots.

I neeed aircraft/serial type ups and preferably pictures or refernce to pictures.

Any help would be gratefully accepted. Thanks for reading.

[FlyNavy]

Using Google with the words "New Zealand Hurricane pilots Battle of Britain" this info was found: (a huge list "all the New Zealand pilots" with aircraft) I'm not going to sort the wheat from the chaff so here is the URL:

disc.yourwebapps.com/discussion.cgi?disc=105008;article=15128;title=The%20Battle%20of%20Britain%20Historical%20Society%20Discussion%20Forum

[kiwichappers]

Now then Andy,
I have some information on Cliffe Emeny although he was a Defiant gunner not a pilot during the Battle of Britain. He did not get his pilots wings until December 1942.

[kiwi]

Would it help to get a copy of "A Clasp for the Few"?

[silverfox]

Guys,

thanks for the input, I'll probably use the link Fly Navy sent as a role of honour.

I'm still trying to trace code/serial tie ups for indivduals, the serials are on the link but I'm coming up blank for codes.

I know that many pilots used many aircraft and what I am after is probably impossible to find but I would like to try as we hope to have over 400 models on display across 60ft by 4ft.

[FlyNavy]

You would likely need individual pilot flying logbooks for "I'm still trying to trace code/serial tie ups for indivduals..." if this is what is meant?

[silverfox]

Yep, that's what I thought, which means a trip to the RAF records at Kew. At least, I have some names, but though serials were normally recorded, the individual aircraft letter was often omitted.

Though it is a Spitfire Squadron and a fellow Yorkshireman, I have a copy of some pages of a 609 Squadron pilots log book which has serials but no codes, which is a shame as I was hoping to make a model for his family. I'll still do it but it will be more of a representation tham a pece of history.

Sometimes a snapshot is enough though.

[Dave Homewood]

In some cases the letter was recorded but not the serial too Andy, it depended on how lazy the pilot was.

Don't count on the flying logbooks all being at Kew, they were given to the individuals to keep after the war for those who wanted them and most pilots took that opportunity. I doubt that Kew has copied every one of them.

If you do go looking though, can you see if a copy of kiwi ace Wing Commander Edward Preston Wells's logbook is held there please? His book disappeared and he thought maybe it was stolen, but perhaps the authorities copied it before it was handed back to him.