Alan Baxter
Encyclopedia
Alan Cheyne Baxter was a New Zealand
politician
of the Labour Party
.
He represented the Raglan
electorate from 1946
to 1949
, when he was defeated by Hallyburton Johnstone
. Johnstone had previously won the seat for National
in the 1946 by-election held on 5 March (i.e. before the general election on 27 November).
A notable characteristic of his parliamentary period was that he was respected as a man who never compromised his principles.
Alan Baxter was a flight lieutenant
in the RNZAF; and was awarded the DFC
in 1944, with a Bar awarded in 1945.
According to one of his navigators, he flew more missions over Germany than any other New Zealand airman (and came back alive).
During one period of raids, he lost 7 room mates in 5 days.
One personal escape involved bending over to pick up a map, with a shot of flak shooting through the seat where he had been sitting only a moment before.
On the bombing of Germany, he stated it was something that had to be done to stop Hitler, but every time they were let go, he felt for "the poor blighters below".
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
of the Labour Party
New Zealand Labour Party
The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party. It describes itself as centre-left and socially progressive and has been one of the two primary parties of New Zealand politics since 1935....
.
He represented the Raglan
Raglan (New Zealand electorate)
-History:The Raglan electorate existed from 1861 to 1870, from 1911 to 1978, and then from 1984 to 1996.In 1996, Simon Upton who was then the MP for Raglan chose to become a list MP...
electorate from 1946
New Zealand general election, 1946
The 1946 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the New Zealand Parliament's 28th term. It saw the governing Labour Party re-elected, but by a substantially narrower margin than in the three previous elections...
to 1949
New Zealand general election, 1949
The 1949 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the New Zealand Parliament's 29th term. It saw the governing Labour Party defeated by the opposition National Party...
, when he was defeated by Hallyburton Johnstone
Hallyburton Johnstone
Hallyburton Johnstone was a New Zealand politician of the National Party.He won the Raglan electorate in 1946 in the by-election caused by the death of the previous MP Robert Coulter...
. Johnstone had previously won the seat for National
New Zealand National Party
The New Zealand National Party is the largest party in the New Zealand House of Representatives and in November 2008 formed a minority government with support from three minor parties.-Policies:...
in the 1946 by-election held on 5 March (i.e. before the general election on 27 November).
A notable characteristic of his parliamentary period was that he was respected as a man who never compromised his principles.
Alan Baxter was a flight lieutenant
Flight Lieutenant
Flight lieutenant is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many Commonwealth countries. It ranks above flying officer and immediately below squadron leader. The name of the rank is the complete phrase; it is never shortened to "lieutenant"...
in the RNZAF; and was awarded the DFC
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
in 1944, with a Bar awarded in 1945.
According to one of his navigators, he flew more missions over Germany than any other New Zealand airman (and came back alive).
During one period of raids, he lost 7 room mates in 5 days.
One personal escape involved bending over to pick up a map, with a shot of flak shooting through the seat where he had been sitting only a moment before.
On the bombing of Germany, he stated it was something that had to be done to stop Hitler, but every time they were let go, he felt for "the poor blighters below".