Johnny Checketts
Encyclopedia
Wing Commander
John "Johnny" Milne Checketts, DSO
, DFC
(20 February 1912 - 21 April 2006) was a World War II
Flying ace
.
on 20 February 1912 and was educated at the Invercargill South School and Southland Technical College, where he studied Engineering before undertaking an apprenticeship as a motor mechanic.
course in June 1941 as a Pilot Officer and was posted to the United Kingdom. After converting to Spitfires
Checketts joined 485(NZ) Squadron
in November 1941.
On 12 February 1942 the unit took part in operations over the English Channel when the German battleships Scharnhorst
and Gneisenau
made their dash from Brest
to reach safety in German ports. On 4 May 1942 Checketts was shot down, bailing out over the channel and eventually being rescued from his dinghy by the Royal Navy
. In June 1942 he was posted to Sailor Malan
's gunnery school before continuing to 611 Squadron
based at Biggin Hill
in January 1943. Checketts was promoted to Flight Lieutenant and given command of A Flight in April. On 30 May 1943 he shot down a Fw 190
five to eight miles south east of Trouville
.
In July Checketts was promoted to Squadron Leader and returned to 485 Squadron at Biggin Hill
as commander. On 15 July he shot down a Fw 190, on the 27th he destroyed two more, and on the 31st a Bf 109G
. Guiding the unit over Saint-Pol on 9 August 1943, Checketts led a section against eight Bf 109s and destroyed three of them. The other three New Zealand pilots in the section each destroyed one and Checketts damaged one of the two remaining 109s as it escaped. For this action he was awarded the DFC.
While acting as high cover for bombers attacking an airfield near Amiens
on 19 August the Squadron was jumped by a force of FW 190s and Bf 109s. In a running battle Checketts probably destroyed an FW 190 and damaged another.
. The Spitfires were attacked by twenty Fw 190s from above. Checketts shot one down but was then attacked by several others and his aircraft was set on fire.
Burned and wounded, he struggled to bail out. On landing he was approached by a French boy who helped him on to his bicycle and then wheeled him to nearby woods. The next day he was taken by a Frenchman to his own home, where his injuries were tended by the Frenchman's wife.
Having been passed from one house to the next by the French Resistance
, Checketts eventually met another 485 pilot, Sergeant Kearins, who had been shot down on 15 July. They were joined by a group of 11 other escapees and taken across the channel in a fishing boat on 21 October 1943.
Checketts was then posted to the fighter wing of the Central Gunnery School as an instructor.
equipped with the Hawker Typhoon
fighter bomber but after six weeks was promoted to Wing Commander to lead 142 Spitfire Wing at RAF Horne which was an Advanced Landing Ground
in Surrey. He later led this wing from Westhampnett
, Merston and Manston
until 26 September 1944. His last operation was as high escort cover over Arnhem
on that date when he shared in the destruction of a Bf 109 with one of his flight commanders.
In 1945 Johnny Checketts was appointed Wing Commander Tactics at the Central Fighter Establishment. He had been awarded the DFC on 13 August 1943, the DSO in December 1943, US Silver Star in August 1944 and the Polish Cross of Valour in April 1945.
, Lauthala Bay (Fiji) and Taieri (Dunedin). Checketts was appointed officer commanding 75 Squadron
in 1951 and at Ohakea
was responsible for introducing the de Havilland Vampire
to form the RNZAF's first jet squadron.
In 1955, he left the RNZAF to start an aerial topdressing company. This lasted until 1958 when became a salesman of agricultural chemicals.
Wing Commander (rank)
Wing commander is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries...
John "Johnny" Milne Checketts, DSO
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
, 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...
(20 February 1912 - 21 April 2006) was a World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Flying ace
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
.
Birth and education
Checketts was born in InvercargillInvercargill
Invercargill is the southernmost and westernmost city in New Zealand, and one of the southernmost cities in the world. It is the commercial centre of the Southland region. It lies in the heart of the wide expanse of the Southland Plains on the Oreti or New River some 18 km north of Bluff,...
on 20 February 1912 and was educated at the Invercargill South School and Southland Technical College, where he studied Engineering before undertaking an apprenticeship as a motor mechanic.
Early experience
Checketts joined the RNZAF in October 1940, at the age of 28. He graduated from his wingsAircrew brevet
An aircrew brevet is the badge worn on the left breast, above any medal ribbons, by qualified aircrew in the Royal Air Force, British Army, Indian Air Force, Canadian Forces, Australian Army, Royal Australian Air Force, Royal New Zealand Air Force, South African Air Force and Sri Lanka Air...
course in June 1941 as a Pilot Officer and was posted to the United Kingdom. After converting to Spitfires
Supermarine Spitfire
The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...
Checketts joined 485(NZ) Squadron
No. 485 Squadron RNZAF
No. 485 Squadron was a Spitfire squadron of the Royal New Zealand Air Force during the Second World War. It was the first RNZAF squadron formed under Article XV of the Empire Air Training Scheme and served in Europe under the operational command of the Royal Air Force.-History:Manned by New Zealand...
in November 1941.
On 12 February 1942 the unit took part in operations over the English Channel when the German battleships Scharnhorst
German battleship Scharnhorst
Scharnhorst was a German capital ship, alternatively described as a battleship and battlecruiser, of the German Kriegsmarine. She was the lead ship of her class, which included one other ship, Gneisenau. The ship was built at the Kriegsmarinewerft dockyard in Wilhelmshaven; she was laid down on 15...
and Gneisenau
German battleship Gneisenau
Gneisenau was a German capital ship, alternatively described as a battleship and battlecruiser, of the German Kriegsmarine. She was the second vessel of her class, which included one other ship, Scharnhorst. The ship was built at the Deutsche Werke dockyard in Kiel; she was laid down on 6 May 1935...
made their dash from Brest
Brest, France
Brest is a city in the Finistère department in Brittany in northwestern France. Located in a sheltered position not far from the western tip of the Breton peninsula, and the western extremity of metropolitan France, Brest is an important harbour and the second French military port after Toulon...
to reach safety in German ports. On 4 May 1942 Checketts was shot down, bailing out over the channel and eventually being rescued from his dinghy by the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
. In June 1942 he was posted to Sailor Malan
Adolph Malan
Adolph Gysbert Malan DSO & Bar DFC & Bar , better known as Sailor Malan, was a famed South African World War II RAF fighter pilot who led No. 74 Squadron RAF during the height of the Battle of Britain. Malan was known for sending German bomber pilots home with dead crews as a warning to other...
's gunnery school before continuing to 611 Squadron
No. 611 Squadron RAF
No. 611 Squadron was a British Auxiliary Air Force later Royal Auxiliary Air Force squadron first formed in 1936 and lastly disbanded in 1957.-Early years:...
based at Biggin Hill
Biggin Hill
Biggin Hill is an area and electoral ward in the outskirts of the London Borough of Bromley in southeast London, United Kingdom.-History:Historically the settlement was known as Aperfield and formed part of the parish of Cudham...
in January 1943. Checketts was promoted to Flight Lieutenant and given command of A Flight in April. On 30 May 1943 he shot down a Fw 190
Focke-Wulf Fw 190
The Focke-Wulf Fw 190 Würger was a German Second World War single-seat, single-engine fighter aircraft designed by Kurt Tank in the late 1930s. Powered by a radial engine, the 190 had ample power and was able to lift larger loads than its well-known counterpart, the Messerschmitt Bf 109...
five to eight miles south east of Trouville
Trouville, Seine-Maritime
See also Trouville-sur-Mer and Trouville-la-Haule Trouville is a commune in the Seine-Maritime department in the Haute-Normandie region in northern France.-Geography:...
.
In July Checketts was promoted to Squadron Leader and returned to 485 Squadron at Biggin Hill
Biggin Hill
Biggin Hill is an area and electoral ward in the outskirts of the London Borough of Bromley in southeast London, United Kingdom.-History:Historically the settlement was known as Aperfield and formed part of the parish of Cudham...
as commander. On 15 July he shot down a Fw 190, on the 27th he destroyed two more, and on the 31st a Bf 109G
Messerschmitt Bf 109
The Messerschmitt Bf 109, often called Me 109, was a German World War II fighter aircraft designed by Willy Messerschmitt and Robert Lusser during the early to mid 1930s...
. Guiding the unit over Saint-Pol on 9 August 1943, Checketts led a section against eight Bf 109s and destroyed three of them. The other three New Zealand pilots in the section each destroyed one and Checketts damaged one of the two remaining 109s as it escaped. For this action he was awarded the DFC.
While acting as high cover for bombers attacking an airfield near Amiens
Amiens
Amiens is a city and commune in northern France, north of Paris and south-west of Lille. It is the capital of the Somme department in Picardy...
on 19 August the Squadron was jumped by a force of FW 190s and Bf 109s. In a running battle Checketts probably destroyed an FW 190 and damaged another.
Wounded
On 6 September 1943, 485 Squadron flew high cover for Marauders bombing the marshalling yards at SerquexSerqueux, Seine-Maritime
Serqueux is a commune in the Seine-Maritime department in the Haute-Normandie region in northern France.-Geography:A village situated at the source of the Epte river in the Pays de Bray, some southeast of Dieppe at the junction of the D 1314, D 13 and D 83 roads...
. The Spitfires were attacked by twenty Fw 190s from above. Checketts shot one down but was then attacked by several others and his aircraft was set on fire.
Burned and wounded, he struggled to bail out. On landing he was approached by a French boy who helped him on to his bicycle and then wheeled him to nearby woods. The next day he was taken by a Frenchman to his own home, where his injuries were tended by the Frenchman's wife.
Having been passed from one house to the next by the French Resistance
French Resistance
The French Resistance is the name used to denote the collection of French resistance movements that fought against the Nazi German occupation of France and against the collaborationist Vichy régime during World War II...
, Checketts eventually met another 485 pilot, Sergeant Kearins, who had been shot down on 15 July. They were joined by a group of 11 other escapees and taken across the channel in a fishing boat on 21 October 1943.
Checketts was then posted to the fighter wing of the Central Gunnery School as an instructor.
Promotions
In April 1944 he was given command of 1 SquadronNo. 1 Squadron RAF
No. 1 Squadron is a squadron of the Royal Air Force. It operated the Harrier GR9 from RAF Cottesmore until 28 January 2011.The squadron motto is In omnibus princeps , appropriate for the RAF's oldest squadron and one that has been involved in almost every major British military operation since...
equipped with the Hawker Typhoon
Hawker Typhoon
The Hawker Typhoon was a British single-seat fighter-bomber, produced by Hawker Aircraft. While the Typhoon was designed to be a medium-high altitude interceptor, and a direct replacement for the Hawker Hurricane, several design problems were encountered, and the Typhoon never completely satisfied...
fighter bomber but after six weeks was promoted to Wing Commander to lead 142 Spitfire Wing at RAF Horne which was an Advanced Landing Ground
Advanced Landing Ground
Advanced Landing Ground was the term given to the temporary advance airfields constructed by the Allies during World War II in support of the invasion of Europe...
in Surrey. He later led this wing from Westhampnett
RAF Westhampnett
Royal Air Force Station Westhampnett, more commonly known as RAF Westhampnett, was a Royal Air Force station, located in the village of Westhampnett near Chichester, in the English County of West Sussex....
, Merston and Manston
RAF Manston
RAF Manston was an RAF station in the north-east of Kent, at on the Isle of Thanet from 1916 until 1996. The site is now split between a commercial airport Kent International Airport and a continuing military use by the Defence Fire Training and Development Centre , following on from a long...
until 26 September 1944. His last operation was as high escort cover over Arnhem
Arnhem
Arnhem is a city and municipality, situated in the eastern part of the Netherlands. It is the capital of the province of Gelderland and located near the river Nederrijn as well as near the St. Jansbeek, which was the source of the city's development. Arnhem has 146,095 residents as one of the...
on that date when he shared in the destruction of a Bf 109 with one of his flight commanders.
In 1945 Johnny Checketts was appointed Wing Commander Tactics at the Central Fighter Establishment. He had been awarded the DFC on 13 August 1943, the DSO in December 1943, US Silver Star in August 1944 and the Polish Cross of Valour in April 1945.
Postwar
After the war he returned to the RNZAF, and became Station Commander of RNZAF stations WigramWigram Aerodrome
Wigram Aerodrome is a former Royal New Zealand Air Force base located in the Christchurch suburb of Wigram. It is named after Sir Henry Wigram. Originally home to the RNZAF Central Flying School , it was decommissioned in 1995 following the CFS' relocation to RNZAF Ohakea two years earlier.Wigram...
, Lauthala Bay (Fiji) and Taieri (Dunedin). Checketts was appointed officer commanding 75 Squadron
No. 75 Squadron RNZAF
No. 75 Squadron RNZAF was an air combat squadron of the Royal New Zealand Air Force. It was formed from the RAF's World War II bomber squadron, No. 75 Squadron, which had been initially equipped by the New Zealand government and was largely manned by New Zealanders...
in 1951 and at Ohakea
RNZAF Base Ohakea
RNZAF Base Ohakea is an operational base of the Royal New Zealand Air Force. Opened in 1939, it is near Bulls, 25 km north west of Palmerston North in the Manawatu...
was responsible for introducing the de Havilland Vampire
De Havilland Vampire
The de Havilland DH.100 Vampire was a British jet-engine fighter commissioned by the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. Following the Gloster Meteor, it was the second jet fighter to enter service with the RAF. Although it arrived too late to see combat during the war, the Vampire served...
to form the RNZAF's first jet squadron.
In 1955, he left the RNZAF to start an aerial topdressing company. This lasted until 1958 when became a salesman of agricultural chemicals.
Quotation
On war: "It is destructive. Everything about it is to destroy, and I don't think human beings are brought into this world to destroy things. They are brought into the world to preserve."External links
- New Zealand Fighter Pilots Museum http://www.nzfpm.co.nz/article.asp?id=checketts
- A deep affection for the French http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=&xml=/news/2006/04/26/db2601.xml
- Destroyed Flying Bombs and E-Boats http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10378853
- Hair-raising brushes with Luftwaffe fighters