List of World War II aces from New Zealand
Encyclopedia
This is a list of fighter ace
s in World War II
from New Zealand
. For other countries see List of World War II aces by country
Fighter Ace
Fighter Ace was a massively multiplayer online computer game in which one flies World War II fighter and bomber planes in combat against other players and virtual pilots...
s in 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...
from New Zealand
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...
. For other countries see List of World War II aces by country
B
Name | Kills | Awards | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Balfour, Robert Hamish "Jimmy" | 4 & 1 shr. | DFC | |
Bary, Ronald Edward | 6? | KIA 12 April 1945 | |
Blake, Minden Vaughan "Mindy" | 13 | DSO, DFC | ♣, POW 19 August 1942 |
Bonham, Gordon Loversidge "Snowy" | 5 V-1s | KIA 25 September 1944 | |
Bremner, Robert Duff | 8.5 | DFC | inc. 7 V-1s |
Browne, Allen Edward | 6 | DFC | |
Browne, Stanley Franklin | 6 | DFC* | |
Bush, Charles Roy | 5 | DFC | ♣ KIFA 30 November 1948 |
C
Name | Kills | Awards | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Cammock, Raymond John | 20.5 V-1s | KIA 6 October 1944 | |
Carbury, Brian John George Brian Carbury Flight Lieutenant Brian John George Carbury DFC & Bar was a New Zealand fighter ace of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. He was credited with being one of two aces in a day in the Battle of Britain as he shot down five aircraft on 31 August 1940... |
17 | DFC* | ♣ |
Carlson, Donald C | 3 & 2 shr. | DFC | |
Chambers, Hansford Ward | 7 | DFC | |
Checketts, John Milne Johnny Checketts Wing Commander John "Johnny" Milne Checketts, DSO, DFC was a World War II Flying ace.-Birth and education:... |
16 (inc. 2 V-1s) | DSO, DFC | |
Clouston, Wilfred Greville | 12 | DFC | ♣ |
Collyns, Basil Gordon "Buck" | 7 | DFC | ♣ KIA 20 August 1944 |
Costello, Maurice James "Morrie" | 3 | ||
Crawford-Compton, William Vernon Bill Crawford-Crompton Air Vice Marshal William Vernon "Bill" Crawford-Crompton CB, CBE, DSO & Bar, DFC & Bar was a New Zealand-born pilot and air ace of the Second World War. After the war, he went on to serve as a senior commander in the Royal Air Force.Crawford-Crompton was born in Invercargill, New Zealand on 2... |
22 | DSO*, DFC* | |
Cullen, James Roy "Jimmy" | 16 V-1s |
D
Name | Kills | Awards | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Danzey, Raymond Jack "Dan" | 11 V-1s | ||
Deere, Alan Christopher "Al" Alan Christopher Deere Air Commodore Alan Christopher "Al" Deere, DSO, OBE, DFC & Bar , was a New Zealand Spitfire pilot in the Battle of Britain and author of Nine Lives.-Early life:... |
18 | DSO, DFC* | ♣ |
Dini, Antonio Simmons | 7 | KIFA 31 May 1940 | |
Doherty, Eric Steele "Francis" | 7 | DFM, DFC (US) |
E
Name | Kills | Awards | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Eagleson, Owen David "Ginger" | 22 | inc. 20 V-1s, POW |
F
Name | Kills | Awards | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Fisken, Geoffrey Bryson | 11 | DFC | |
Fitzgerald, Thomas Bernard | 6 | DFC | ♣ |
G
Name | Kills | Awards | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Gawith, Alan Antill | 5 | DFC | ♣, POW, Surviving Aircrew |
Gibson, John Albert Axel John Albert Axel Gibson John Albert Axel "Johnny" Gibson DSO, DFC was Royal Air Force officer and a noted World War II air ace.- Early life :... |
13 | DSO, DFC | ♣ |
Grant, Reginald Joseph Cowan Reg Grant Reginald Joseph Cowan Grant DFC and Bar, DFM was an officer of the Royal New Zealand Air Force who was killed in flying operations during the Second World War.-Career:... |
8 | DFM, DFC* | KIA 28 February 1944 |
Gray, Colin Falkland Colin Falkland Gray Group Captain Colin Falkland Gray DSO, DFC and Two Bars was the top New Zealand fighter ace of the Second World War. Gray was credited with 27 aerial kills, two shared destroyed, six probable kills, with a further four shared probables.-Early life:He and his twin brother Ken were born in... |
29 | DSO, DFC** | ♣ |
H
Name | Kills | Awards | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Hall, Bevan Mason | 7.5 V-1s | KIA 27 December 1944 | |
Hall, Peter Francis Locker Peter Hall (flying ace) Flight Lieutenant Peter Francis Locker Hall, DFC & Bar was a New Zealand flying ace during World War II. He had become infatuated with flight in 1928, when his father bought him a plane ride with Australian aviation pioneer Charles Kingsford Smith.Hall joined RNZAF No. 488 Squadron in 1943, and... |
8 | DFC* | |
Hammond, Derek Harold | 8 | ||
Hardy, Owen Leslie | 6 | DFC* | |
Hart, William Alfred | 7 V-1s | ||
Hayter, James Chilton Francis "Spud" | 5 | DFC* | ♣ |
Hayton, Gilbert McLean "Gillie" | 6 | Drowned aboard HMT Laconia 20 October 1942 | |
Herrick, Michael James | 8 | DFC* | ♣ MIA 16 June 1944 |
Hesselyn, Raymond Brown Raymond Brown Hesselyn Squadron Leader Raymond Brown Hesselyn, MBE, DFC, DFM & Bar was one of New Zealand's top fighter aces in World War II.Hesselyn was born in Dunedin, New Zealand. In civilian life, he was a machinist.... |
19 | DFC, DFM* | POW October 1943 |
Hill, Howard Perry | 3.5 | ♣ KIA 20 September 1940 | |
Hodgson, William Henry | 7 | DFC | ♣ KIFA 13 March 1941 |
Hooper, Garnet J Michael "Gus" | 9 | inc. 8 V-1s | |
Houlton, John Arthur | 7 | DFC | |
Hyde, Reginald Jack | 5 | AFC | ♣ |
I
Name | Kills | Awards | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Ingram, Mervin Robert Bruce | 10.33 | DFC | WIA 11 July 1941 |
J
Name | Kills | Awards | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Jameson, George Edmond "Jamie" | 11 | DSO, DFC | |
Jameson, Patrick Geraint Patrick Jameson Air Commodore Patrick Geraint "Jamie" Jameson CB, DSO, DFC & Bar was a New Zealander who flew with the Royal Air Force and was recognised as an flying ace.-Early life:... |
9 | DSO, DFC* | ♣ |
Joyce, Ernest Leslie "Nipper" | 9 | DFM | KIA 18 June 1944 |
Julian, Ivon (Evan) | 5 | DFM |
K
Name | Kills | Awards | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Kain, Edgar James "Cobber" Cobber Kain Edgar James Kain DFC was a New Zealand fighter pilot. Nicknamed "Cobber", Flying Officer Kain was the first RAF air ace of the Second World War, and also the first recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross in the Second World War. During the Battle of France in 1940, he scored 17 confirmed kills... |
17 | DFC | KIFA 7 June 1940 |
Kalka, William Arthur "Wacky" | 9 V-1s | KIA 25 March 1945 | |
Kilian, John Rutherford Clark | 5 | CdG | |
Kleinmayer, Robert Gordon "Dutch" | 7.5 V-1s | ||
Kuhn, Edmund Eric Geddes | 5 |
L
Name | Kills | Awards | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Lawless, Frank Brewster "Bruce" | 11 | inc. 10 V-1s | |
Lawrence, Keith Ashley | 6 | DFC | ♣ Surviving Aircrew |
LeLong, Roy Emile | 10 | AFC, DFC* | |
Livingstone, David Franklin | 7 | DFC | |
Longley, Harold Watson | 5 | DFC |
M
Name | Kills | Awards | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
McCarthy, Kevin | 6 V-1s | ||
McCaw, James Hugh "Black Mac" | 20 V-1s | DFC | |
McGregor, Sir Hector Douglas | 6 | DSO | ♣ |
MacKenzie, John Noble | 10 | DFC | ♣ |
MacKenzie, Russell Merriman | 5 | DSO, DFC | |
Mackie, Evan Dall "Rosie" Evan Mackie Wing Commander Evan "Rosie" Mackie, DSO, DFC & Bar, was a New Zealand fighter pilot and ace of the Second World War.Many New Zealand pilots who served overseas enlisted in the RAF; Mackie chose to join the RNZAF and as such he was the highest scoring member of that service.Born in October 1917,... |
23 | DSO, DFC* | |
Malfroy, Camille Enright Cam Malfroy Camille Enright Malfroy was a prominent New Zealand tennis player of the 1930s and 40s, competing in numerous grand slam championships of the era. He was also a well known pilot and attested an ace pilot during World War II.... |
5 | DFC, DFC(US) | |
Marra, T B | 5 | ||
Mason, Henry Maurice "Morrie" | 7 | inc. 5.5 V-1s. KIA 19 July 1948 | |
Miller, William Lister "Dusty" | 7 V-1s | ||
Montgomerie, Leighton John | 5 | DFC | KIA 29 August 1944 |
Murphy, Francis "Spud" | 5 | DFC |
N
Name | Kills | Awards | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Newton, Percival Guy Haig | 5 | DFC | |
Nicholls, Charles William Kelvin | 5 | ||
North, Harold Leslie "Knockers" | 5 | DFC | ♣ KIA 1 May 1942 |
O
Name | Kills | Awards | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
O'Connor, Brian John | 11 | nc 8.5 V-1s |
P
Name | Kills | Awards | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Pannel, Geoffroy Charles Russell | 5 | ♣ | |
Park, Nigel Manfred | 11 | DFM | KIA 25 October 1942 |
Peart, Alan McGregor | 7 | DFC | |
Player, John Howard | 6 | DSO, DFC | KIFA 8 August 1947 |
Porteous, James Kerrow | 7 | DFC | |
Powell, Neville Joseph "Pip" | 6 | inc 5 V-1s |
R
Name | Kills | Awards | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Rabone, Paul Watling | 8 | DFC | ♣ KIA 24 July 1944 |
Rae, John Donald | 13 | DFC* | |
Robinson, Douglas Nevill | DFC |
S
Name | Kills | Awards | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Sames, Arthur Norman "Artie" | 8 | DFC* | |
Schrader, Warren Edward "Smokey" | 13 | DFC* | |
Scott, Desmond James Desmond J. Scott Group Captain Desmond James Scott, DSO, OBE, DFC & Bar was a New Zealand fighter pilot during the Second World War. He got his licence as a private pilot in New Zealand in 1939 and was automatically enlisted in the Royal New Zealand Air Force in September of that year... |
8 | DSO, DFC*, CdG* | |
Scott, Donald Stuart | 14 | ||
Sheddan, Cornelius James | 15 | DFC | inc. 7.5 V-1s |
Short, Sydney John | 6 | inc 5 V-1s | |
Smith, Irving Stanley "Black" | 8 | DFC* | ♣ |
Smith, Keith Alexander | 14 | inc 12 V-1s | |
Spurdle, Robert Lawrence | 10 | DFC* | ♣ |
Stafford, John Harry "Jack" | 13 | DFC | inc 8 V-1s |
Stead, Allen Bennetto | 5 | KIA 6 January 1945 | |
Stenborg, Gray | 15 | DFC | KIA 24 September 1943 |
Stewart, Kenneth William | 5 | DFC | |
Stratton, William Hector | 9 | DFC* | |
Sweetman, Harvey Nelson | 15 | DFC | inc 10.5 V-1s |
T
Name | Kills | Awards | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Tait, Kenneth William | 6 | DFC | ♣ MIA 4 August 1941 |
Tanner, Eric William "Rick" | 6 | inc 5 V-1s | |
Taylor-Cannon, Keith Granville "Hyphen" | 7 | DFC* | MIA 13 April 1945 |
Tracey, Owen Vincent | 6 | DFC | KIA 8 December 1941 |
Trott, William Allan Liddell | 7 | inc. 6 V-1s. KIFA 17 February 1955 | |
Trousdale, Richard Mackle (Macklow?) | 8 | DFC* | KIFA 19 May 1947 |
U
Name | Kills | Awards | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Umbers, Arthur Ernest "Spike" | 23 | DFC* | inc. 15.5 V-1s. KIA 14 February 1945 |
V
Name | Kills | Awards | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Verity, Victor Bosanquet Strachan | 9 | DFC |
W
Name | Kills | Awards | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Ward, Derek Harland Derek Harland Ward Squadron Leader Derek Harland Ward, DFC & Bar, was a New Zealand flying ace during the Second World War. He was credited with six kills, one shared destroyed, one probable and four damaged against the Luftwaffe. Ward was shot down and killed by the German ace Hans-Joachim Marseille on 17 June 1942... |
8 | DFC* | ♣ KIA 17 June 1942 |
Watters, Joseph | 8 | ♣ | |
Wells, Edward Preston "Hawkeye" | 12 | DFC* | ♣ |
West, Jeffery George | 6 | DFM | |
Westenra, Derrick Fitzgerald "Jerry" | 11 | DFC* | |
White, Geoffrey Gordon | 5 | KIA 23 May 1943 | |
Whitley, Eric William | 11 | DSO, DFC | ♣ |
Williams, Gordon Albert | 5 | DFM | |
Williams, John Edwin Ashley "Willy" John Edwin Ashley Williams Squadron Leader John Edwin Ashley "Willy" Williams, DFC was an Australian air ace during the Second World War. He served in the Middle East and North Africa with the Royal Air Force , and was among the Allied prisoners of war murdered by the Gestapo, following "The Great Escape", in 1944. He... |
5 | DFC | (a New Zealand-born Australian) POW 31 October 1942; later in Stalag Luft 3 and took part in the Great Escape,; KIA 29 March 1944. (Also listed in Australian Aces) |
Williams, Stanford Seaton "Bill" | 11 | inc. 8 V-1s. KIA 22 December 1944 | |
Wipiti, Bert Samuel Bert Wipiti Bert Sam Wipiti DFM was a New Zealand fighter ace of World War II, initially with RAF squadrons.-Biography:A Māori and born in New Plymouth, he joined the RNZAF in January 1941.... |
6 | KIA 3 October 1943 | |
Woodman, Brian Wallace | 5 | DFC | |
Worthington, John Colin | 5 | DFC | Served with No 605 (County of Warwick) Squadron - passed away 2010 |
Y
Name | Kills | Awards | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Yule, Robert Duncan Bob Yule Robert Duncan Yule DSO, DFC and Bar was a New Zealand born officer and fighter pilot of the Royal Air Force during the Battle of Britain and Second World War.-Career:... |
8 | DSO, DFC* | ♣ KIFA 11 September 1953 |
Abbreviations
- ♣ - flew in the Battle of Britain
- "KIA" in Notes means Killed in actionKilled in actionKilled in action is a casualty classification generally used by militaries to describe the deaths of their own forces at the hands of hostile forces. The United States Department of Defense, for example, says that those declared KIA need not have fired their weapons but have been killed due to...
(dates are included where possible). - "KIFA" in Notes means Killed in Flying Accident.
- "MIA" in Notes means Missing in actionMissing in actionMissing in action is a casualty Category assigned under the Status of Missing to armed services personnel who are reported missing during active service. They may have been killed, wounded, become a prisoner of war, or deserted. If deceased, neither their remains nor grave can be positively...
. - "WIA" in Notes means Wounded in actionWounded in actionWounded in action describes soldiers who have been wounded while fighting in a combat zone during war time, but have not been killed. Typically it implies that they are temporarily or permanently incapable of bearing arms or continuing to fight....
leading to death which, in some cases, may have occurred months later. - "POW" in Notes means Prisoner of WarPrisoner of warA prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
.
Awards
Award | Title | Notes |
---|---|---|
AFC | Air Force Cross Air Force Cross (United Kingdom) The Air Force Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom Armed Forces, and formerly also to officers of the other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying, though not in active operations against the enemy"... |
Awarded for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying, though not in active operations against the enemy". |
CDeG | Croix de guerre Croix de guerre The Croix de guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts... |
A military decoration of both France and Belgium, also commonly bestowed to foreign military forces allied to France and Belgium. |
DFC | Distinguished Flying Cross 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... |
Awarded to Royal Air Force commissioned officers and Warrant Officers for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against the enemy". |
DFC* | Distinguished Flying Cross and Bar 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... |
A bar is added to the ribbon for holders of the DFC who received a second award. |
DFC(US) | Distinguished Flying Cross - United States Distinguished Flying Cross (United States) The Distinguished Flying Cross is a medal awarded to any officer or enlisted member of the United States armed forces who distinguishes himself or herself in support of operations by "heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight, subsequent to November 11, 1918." The... |
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a medal awarded to any officer or enlisted member of the United States armed forces who distinguishes himself or herself in support of operations by "heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight".sup> |
DFM | Distinguished Flying Medal Distinguished Flying Medal The Distinguished Flying Medal was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the Royal Air Force and the other services, and formerly also to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active... |
Awarded to military below commissioned rank, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against the enemy". |
DSO | Distinguished Service Order 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... |
Awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat. |
DSO* | Distinguished Service Order and Bar 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... |
A bar is added to the ribbon for holders of the DSO who received a second award. |