Stories

The de Havilland Mosquito, famously known as the "Wooden Wonder," left a lasting mark on the memories of the pilots who flew it during World War II. With its exceptional speed, agility, and versatility, the Mosquito became legendary, and those who piloted it recalled the bond they shared with this remarkable aircraft.

Giving an ANZAC Day speech at our local hall, Bob Yates called himself a very lucky man. With the heaviest percentage losses of any of the western allies armed forces in WWII, those that flew in Bomber Command needed a lot of luck to survive. This is Bob Yates’ story, as told by his son, Robin Yates.

In wartime, telegrams were used by governments needing to communicate quickly and efficiently. They were often used to send notice of a servicemen’s death, capture or wounding. So for the families of those serving, the arrival of a telegram was associated with bad news.

To help fund the war effort, the New Zealand government encouraged people to put money into National Savings bonds. All manner of promotions were undertaken to encourage bonds, none more dramatic than that of the first Lancaster to visit New Zealand.

In addition to a bomber’s official markings, airmen would often decorate the nose with a mascot or emblem to illustrate romantic, familial, or national identities. It provided a sense of camaraderie. Michael Wilcox explains the nose art of his father’s aircraft, AA-Y ‘Yorker of 75 (NZ) Squadron.

A daylight attack on the Gestapo headquarters in Oslo, Norway in 1944, was a ‘wizard prang’, a memorable operation for John Buckley as he flew as tail end Charlie, carrying a cameraman, in place of his navigator, to record the low-level attack.