New Zealand Bomber Command Association

Stories

Stories

Māori aircrew in 75 (NZ) Squadron

“A Māori team at a British air station – R. W. Raharuhi (Takara), M. T. Parata (Waikanae), M. T. T. Manawaiti and E. H. Gray (Otaki).” Thought to have been taken at Mildenhall.
(Credit: The Weekly News / from Air Force Museum of New Zealand)

75 (NZ) Squadron historian Chris Newey has published a fascinating post on the 75 (NZ) Squadron website on the Māori airmen who served on the squadron website, and we share some of his research here.

“One of the surprises in my research into my uncle’s time at Mepal, was a number of Māori surnames amongst the crew lists.

The WWII exploits of the 28th Māori Battalion (NZ Army) are legendary in New Zealand, but little or nothing has been written about Māori serving in the Air Force. The short film “Maximum Effort” includes reference to the (Witting) crew’s Wireless Operator, Glen, “a Māori from the North Island,” and Harry Yates’ wonderful book “Luck and A Lancaster” refers to the Yates crew’s Māori Bomb Aimer, ‘Mac’ Maaka.

A recent thread on the Wings Over New Zealand forum made for a fascinating discussion on the subject, with several family members joining in to add further detail. The daughter of 75 (NZ) Sq. Wellington Pilot Roy Raharuhi mentioned the wonderful photo (right)”.

Chris’ initial research identified more than twenty Māori airmen in the New Zealand squadron (see next page).

Among them was Kiwi Ernest Rehe Te Amohanga (Ngati Maniapoto), born in 1918 in Wandsworth, Surrey, England, the only son of Te Rehe Paraone Te Amohanga, a 2nd Lt in the NZ (Māori) Pioneer Battalion and Barbara Ann Jane Haywood.

The Amohanga crew of 75 (NZ) Sq. pose in front of Lancaster HK593, JN-X.
Left to right rear: Alf Woolcock, A/B; Ken Dalzell, Navigator; Kiwi Amohanga, Pilot; Jack Richardson, M/U/Gnr.
Front: Steven Fletcher, F/E; Sandy Strachan, R/Gnr; Max Spooner, W/Op.
( Credit: NZBCA Archive / Ken Dalzell)

He arrived in Aotearoa as a one year old, where his mother Babara was presented a Kiwi feathered Korowai which acknowledged her husband Parone as being a chief from their tribe.

His father had served in Egypt, Gallipoli and the Western Front, so it was little surprise that Kiwi signed up to serve in WWII, applying for the RNZAF. On signing up the recruitment officer said Kiwis could not fly, so he replied, “Well this Kiwi can”.

Amohanga flew as “second dickie” (2nd Pilot) with fellow Maori, Wi Rangiuaia, before captaining his own crew in 1945.

Rangiuaia and his crew completed 19 bombing operations with 75(NZ) Squadron, two Operation Manna supply drops to Delft (including the squadron’s first on 29 April 1945), several POW and refugee repatriation flights and one “Cook’s Tour” (viewing the effects of the bombing offensive).

Chris uncovered in his research several 75 veteran’s accounts describing radio conversations taking place between aircraft, spoken in Maori.  Rangiuaia was fluent in te Reo and other likely participants included Amohanga, fellow pilots “Taffy” Zinzan, “Dickie” Urlich and Eric Meharry, as well as two Wireless Operators, Max Spooner and Tap Heperi.

Chris decided to try and compile a list of names. In the process he contacted some of these airmen’s families, which he describes as a real privilege. It is hoped that the alphabetical list below might hopefully help encourage others to share more information about these brave individuals. As he notes, this list is likely incomplete, and any additions would be welcome.

P/O Kiwi Ernest Amohanga (NZ425492) – Pilot (Lancasters)

F/Sgt Phillip Baden “Phil” Baker (NZ416976) – Air Bomber / Mid Upper Gunner

Sgt Raymond Cyril Going (NZ414278) – Pilot (Stirlings)

F/Sgt Edward Henry ‘Ted’ Gray (NZ412878) – Wireless Operator/Air Gunner (Wellingtons, Stirlings)

W/O Tapua ‘Tap’ Heperi (NZ426199) -Wireless Operator/Air Gunner (Lancasters)

P/O Stanley John “Stan” Higgins (NZ415241) – Air Bomber (Lancasters)

F/O Roy George Tawa Iles (NZ4212581) – Pilot (Lancasters / Lincolns)

F/O William Laurence Kereama (NZ425585) – Wireless Operator/Air Gunner (Lancasters)

P/O Inia Whangataua ‘Mac’ Maaka (NZ421741) – Air Bomber (Lancasters)

P/O Mikaere Tutahunga Tomika Manawaiti, DFM, (NZ412895) – Wireless Operator/Air Gunner (Wellingtons, Stirlings)

P/O Glen Osmond Marshall (NZ416011) – Wireless Operator/Air Gunner (Stirlings, Lancasters)

W/O Te Rahu Calvin Mataira (NZ43492) – Rear Gunner (Lancasters)

P/O Ta Tio Tuaine “Tai” Nicholas (NZ425658) – Wireless Operator/Air Gunner (Lancasters)

F/Sgt Hoani Paraone (NZ422204) – Air Bomber (Stirlings, Lancasters)

Sgt Marama Tahu O’Tangi Potiki Te Whaiti Parata (NZ391069) – Wireless Operator/Air Gunner (Wellingtons)

F/S Charles Mita Hilairo Pinker, DFC (NZ416159) – Navigator (Stirlings, Lancasters)

Sgt Roy William Raharuhi (NZ412737) – Pilot (Wellingtons)

F/O Wi Rangiuaia (NZ427319) – Pilot (Lancasters).

F/O Edward Simon (Haimoana) Snowden (NZ427817) – Air Bomber (Lancasters), Later DFC (27 Mar 45) with 7(PFF) Sqn, Polish Cross, CBE, QSM.

F/S Edward Maxwell “Max” Spooner (NZ428162) – Wireless operator (Lancasters)

P/O Iwikau Te Matauira Te Aika, DFC (NZ425860) – Rear Gunner (Stirlings, Lancasters)

W/O Guy Perenara Tomlins, CdeG (Belg) (NZ42312)

F/O Richard John Urlich (NZ426229) – Pilot (Lancasters)

P/O Tame Hawaikirangi ‘Tom’ Waerea (NZ421300) – Rear Gunner (Stirlings)

F/Sgt Tamaterangi Wehi (NZ4213962) – Pilot/Flight Engineer (Lancasters) – Air Bomber (Lancasters, Lincolns)

F/O Vernon John Zinzan (NZ425314) – Pilot (Lancasters).

AKE AKE KIA KAHA

F/O William Laurence Kereama (NZ425585).
(Credit: Jacqui Barwell)

Mana Manawaiti.
(Credit: NZBCA Archive / Harry Hamerton collection)

Tai Nicholas (front right) with the Layton crew.
(Credit: NZBCA Archive / © Clive Estcourt)

F/Sgt Tapua Heperi, Wireless Operator.
(Credit: Lancasters at War 3, Garbett & Goulding)

For more on Maori aircrew in 75 (NZ) Sq:

Thank you for reading – please see further stories or news below.