Royal New Zealand Air Force – World Warbird News https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com The latest in warbirds and historical aviation Wed, 05 Aug 2015 10:35:45 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/WWN-icon-256-150x150.png Royal New Zealand Air Force – World Warbird News https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com 32 32 Last “Dambusters” pilot Les Munro passes away https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2015/08/05/last-dambusters-pilot-les-munro-passes-away/ https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2015/08/05/last-dambusters-pilot-les-munro-passes-away/#respond Wed, 05 Aug 2015 10:35:45 +0000 http://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/?p=2758

Continue reading]]> Left to right: Les Munro, King George VI and Guy Gibson on 27 May 1943.

Left to right: Les Munro, King George VI and Guy Gibson on 27 May 1943.

Squadron Leader John Leslie “Les” Munro, CNZM, DSO, QSO, DFC, JP, the last surviving pilot of the “Dambuster raid”, passed away on 4 August 2015 in New Zealand, aged 96.

Munro was born in 1919 and joined the RNZAF in 1941. He made a first tour of operations with No 97 Squadron flying the Manchester and later Halifax, in 1942-1943. He volunteered fo No 617 Squadron and joined the unit at its creation in March 1943. He was part of the famous raid against the Rühr dams on 17 May 1943, but was forced to return home with his anti-dam mine after he was hit by Flak over the Netherlands and lost all communications.

He took part in Operation Taxable, the plan to deceive the Germans into believing the Allied invasion was taking place in the Seine Maritime region rather than Normandy.

He left the Air Force in 1946 having flown 58 combat missions. After his return to New-Zealand, he took an interest in local politics and served as an adviser and mayor.

A full obituary can be found on The Telegraph.

GM-423 - UK, Lancaster B III, LM482, S-L Munro, No 617 Squadron, Operation Taxable, 5 June 1944 - two viewsLes Munro’s Lancaster during Operation taxable, on 5/6 June 1944.

GM-424 - UK, Lancaster B III, LM482, S-L Munro, No 617 Squadron, Operation Taxable, 5 June 1944 1

 

]]> https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2015/08/05/last-dambusters-pilot-les-munro-passes-away/feed/ 0 George Hood Aviation Museum to receive airworthy Aermacchi 339 https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2011/07/15/george-hood-aviation-museum-to-receive-airworthy-aermacchi-339/ https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2011/07/15/george-hood-aviation-museum-to-receive-airworthy-aermacchi-339/#respond Fri, 15 Jul 2011 07:56:23 +0000 http://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/?p=366 The museum, located in Masterton, New Zealand, will receive a retired Aermacchi 339 CB of the RNZAF which will be capable of flight. The museum was initially hoping for an A-4 Skyhawk, but lacked space and funds for such an aircraft.

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]]> https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2011/07/15/george-hood-aviation-museum-to-receive-airworthy-aermacchi-339/feed/ 0 Fighter ace Geoff Fisken passes away https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2011/07/06/fighter-ace-geoff-fisken-passes-away/ https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2011/07/06/fighter-ace-geoff-fisken-passes-away/#respond Wed, 06 Jul 2011 13:41:50 +0000 http://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/?p=283

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Geoff Fisken in front of his P-40 "Wairarapa Wildcat". (Photo RNZAF)

New Zealander ace Geoff Fisken, DFC, passed away on June 12, 2011. He was credited with 10 to 13 confirmed aerial victories against the Japanese, flying the Brewster Buffalo and later the P-40 Warhawk. He is believed to be the highest-scoring British Commonwealth ace in the Pacific theater. After the war, Fisken returned to his pre-war occupation as a farmer.  Read the obituary on the Telegraph or Fisken’s Wikipedia page.

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