The New Zealand Aces

Our museum is dedicated to all New Zealand fighter pilots. Because it is not possible to display photographs and combat details of every one of these men in the museum the walls of the aircraft area are devoted to the 94 pilots who are known to have achieved 'ace' status in World Wars I & II. 
 
The term 'fighter ace' is generally held to mean a pilot who has scored at least five confirmed victories in air to air combat. In the case of night fighter and multi-seat day fighter aircraft the navigator/radar operator, without whose assistance the pilot could not have reached his total, is named where possible.

While the museum highlights the aces, it does not seek to sensationalise their achievements. There were many fine pilots who for reasons of circumstance or opportunity were unable to build up 'ace' scores. 
 
We pay tribute also to the ground crews whose skill and dedication, often under great pressure and in almost intolerable conditions, provided the essential strength of the Air Forces. 
 
The destruction of an enemy aircraft, designated a 'victory' in combat terms, very often meant the death of its pilot. Respect for the adversary was common among the fighter pilots and since the war many survivors from both sides have sought contact with each other. 
 
We honour here our own aerial warriors - we ask you to think too of the young men who, also flying in the Air Force of their country, fought against them. 
 
(A note regarding our World War One fighter aces - the rank on their biography is that which they held at the end of the Great War).

k

Flying Officer Edgar James Kain by Ken Wynn ’Cobber’ Kain was born in Hastings on 27 June 1918. Following school, he worked as a clerk in his father’s warehousing business in Wellington. Read more... Squadron Leader John Rutherford Clark Kilian by Ken Wynn John Kilian, born in Queenstown on 23 June 1911, joined the RNZAF in September 1937 and was subsequently transferred to the RAF in 1941. Read more...

l

Squadron Leader Keith Ashley Lawrence by Ken Wynn Keith Lawrence was born at Waitara on November 25 1919. After leaving Southland Boys’ High School at Invercargill in December 1936 he worked in a bank. Read more... Squadron Leader Roy Emile Lelong by Ken Wynn Born in Auckland on December 12 1917, Roy Lelong became a carpenter after leaving school. He joined the RNZAF in January 1942, completed his flight training and by 1944 was serving with 605 Squadron in England, flying Mosquitos on night intruder patrols over France and the Low Countries. Read more... Flight Lieutenant David Franklin Livingstone by Ken Wynn An accountant by profession, David Livingstone was born in Wellington on 3 February 1916 and joined the RNZAF in late October 1940. Read more... Flight Lieutenant Harold Watson Longley by Ken Wynn Harold Longley was born in 1921. After completing his flying training he was posted to the United Kingdom. Read more...

m

Squadron Leader John Noble Mackenzie by Ken Wynn John Mackenzie, grandson of former Prime Minister Sir Thomas Mackenzie, was born at Goodwood, Otago on 11 August 1914. Read more... Wing Commander Russell Merriman MacKenzie by Ken Wynn Born at Tai Tapu on 8 September 1916, Mackenzie joined the RAF in August 1937. During the early years of the war Mackenzie was an instructor in Flying Training Command and was awarded the AFC for his services. Read more... Wing Commander Evan Dall Mackie by Ken Wynn Mackie was born at Waihi on October 31 1917. Before joining the RNZAF in January 1941 he worked as an electrician. Read more... Wing Commander Camille Enright Malfroy by Ken Wynn Born in Hokitika on January 21 1909, Cam Malfroy was a well-known tennis player before the war, representing New Zealand in the Davis Cup. Read more... Major Forster Maynard by Trevor Richards Justly famous as the man who, with the slenderest of resources, controlled the air defence of Malta during the dark days of 1939-41, his deeds in the Second World War have tended to obscure the fact that Forster Maynard was also an accomplished fighter pilot in the earlier conflict. Read more... Air Marshal Sir Hector Douglas McGregor by Ken Wynn McGregor (born Wairoa 15 February 1910) was educated at Napier Boys’ High School before being accepted as a direct entry cadet into the RAF on a short service commission. Read more... Captain Malcolm McGregor by Trevor Richards Malcolm McGregor was born in Mangamako, near Hunterville, on 4 March 1896, the son of a sheep farmer. Unable to get parental permission to enlist in the Army and serve overseas until he reached the age of 21, he instead enrolled at the New Zealand Flying School and began training in March 1916. Passing his flight tests in September, he ... Read more... Flight Lieutenant Leighton John Montgomerie by Ken Wynn Leighton Montgomerie was born at Opunake on the 13th May 1922, receiving his secondary education at New Plymouth Boys' High School. Read more... Squadron Leader Francis Murphy by Ken Wynn Murphy was born in Bolton, Lancashire, on 19 January 1917 and his family later emigrated to New Zealand. He worked as a clerk before joining the RNZAF in March 1941. Read more...

n

Wing Commander Percival Guy Haig Newton by Ken Wynn Newton was born in Christchurch on September 29 1917 and worked as an engineering draughtsman before joining the RNZAF. Read more... Flight Lieutenant Harold Leslie North by Ken Wynn Harold North, born in Dunedin 31 October 1919, was educated at Otago Boys’ High School and Wellington College before leaving school to become a law clerk. Read more...