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).

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Major Keith Park by Trevor Richards By 1945 there was no more eminent New Zealander serving in the RAF than Keith Park. Yet if his career in aviation had ended with the Armistice in 1918, his achievements as a fighter pilot and squadron commander would still have marked him as one of this country’s most notable military airmen. Read more... Pilot Officer Nigel Manfred Park by Ken Wynn Born in Gisborne on 6 March 1921, Park worked as a shepherd before joining the RNZAF in early May 1941. Read more... Lieutenant Carrick Stewart Paul by Trevor Richards New Zealand’s only "ace" to serve as a pilot in the Palestine theatre of operations, Paul was born in Thames on 5 February 1893, but birthplace may be his only qualification in describing him as a New Zealander. No other links with this country have been found, and his enlistment in the Australian Imperial Force (Light ... Read more... Flight Lieutenant Alan McGregor Peart by Ken Wynn Born in Nelson on July 25 1922, Peart worked as a draughtsman before joining the RNZAF in May 1941. Posted as a Sergeant-Pilot to the United Kingdom, he joined 81 Squadron. Read more... Wing Commander John Howard Player by Ken Wynn Born in Auckland on 13 July 1914, John Player joined the RAF in 1937. By the outbreak of war he was a flying instructor and remained so until early 1942, when he joined 255 Squadron as a flight commander. The unit, equipped with Beaufighters, was engaged on night-defence duties. Read more...

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Squadron Leader Paul Watling Rabone by Ken Wynn Born in Salisbury, England, on 2 March 1918, Rabone was educated in New Zealand and subsequently went farming. Read more... Flight Lieutenant John Donald Rae by Ken Wynn Jack Rae was born in Auckland on 15 January 1919 and prior to entry into the RNZAF in September 1940 worked as a clerk. Read more... Flight Lieutenant Douglas Nevill Robinson by Ken Wynn Robinson, born in Gisborne on 19 April 1922, was a station hand when he joined the RNZAF in June 1941. Read more...

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Wing Commander Warren Edward Schrader by Ken Wynn Schrader was born in Wellington on March 27 1921. On leaving school he became an accounts clerk and then joined the RNZAF in March 1941. Read more... Lieutenant Colonel Alan Scott by Trevor Richards "Jack" Scott was one of the most colourful personalities in the RFC and early RAF. The accounts of his contemporaries attest to his popularity, eccentricity, unorthodoxy; his casual disregard for Army and Air Force conventions; his knack of inspiring junior pilots; the indifferent quality of his own flying. All of which ... Read more... Group Captain Desmond James Scott by Ken Wynn Des Scott, born in Ashburton on 11 September 1918, was educated at Cathedral Grammar School, Christchurch before becoming a salesman. He also joined the Territorial Army as a trooper in the Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry. Read more... Squadron Leader Cornelius James Sheddan by Ken Wynn Born in Waimate on 3 March 1918, Jim Sheddan was a farmer before he joined the RNZAF in April 1941. Read more... Group Captain Irving Stanley Smith by Ken Wynn Irving Smith was born in Invercargill on 21 May 1917. Educated in Whangarei and Auckland, he became an apprentice coach painter prior to being accepted for a commission in the RNZAF. He arrived just before the outbreak of war and completed his training in early July 1940 before joining No.151 Squadron. Read more... Squadron Leader Robert Lawrence Spurdle by Ken Wynn Bob Spurdle, born in Wanganui on 3 March 1918, attended Wanganui Collegiate School before being accepted early in 1939 for the last short service commission course. Read more... Flight Lieutenant John Harry Stafford by Ken Wynn ’Jack’ Stafford was born on 19 August 1922 in New Lynn, Auckland. Read more... Flight Lieutenant Gray Stenborg by Ken Wynn Born in Auckland on 13 October 1921, Stenborg was educated at King’s College. He joined the RNZAF in July 1940 and did his flying training in New Zealand and Canada before being posted to the United Kingdom. Read more... Flight Lieutenant Kenneth William Stewart by Ken Wynn Stewart was born in Dunedin on 7 October 1915 and practised as a solicitor before joining the RNZAF in May 1941. Read more... Wing Commander William Hector Stratton by Ken Wynn Born in Hastings on July 22 1916, Stratton joined the RAF in 1937 and on completion of his training in 1938 joined No. 1 Squadron which was at that time equipped with Furies. Read more... Squadron Leader Harvey Nelson Sweetman by Ken Wynn Born in Auckland on 10 October 1921, Harvey Sweetman was a clerk before joining the RNZAF in April 1940. After completing his flying training, he sailed for the United Kingdom in November 1940 as a Sergeant-Pilot. Read more...

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Flight Lieutenant Kenneth William Tait by Ken Wynn Kenneth Tait was born in Wellington on 19 November 1918 and attended Wellington College from 1933 to 1936, after which he studied book-keeping before becoming a stock records clerk. Read more... Squadron Leader Keith Granville Taylor-Cannon by Ken Wynn ’Hyphen’ Taylor-Cannon, from Omakau, was born on 20 December 1921. Read more... Flight Lieutenant Owen Vincent Tracey by Ken Wynn Born in Dunedin on 15 March 1915, Owen Tracey was educated in Auckland and Oamaru before becoming a storehand with Wright Stephenson in Dunedin. Read more... Wing Commander Richard Mackle Trousdale by Ken Wynn Born in Old Mission House, Waimate North, on January 23 1921, Dick Trousdale later moved with his family to Auckland. Read more...