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Cenotaph Stories

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Cenotaph Stories

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Air Force

  • David Daniel and the 14 Squadron

    Victoria Passau, Online Cenotaph & Enquiry Service Manager

    David Daniel's journey from joining the Air Training Corps in New Zealand to his service in Japan's post-war efforts reflects a noteworthy yet relatable experience. Initially drawn to flying, his path led to essential ground roles during WWII and Japan's rebuilding, illustrating the valuable contributions of service personnel during this pivotal period.

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  • Air Chief Marshal Sir Keith Park – Officially One of The Few!

    Dilip Sarkar (MBE FRHistS)

    Historian Dilip Sarkar has spent his career researching the Battle of Britain. In this piece he shares with us the new stories he has uncovered about the service of Auckland’s Air Chief Marshal Sir Keith Park and his involvement in the defence of Britain.

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  • Stories from Singapore: the RNZAF in World War II

    Matthew Nickless
    Collection Technician - Research Support

    Despite the proximity of Singapore and the Pacific to New Zealand, most New Zealand forces were concentrated in North Africa in 1942. Matthew Nickless looks at two RNZAF servicemen who served close to home, and their experiences during the Fall of Singapore.

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  • 'ATA-Girls': The Fab Five of New Zealand Aviation

    Dr Gabrielle Fortune
    Historian

    They were called 'ATA-girls' (attagirls) female pilots who served with the Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA) during the Second World War. During the war 168 women served with the ATA, including five New Zealand Women who paid their own way to England for a chance to fly.

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  • A Kiwi in Canada

    Nelson Bennett
    Collection Technician - Research Support

    Lawrence Don Bennett was one of 7000 kiwis who shipped off to Canada to take part in the Air Training Scheme. The program was massive, and it affected so many New Zealand service people, but is often overlooked in the history of the Second World War.

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  • 'So what the hell'

    By Gail Romano
    Associate Curator, History

    During the Battle of Britain there were indeed many New Zealanders contributing in important ways, ‘being New Zealanders’ both on the ground and in the air. By the end of July 1940 New Zealand’s Minister of Defence Fred Jones was noting 710 New Zealand pilots were in the RAF. In this article Gail Romano shares some stories of the New Zealanders who served in the Battle of Britain.

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  • Harold Winstone Butterworth

    By Georgina White
    Curator, Cenotaph Galleries

    'It is great sport up on a bumpy day & as you first overcome one bump & then another you have a great feeling of joy over your imitation of the bird & the freeness of the air.' Harold Butterworth, a pilot with the Royal Flying Corps describes his experiences flying during the First World War.

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  • An Invisible History: Wāhine Māori in the Air Force during World War II

    By Stacey Fraser and Angela Wanhalla (Kāi Tahu)
    History Programme, University of Otago

    'The Style for you is Air Force Blue' was the recruitment tag-line for the New Zealand Women's Auxiliary Air Force, established on the 16th January 1941. In this article Angela Wanhalla and Stacey Fraser from University of Otago look at the formation of the WAAFs and Wāhine Māori who served in the Air Force during the Second World War, who's history has largely been invisible.

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  • Stage Door Canteen encounter changes a young navigator’s direction

    By Michael Smythe
    New Zealand Design Historian

    Known fondly as the Godfather of New Zealand Industrial Design, Gifford Jackson has left a significant legacy to the Industrial Design scene. Michael Smythe New Zealand Design Historian shares part of Gifford Jackson's story and how a chance encounter at a stage door changed New Zealand's Design History.

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  • The Zero: Two men and a plane

    By Gail Romano
    Associate Curator History

    On 15 September 1945 the Mitsubishi A6M3 Zero, flown by Wing Commander Kofoed, landed at Piva airfield in Bougainville. This aircraft is now on display in Auckland War Memorial Museum and the story of its journey here has been widely repeated. However, the story hinges on two men of different nationalities who were each instrumental in the Zero’s acquisition.

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