Husband of Joan

Awarded Air Gunners Badge 26 July 1940.

Pilot Officer Nov/Dec 1941

Flying Officer December 1942

Flight Lieutenant 29 November 1943

Sent to Burma 18 November 1943

When captured was posted as Missing, presumed killed. Held in Rangoon - initially at University where he was interrogated at great length and with great cruelty, later transferred to solitary confinement at Camp and then to the main camp. He was put on trial by the Japanese for carrying out successful air attacks against them and also for insisting on humane treatment for sick and wounded prisoners. He was sentenced to be beheaded but in the confusion caused by the ever-nearing British forces, confirmation of the sentence never came through.

When liberated from prison, he and five others, who had taken a leading part in the take-over action were flown out, the rest of the prisoners being evacuated by hospital ship.

Emeny reached Calcutta on 8 May 1945, weighing 6 stone 10lbs. After a period of convalescence he returned to New Zealand in July 1945.

He and his wife Joan resided in New Plymouth.

Portrait in Wynn, K. (1981). The Battle of Britain: 10 July - 31 October 1940

POW Record

Flew with 264 (RAF) Squadron as an Air Gunner in the Battle of Britain.

Rangoon: first at University, later transferred to solitary confinement at Camp and then to main camp.

On 9 November 1944 Emeny led six other Mosquitos in a dawn raid on the Japanese airfield at Meiktila. After destroying an enemy bomber as it was taking off his aircraft was hit by ground fire, causing it to catch alight and stopping one engine. Emeny managed to put out the fire, but was then attacked by fighters and shot down, crashing in flames into the jungle.

Trapped by his feet, Emeny protected himself from the fire by covering himself with the parachute and putting on his oxygen mask. After a struggle he managed to cut himself free and was pulled out of the wreckage by his navigator. They went into the jungle, both injured and burned, and rested until afternoon. They then began walking and reached a Burmese village, but were unsuccessful in persuading the villagers to take them to safety. After robbing the two airmen the natives betrayed them to the Japanese, who took severe reprisals against any Burmese giving aid to downed Allied aircrew.

By 28 April 1945, Indian and Burmese Collaborationist troops left by Japanese let control of prison to Prisoners in return for promises of obtaining clemency for them.

3 May 1945 British arrive. AWMM