Wife of Jean; father of Bob, Christine

William Howe joined the RNZAF when war was declared, reporting to Hobsonville for first few weeks.

He completed 3 months training course as flight rigger at the Otahuhu Railway Workshops and was then posted to Woodbourne for 5 months.

Next posted to Rongotai for 3 months further training a IIA and then posted to Hobsonville where he worked assembling Harvard aircraft

Early in 1941 he was posted overseas to Singapore to work on overhauling 4 Singapore Flying boats, by October 2 of these went to Fiji, by December 2 more went to Fiji.

In Singapore at Seletar Base, the aerodrome for Singapore and Malaya, when Japan declared war. "The first we knew of it was when bombs started falling all around us."

January 31 enemy action forced all to leave the station, evacuated with RAF 205 Squadron to Java aboard HMS Kedah. The squadron was due to go to Sumatra but the Japanese got there first.

From Java he was ordered to return to New Zealand where he joined 30 Squadron at Gisborne which was flying Vincents, on patrol work over the Pacific.

After about 5 months posted to Ohakea and working in the workshops doing major overhauls on the Hudson bombers for service in the Pacific. Airmen could do minor work on the planes but the planes were sent back to NZ for major work.

Posted to Rukahia, near Hamilton.

Posted, with 12 fitters to Santos, New Hebrides to learn about the new aircraft dive bombers and torpedo bombers.

On return posted to Hobsonville assembling aircraft and waiting for the dive bombers and torpedo bombers to arrive.

Didn't work with them as was posted to Technical Training School, Nelson as an instructor.

Total service with the Royal New Zealand Air Force was 6 years

Attended reunions every year until 2006, "this was the last time because there was no one there I knew, they had passed away or couldn't come because of ill health"

Narrative of service on file. Cenotaph record initially prepared with the serviceman in 2008 AWMM