Son of Niwa and Emere Waerea of Nuhaka, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand.

According to family, Pilot Officer Waerea was one of three Maori in the initial intake to the Air Force in World War II. At the time of his death, he was an Air Gunner.

Sergeant - 19 March 1943

Flight Sergeant - 19 September 1943

Pilot Officer - 24 September 1943

Was a rear Gunner.

Pilot Officer Waerea was a member of the crew of a Stirling Aircraft involved in an attack on Hanover on the night 27/28 September 1943. The aircraft failed to return and he was classified as missing (The New Zealand Herald noted on 9 November 1943 that Pilot Officer F.H. Waerea was missing on air operations.) Later information was received from a source to the International Red Cross, that he had lost his life. (On 23 November the Herald recorded that he was missing believed killed.)

A post-war casualty search found that the plane had crashed near Heilseded, and that he was buried there. Flight Sergeant R.C. Whitmore of Pukekohe and Flying Officer D.M. Adamson of Auckland also perished in the plane.

Attended Te Aute College and Maori Agricultural College near Hastings (Source: RNZAF Biographies (R17845617)) AWMM