From
Waipawa, Hawkes Bay.
Signed up with the RNZAF in 1940,
joined 489 NZ Squadron (Coastal Command).
A foundation member, doing two tours flying as
Navigator...
on Blenheim IVs in 1942, then on Handley Page
Hampdems in 1943.
(known fondly as "the
Flying Suitcase" because of the very small
crew area).
Chum Collett
returned to New Zealand as an instructor.
Bristol Beaufighter
489 NZ
Squadron was formed in August 1941 as a torpedo
bomber squadron, orginally with Bristol
Beauforts,
then Blenheim IVs in January 1942. Hampdem
torpedo bombers carried out anti-sub patrols,
attacks on E-boats and
surface shipping. Re-equipped with Beaufighters
(Oct 1943), they carried out operations along the
North German,
Dutch and French coasts. The Norwegian coast was
later added to their areas of operation.
The Squadron disbanded in 1945, just after
receiving the first shipment of Mosquito FB6s.
