List of World War II aces from New Zealand

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Colin Gray, top-scoring New Zealand ace of World War II, with his Supermarine Spitfire in the Middle East, 1943

This is a list of fighter aces in World War II from New Zealand. An "ace" is generally considered to be any pilot who has downed five or more enemy aircraft. Historians have gleaned figures from combat reports, unit histories, personnel records, and award citations, which sometimes recorded the pilot's tally of victories at the time the decoration was recommended. The top-scoring New Zealand ace of World War II, Colin Gray, is generally credited with 28 victories, that is 27 solo "kills" and two shared. Records were also kept for the shooting down of V-1 flying bombs, with the most successful New Zealander being Arthur Umbers, who is credited with destroying 28 V-1s, in addition to 4 solo aerial victories and one shared.

Name Victories Others Awards Notes
Robert Hamish "Jimmy" Balfour4 & 1 shared-DFC[1]
Minden Vaughan "Mindy" Blake10 & 3 shared-DSO, DFCServed in the Royal Air Force. Flew in Battle of Britain, POW 19 August 1942.[2]
Robert Duff Bremner0 & 3 shared7 V-1sDFC[3][4]
Stanley Franklin Browne5 & 1 shared-DFC*[5]
Charles Roy Bush3 & 1 shared-DFCServed in the Royal Air Force. Also 2 probables. Flew in Battle of Britain, KIFA 30 November 1948.[6]
Raymond Cammock020 & 1 shared V-1sDFCKIA 6 October 1944.[7][4]
Brian John George Carbury15 & 2 shared-DFC*Also 2 probables. Served in the Royal Air Force. Flew in Battle of Britain, achieved "ace in a day" status by shooting down five aircraft on 31 August 1940.[Note 1][8]
Donald C. Carlson3 & 2 shared-DFCAlso 2 probables.[9]
Hansford Ward Chambers7 & 1 shared-DFC[10]
John "Johnny" Milne Checketts16-DSO, DFCAlso 2 probables. Total includes 2 V-1s.[11]
Wilfred Greville Clouston9 & 3 shared-DFCAlso 1 probable and 1 shared probable. Served in the Royal Air Force. Flew in Battle of Britain, POW February 1942.[12]
Basil Gordon "Buck" Collyns5 & 2 shared-DFCAlso 1 probable. Served in the Royal Air Force. Flew in Battle of Britain, KIA 20 August 1944.[13]
William Vernon Crawford-Compton20 & 1 shared-DSO*, DFC*Also 3 probables and 1 shared probable. Served in the Royal Air Force.[14][15]
James Roy Cullen016 V-1sDFC*POW 4 May 1945.[4][16]
Raymond Jack Danzey011 V-1sDFC[4][3]
Alan Christopher "Al" Deere17 & 1 shared-DSO, DFC*Also 4 probables. Served in the Royal Air Force. Flew in Battle of Britain.[17]
Antonio Simmons Dini5 & 2 shared-Also 3 probables. Served in the Royal Air Force. KIFA 31 May 1940.[18]
Eric Steele "Francis" Doherty7-DFM, DFC (US)[19]
Owen David "Ginger" Eagleson2 & 1 shared20 V-1sDFCPOW 2 May 1945.[4][16]
Geoffrey Bryson Fisken11-DFCAlso 1 probable. Highest scoring flying ace of the Commonwealth against the Japanese in the South Pacific.[20]
John Albert Axel Gibson12 & 1 shared-DSO, DFCServed in the Royal Air Force. Flew in Battle of Britain, also in South Pacific with RNZAF.[21][22]
Reginald Joseph Cowan Grant7 & 1 shared-DFM, DFC*Also 1 probable. KIA 28 February 1944.[23]
Colin Falkland Gray27 & 2 shared-DSO, DFC**Also 6 probables. Served in the Royal Air Force. Flew in Battle of Britain, highest scoring New Zealand flying ace of WWII.[24]
Bevan Mason Hall07 & 1 shared V-1sKIA 27 December 1944.[4]
Peter Francis Locker Hall8-DFC*Also 1 probable.[25]
Owen Hardy3 & 3 shared-DFC*Also 1 probable.[26]
James Chilton Francis "Spud" Hayter5-DFC*Also 1 probable and 1 unclaimed. Served in the Royal Air Force. Flew in Battle of Britain.[27]
Gilbert McLean "Gillie" Hayton5-DFCPossibly 6 aerial victories. Died on or about 20 October 1942 of thirst and exposure after the sinking RMS Laconia.[28]
Michael James Herrick6 & 2 shared-DFC*Served in the Royal Air Force. Flew in Battle of Britain, also in South Pacific with RNZAF. KIA 16 June 1944.[29]
Raymond Brown Hesselyn18 & 1 shared-DFC, DFM*POW October 1943.[14][30]
William Henry Hodgson5 & 2 shared-DFCAlso 3 probables. Served in the Royal Air Force. Flew in Battle of Britain, KIFA 13 March 1941.[31]
Garnet J. Michael "Gus" Hooper18 V-1sDFC[32]
John Arthur Houlton5 & 2 shared-DFC[33]
Reginald Jack Hyde5-AFCAlso 1 probable. Served in the Royal Air Force. Flew in Battle of Britain.[34]
Mervyn Robert Bruce Ingram8 & 6 shared-DFCAlso 3 probables. Died of sickness 11 July 1944.[35]
George Edmond "Jamie" Jameson11-DSO, DFCNew Zealand's highest scoring night fighter ace of WWII.[36][37]
Patrick Geraint Jameson9-DSO, DFC*Also 1 probable and 1 shared probable. Served in the Royal Air Force. Flew in Battle of Britain.[36]
Ernest Leslie "Nipper" Joyce10-DFMAlso 2 probables. KIA 17 June 1944.[38]
Ivon Julian5-DFCAlso 2 probables.[39]
Edgar James "Cobber" Kain16-DFCServed in the Royal Air Force and was its first flying ace of WWII. KIFA 7 June 1940.[14][40]
William Arthur "Wacky" Kalka09 V-1sKIA 25 March 1945.[32]
Robert Gordon "Dutch" Kleimeyer07 & 1 shared V-1sDFC[32]
Frank Brewster "Bruce" Lawless110 V-1sDFC, DFC (US)[32][41]
Keith Ashley Lawrence4 & 2 shared-DFCServed in the Royal New Zealand Air Force. Flew in Battle of Britain.[42]
Roy Emile LeLong73 V-1sAFC, DFC*Also 1 probable.[43]
David Franklin Livingstone5 & 2 shared-DFC[44]
Harold Watson Longley5 & 1 shared-DFCTotal includes 3 aircraft destroyed on ground or sea.[45]
Kevin McCarthy06 V-1s[32][41]
James Hugh "Black Mac" McCaw019 & 1 shared V-1sDFC[32][46]
Sir Hector Douglas McGregor2-DSOHas been credited with 6 aerial victories in the past. Served in the Royal Air Force. Flew in Battle of Britain.[47]
John Noble MacKenzie9 & 1 shared-DFCServed in the Royal Air Force. Flew in Battle of Britain.[48][49]
Russell Merriman MacKenzie3 & 1 shared-DSO, DFCTotal may be 4 & 1 shared.[50]
Evan Dall "Rosie" Mackie23-DSO, DFC*Also 2 probables.[14][51]
Henry Maurice "Morrie" Mason05 & 1 shared V-1sDFC, FC (NL)KIFA 19 July 1948.[32]
William Lister "Dusty" Miller07 V-1sDFC[32][46]
Leighton John Montgomerie4 & 1 shared-DFCDOW 29 August 1944.[52]
Francis "Spud" Murphy4-DFCAlso 1 probable.[53]
Percival Guy Haig Newton5-DFCAlso 1 probable.[54]
Harold Leslie "Knockers" North5-DFCServed in the Royal Air Force. Flew in Battle of Britain, KIA 1 May 1942.[55]
Brian John O'Connor1 & 1 shared8 & 1 shared V-1sDFC[32]
Nigel Manfred Park10 & 1 shared-DFMKIA 25 October 1942.[14][56]
Alan McGregor Peart6 & 1 shared-DFC[57]
John Howard Player4-DSO, DFCHas been credited with 6 aerial victories in the past; KIFA 8 August 1947.[58]
Neville Joseph "Pip" Powell15 V-1s[32]
Paul Wattling Rabone9-DFCServed in the Royal Air Force. Flew in Battle of Britain, KIA 24 July 1944.[59]
John Donald "Jack" Rae12-DFC*POW August 1943.[14][60]
Arthur Norman "Artie" Sames2 & 1 shared5 V-1sDFC*[32] Arthur Sames taught woodwork at Auckland Grammar School. He also built hydrofoil sailing yachts.
Warren Edward "Smokey" Schrader11 & 2 shared-DFC*Also 4 aircraft destroyed on the ground.[14][61]
Desmond James Scott5 & 3 shared-DSO, DFC*, CDeG*Also 6 probables.[62]
Cornelius James Sheddan57 and 1 shared V-1sDFC[63]
Irving Stanley Smith8-CBE, DFC*Served with the Royal New Zealand Air Force. Flew in Battle of Britain.[64]
Robert Lawrence Spurdle10-DFC*Served with the Royal New Zealand Air Force. Flew in Battle of Britain, also in South Pacific with RNZAF.[65][66]
John Harry "Jack" Stafford2 & 3 shared8 V-1sDFC[67]
Gray Stenborg14-DFCKIA 24 September 1943.[14][68]
Kenneth William Stewart5-DFC[69]
William Hector Stratton2 & 1 shared-DFC*Has been credited with 9 aerial victories in the past.[70]
Harvey Nelson Sweetman2 & 2 shared10 and 1 shared V-1sDFC[71]
Kenneth William Tait6-DFCServed in the Royal Air Force. Flew in Battle of Britain, MIA 4 August 1941.[72]
Keith Granville "Hyphen" Taylor-Cannon4 & 1 shared1 V-1DFC*Also 1 shared probable. MIA 13 April 1945.[73]
Owen Vincent Tracey6-DFCServed in the Royal Air Force. Flew in Battle of Britain, KIA 8 December 1941.[74]
Richard Macklow Trousdale7-DFC*Served in the Royal Air Force. Flew in Battle of Britain, KIFA 19 May 1947.[75]
Arthur Ernest "Spike" Umbers4 & 1 shared28 V-1sDFC*Also 1 probable and 1 shared probable. KIA 14 February 1945.[76][77]
Victor Bosanquet Strachan Verity8 & 1 shared-DFCAlso 3 probables. Served in the Royal Air Force.[78]
Derek Harland Ward6 & 1 shared-DFC*Also 1 probable. Flew in Battle of Britain, KIA 17 June 1942.[79]
Edward Preston "Hawkeye" Wells12-DFC*Also 4 probables. Served with the Royal New Zealand Air Force. Flew in Battle of Britain.[14][80]
Jeffery George West4 & 2 shared-DFMAlso 1 shared probable.[81]
Derrick Fitzgerald "Jerry" Westenra8 & 3 shared-DFC*Also 2 probables.[82]
Gordon Albert Williams5-DFM[83]
Bert Samuel Wipiti3 & 3 shared-DFMFlew in Southeast Asia and then Europe. KIA 3 October 1943.[84]
Brian Wallace Woodman4 & 1 shared-DFC[85]
Robert Duncan Yule3 & 5 shared-DSO, DFC*Also 2 probables and 1 shared probable. Served in the Royal Air Force. Flew in Battle of Britain, KIFA 11 September 1953.[86]

Table notes

Abbreviations

Awards

AwardTitleNotes
AFCAir Force CrossAwarded for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying, though not in active operations against the enemy".[87]
CDeGCroix de GuerreA military decoration of both France and Belgium, also commonly bestowed to foreign military forces allied to France and Belgium.[88]
DFCDistinguished Flying CrossAwarded to Royal Air Force commissioned officers and warrant officers for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against the enemy".[87]
DFC*Distinguished Flying Cross and BarA bar is added to the ribbon for holders of the DFC who received a second award.[87]
DFC (US)Distinguished Flying Cross – United StatesThe Distinguished Flying Cross is a medal awarded to any officer or enlisted member of the United States armed forces who distinguishes himself or herself in support of operations by "heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight".[89]
DFMDistinguished Flying MedalAwarded to military below commissioned rank, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against the enemy".[90]
DSODistinguished Service OrderAwarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime.[91]
DSO*Distinguished Service Order and BarA bar is added to the ribbon for holders of the DSO who received a second award.[91]

See also

Notes

References

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