The number of 135 is just those who received the Battle of Britain Clasp, so only members of RAF Fighter Command who flew operationally during the battle. In fact some researchers say now it is 136, and recently Dilip Sakar got ACM Sir Keith Park recognised too for flying operationally during the Battle, so it may be 137 Kiwis with the Clasp now. But they were only a fraction of the number of New Zealand men flying in the defence of Britain at that time.

Interestingly I’d always known that New Zealand declared war on Germany simultaneously with Britain, and had to then wait for a telegram for the other side of the world to confirm that the UK had gone through with it. But only this week I discovered that the New Zealand Prime Minister, Joe Savage, had declared emphatically as far back as September 1938 that should Britain end up going to war, New Zealand would be right beside them, unquestionably. It is quite amazing the attitude at the time. By the time the Battle of Britain was happening, Savage was dead, and his replacement Peter Fraser found himself the New Zealand PM. He turned out to be a very good war leader, which is astounding considering he spent time in prison in WWI for his anti war pacifist leanings.

I think the only Australian squadron in Britain at the time of the battle would have been No. 10 Squadron RAAF with its Sunderlands, in Coastal Command. Most of the Article XV squadrons formed in 1941 or later. No. 10 Squadron was an Aussie squadron that moved to Britain, I think to pick up their Sunderlands from memory and they stayed on there when the war came along, just like The New Zealand Squadron was there to get our new Wellingtons, and they were offered to the British Government in August 1939, and stayed on, being numbered No. 75 (NZ) Squadron RAF in April 1940.

I met Les Munro on a few occasions. And I had the honour to interview him too, which was a real honour. He was a wonderful gentleman, and he was a fascinating man. I also had the privilege to see him fly Bill Reid’s Anson once too. You can listen to the interview I did with Les here:

https://cambridgeairforce.org.nz/WONZShow/2014/07/episode-70-les-munro-…

https://cambridgeairforce.org.nz/WONZShow/2014/07/episode-71-les-munro-…

No problem. I wonder is any other serving MP or equivalent politician in world history has been allowed to get into the latest fighter plane and take it up solo.

Thanks chaps.

Yes I have seen numerous newspaper photos and reports showing Germany’s top generals looking over the RAF’s bombers and fighters at various places. RAF Mildenhall was one, where they had the RAF all lined up en masse for the Coronation Review in 1937. And in 1938 they invited them again to look at the new Bristol Blenheims. I have to wonder why this was allowed to happen. Were they telling the Germans a load of propaganda lies?

The Battle of Britain was not just Britain’s victory, it was the Empire’s. There were thousands of Kiwis there in 1940 defending Britain from the invasion. Many Kiwi airmen had already fought in France and at least 20 lost their lives. There were over 1000 New Zealanders serving in the RAF by the time the Battle of Britain was in full swing, and while only 136 of them are recognised with the Battle of Britain Clasp for their service in RAF Fighter Command, many more were active in Bomber Command, Coastal Command, Training Command, and all the other structures of the RAF, right up to of course AVM Sir Keith Park. And then there were Kiwis in the Royal Navy, and a few thousand NZ Army troops who were diverted from their destination in Egypt and sent to the south coast, Kent and Surrey, to stop the invasion because the British Army had lost all their equipment and were knackered. With them were thousands of Aussies also sent there for the same reason. Men came from all over the Empire to stop Britain from being lost. All those thousands of Kiwis were volunteers and they came from the furthest end of the earth to be there. I think it is nice to be proud of their efforts too even if history only remembers the Fighter Command pilots.

Regarding Hugh Dowding being stood down, I know it was a snub but I wonder how much longer he would have been there if that had not happened. He had already retired from the RAF, and was brought in for the emergency of war. But my understanding was his reactivation was always seen as being a temporary one till Britain got back on its feet. They needed him because before retiring he’d set up a lot of the defence systems.

His boss, Chief of Air Staff Marshal of the RAF Sir Cyril Newall was also out of a job soon afterwards, packed off to New Zealand to become our Governor General.

The one that looks the worst was the removal of Keith Park, but he ended up in Malta and helped to save that important island too, and he later again did wonders for the RAF in the Burma campaign. So probably better that he was sent to places that really needed inspirational leadership.

From the Auckland Star, 6 March 1937:

AIR ESTIMATES.

GROWING STRENGTH.

Programme For Establishment OF 146 Squadrons.

1750 FIRST-LINE ‘PLANES

United Press Association.—Copyright (Received 10 a.m.) LOXDON, March 5.

The Air Estimates have been published. The total is £82,500,000, of which £26,000,000 will come from the defence loan.

The Air Force on May 1 will comprise 100 squadrons at home, 20 overseas, and 20 in the Fleet air arm.

The personnel will be 4830 officers and 51,000 men. It is aimed to increase the personnel to a total of 70,000, exclusive of those serving in India. Home squadrons will later consist of 1700 aircraft first-line strength.

Six factories to manufacture engines should be completed in a few months. Flying training will be carried out at 13 civil flying schools, and service schools will be increased from four to 11.

It is proposed to create ten special units to operate a balloon barrage in connection with the defence of London.

The civil aviation vote totals £2,315,000, of which £70,000 will be devoted to improvement of ground facilities on Empire routes. Only £5,800,000 of the increase of £31,800,000 in the Air Estimates will have to be met by the taxpayer.

Expansion in Aircraft Outlined.
In a memorandum accompanying the Estimates, the Secretary for Air, Viscount Swinton, states that the present scheme of expansion provides for a metropolitan air force of 124 squadrons, reports a British official wireless message.

Of these, 100 will have been formed by the end of March. During the summer the number will rise to 124 squadrons, including 20 squadrons of the auxiliary Air Force, with an approximate first-line strength of 1500 aircraft.

Provision is also made for increasing the Fleet air arm from 217 to 278 first-line aircraft during the year, in conformity with Admiralty requirements for aircraft-carrier and catapult ships.

Royal Air Force pay is to be increased by £1,770,000 to £8,400,000. The Estimates provide for £18,000,000 to be spent on land and buildings, including construction and equipment of the “shadow” factories. This is an increase of £8,050,000 over the similar provision made in 1936-37, but towards this expenditure £14,000,000 is to be provided by the loan.

Extensions, either permanent or temporary in character, have been carried out at 34 of the 62 aerodromes. Thirteen additional aerodrome sites are now in occupation and, in addition, five civil have been equipped and arc being used for service purposes. Work is in progress on another 20 sites, and further sites will be acquired during the year.

Yes, actually you are right, in the 1930s he was known as Viscount Swinton.

It seems the expansion started in 1936. 

Here are a couple of extracts from The Auckland Star report dated 7 March 1936:

“Details of the Air Estimates show that this year the pay roll of the Royal Air Force is estimated at £6,518,000, compared with the 1935 Estimate, including the supplementary Estimate of £5,002,000. “

And:

“Viscount Swinton, Air Minister directed attention to the fact that the expansion programme necessitated the training of 2500 pilots and 22,000 airmen in less than two years. The success that has so far attended recruiting indicates that the programme, despite the unexampled peace-time scale, will be duly achieved.”

Thanks guys, yes i see the 214 Squadron turrets now. Not a bomber I have seen often, quite unfamiliar. I guess it is the direct predecessor to the Halifax. 

And more here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MR3_3t9MFUM