Allegiance New Zealand Died October 3, 1943, France Name Bert Wipiti | Battles/wars World War II Years of service 1941–1943 † Battles and wars World War II | |
Born 16 January 1922
New Plymouth, New Zealand ( 1922-01-16 ) Awards Distinguished Flying Medal Service/branch Royal New Zealand Air Force Commands held No. 243 Squadron RAF, No. 485 Squadron RNZAF | ||
Bert Sam Wipiti, DFM (16 January 1922 – 3 October 1943) was a New Zealand fighter pilot and flying ace of the Second World War.
Biography
A Māori and born in New Plymouth, he joined the Royal New Zealand Air Force in January 1941.
Initially he was with No. 243 Squadron RAF at Kallang Airport, Singapore, flying the outclassed Brewster Buffalo fighter. He claimed 3½ kills for the period to March 1942. He was killed over France while flying a Spitfire with No. 485 Squadron RNZAF, escorting a bombing raid on a French power station.
References
Bert Wipiti Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA