The Fleet Air Arm

Our Contribution

         I wonder how many people fully realize the important role played by the New Zealand Navy Fleet Air Arm during the Second World War just over 80 years ago?

         Five hundred and eighty NA2s were given their basic training on ‘The Rock’.

         An NA2 was a Naval Airman Second Class and The Rock was HMNZS Tamaki on Motuihe Island in the Hauraki Gulf. Over 15,000 sailors were given their basic training on ‘The Rock’.

         On Tamaki we were woken up before sunrise with a loudspeaker chanting “Wakey, wakey, rise, and shine. You have had your time and I have had mine. Hit the deck, hit the deck”. We were tipped out of our hammocks if we were slow and the hammocks were slung up high.

         Our first task was to lash up and stow our hammocks into bins at the end of the hall.

         First, we were given a cup of thick ‘Pussers Kai,” a sweet thick chocolate drink. Regardless of the weather, we went straight into vigorous exercises before cleaning up for breakfast.

         Learning to sleep in a hammock, learning to climb up a rope, and row a cutter against a tidal flow were all memorable skills taught –  it was all drill and discipline.       

         No shore leave was granted for one month.  It was not easy but we were very fit at the end of the month.

         During the Second World War 1,070 New Zealanders served in the Fleet Air Arm. New Zealand provided 20 recruits a month for pilots or observer-navigators. The first draft left New Zealand in July 1940. The last draft of F29 finished training on Tamaki in June 1945.

         The age limit for recruitment was between 18 and 28. A Naval Airman 2nd Class received a weekly wage of  1 pound 19 shillings per week but 3 shillings was deducted for superannuation.

         If the rating was married there was an allowance of 1 pound a week and 5 shillings per child.  If you did not draw your tot of rum and opted to be ‘temperance’ you received an extra 3 pence per day. 

         At the end of the war, one in ten British Fleet Air Arm aircrew were New Zealanders. When the aircraft carriers of the British Fleet were operating against Japan in 1945, New Zealanders made up a quarter of the operational aircrew.

         I was in the F29 draft. After final leave, we were stationed at the Naval Transit Camp, Camp Hale. This was on the grassed area in front of the Auckland War Memorial and the Museum. It had been a large US military camp prior to the Navy taking it over.

         After final leave, we were marched through the streets of Auckland with our rifles, with fixed bayonets. Taken to a pub and permitted one handle of beer.

         The European War finished. The Navy recruited pilots from the RAF and most of our draft became Stores Accountants or Writers joining the cruisers Gambia, Achilles, and the Bellona and helping to decommission both ships and ratings. We had an interesting time, saw much, and learned much.

Geoffrey Moss(mossassociates.co.nz)

“Wakey, wakey, rise and shine. You have had your time and I have had mine. Hit the deck, hit the deck!”

Source: “Rolling On” A FREE book is available from mossassociates.co.nz.