Be aware some of the content reveals the reality of war, something its easy to forget as we fly our sims in the safety of our homes, many years after this type of event ever took place. So read on with a caution that it may disturb, war is not pleasant.
I consider myself to be fortunate that I have never lived through such times, however family and other people I know have, and some of these words I have taken from their stories, as they experienced them, so they are based on fact.
Any similarity to actual events or people is purely coincidental. They are presented in memory of the ANZAC's, who fought and died so we may live freely.
April 22nd 1947, Hawera New Zealand.
"We ah, we came in just before sun up, we knew they wouldn't be knowing we were coming, hell the Gerrys thought we was all done for but ahh, well, I guess once we'd done with them they saw things different"Â
Bruce Smiles, Captain 82nd Squadron
"Ve heard ze first planes coming in around 0430, naturally ve vere not worried, ve vere ze German Airforce, ze Luftwaffe and had been crushing allied forces for ze last two years. And here ve vere, in New Zeeland effectively to claim it. Nine, ve did not expect zis attack"¦"Â
Albert Heimlick, Captain Jagdgeschwader 71
"We came in high and fast, clearly the poor sods weren't expecting us. And then we unleashed hell upon them. Over the years I've been asked how was I affected by the war. Well, it's a jolly nasty business, no doubt, but at the time you do as your told, you follow orders. It wasn't my job to think about how Gerry died, I just needed to make sure he did"Â
Erick Watts, Captain 82nd Squadron
"We had some new weapons they wanted us to try, heavy things, rockets"¦made the aircraft damn difficult to fly eh what! But once they launched they created destruction like I'd never seen before. Fireballs hundreds of feet into the sky, bodies exploding....yes, of course we could see the Germans on the ground, but you need to understand that we didn't, couldnt see them as people. I'm just jolly pleased I was on the firing end rather than the receiving"Â
Marty Brightman, Captain 83rd Squadron
"I vill never forget ze fire. Never had I known fire like zis. I had seen aircraft burn many times, many many times, but zis, zis was beyond vords. Ve vere lucky, ve ran..I have never ran so fast in mine life, and to vatch zis display of destruction was both terrifying and beautiful. Some vere not so lucky, some pilots tried to get zere aircraft up and fight, ze died. I vake at night sometimes, I still hear ze scremas of zose who got caugt in ze flames..... you should not see zis, you should not ever have to see zis, not your freinds dying like zat"Â
Hammel Enrich, Captain Jagdgeschwader 71
"Some of ze pilots, ze wanted to fly so we helped get ze planes going. I remember an explosion zat seemed to turn ze air into fire. I have never seen anyzing like zis before. I burned, I remember trying to get avay from zis horror. A small pond I was able to dive into nearby saved my life, but I live with zat memory now yah? Ze fire filling the sky, no man"¦ no person should ever have to see such a thing again"Â
Erich Hartmaning, Mechanic Jagdgeschwader 71
"We flew about 10 sorties that day out of Palmie Nth, I think about 100 aircraft were involved. Naturally Hawera wasn't our only target, the overall plan was to push the Germans back to New Plymouth and either get them to surrender or push em into the ocean. I don't think anyone really cared what they did, we were sick of war, sick of fighting. Jeze, it had been 7 years. That's why we gave them everything we had. Yeah I guess alot of Germans died...I'm not gonna say it didnt effect me.......... I ........ I was doing a job."
Rick Persona, Captain 83rd Squadron
"Ze's Spitfires, zey made a terrible noise as zey dived in. Ve thought our Stukas were terrifying, somesing about ze Spitfire makes you stop and pay attention yah? I don't know how many past across me as ve ran, but ze sky seemed black with zem"Â
Alfred Von Manning, Jagdgeschwader 71
"My plane got hit early on by some random ground fire; it seemed some of those thar Germans had some handy guns. Never did worry me none, hell, I'd seen worse and been shot up worse in the Coral Sea, now that was a fight I'll tell you. Naw, I just leaned her over and went in again, those Germans had parked there planes in nice pretty rows see, if you ask me it was more like a Turkey shoot than a battle"Â
Earl Rickman, Captain USAF 22nd Squadron
"We continued hitting the airfield for around 60 minutes before heading further west and start on their armored units. We were fortunate; the Germans had to bring everything with them so they had limited means. It was obvious they didn't expect a fight, well; they learnt a lesson that day I tell you. In the end I think we only lost about 3 of our men to ground fire, so complete was our surprise. Jolly good show I thought"Â
Richard Werner, Captain 82nd Squadron
"Ve lost ze war zat day. Ze .. how you say, kivi? Zey vere good pilots zes kivi's. Ve vere unprepared for zis attack. I sink ve lost a thousand men zat day, ze rest, vell, ve surrendered. Ze war was over for us. Invading so far south without supply lines was crazy, but vat do you do, war is insane, war is hell"Â
Ehrnst Streidler, Captain Jagdgeschwader 71
. It is a fantastic post and I have to say that you are very creative! 
