Bert Wipiti
Bert Sam Wipiti, DFM was a New Zealand fighter pilot and flying ace of the Second World War. Born in New Plymouth, he enlisted in the Royal New Zealand Air Force in 1941 and when he was posted to No. 243 Squadron in Singapore, he was the first Māori airman to leave New Zealand for active duty. Following the Japanese invasion of British Malaya, he destroyed five Japanese aircraft before being evacuated to Java in February 1942. He later flew with the RNZAF's No. 485 Squadron in Europe and was killed on operations while escorting bombers on a raid over France.
Early life
Bert Sam Wipiti, also known as Herbert Samuel Wipiti, was born on 16 January 1922 in New Plymouth, in the North Island of New Zealand. The son of Motu Tamihana Wipiti and his wife Ngamata, Wipiti was of Māori descent and was educated at New Plymouth Boys' High School.Second World War
A refrigeration serviceman at the time of his enlistment, Wipiti joined the Royal New Zealand Air Force in January 1941. He completed flight training at Ohakea, gained his flying badge in late May, and then proceeded to Malaya as a sergeant pilot in July. He was the first Māori airman to go overseas for service.Singapore
On his arrival in Singapore in August, Wipiti was posted to the Royal Air Force's No. 243 Squadron, which was based at Kallang Airport and operated the outclassed Brewster Buffalo fighter. Once the Japanese invaded British Malaya on 8 December 1941, he was part of a small detachment from No. 243 Squadron to briefly operate with an Australian squadron, No. 21 Squadron, flying from Ipoh, and returning to Singapore on 14 December.On 10 January 1942, Wipiti was credited with helping shoot down a Mitsubishi Ki-46 reconnaissance aircraft, over Singapore. This was reportedly the first Japanese aircraft shot down in the Battle of Singapore. On 21 January, while on a patrol over the Batu Pahat area, he shot down a Mitsubishi A6M Zero fighter and then, the following day, destroyed two Mitsubishi G3M bombers that were part of a raid on No. 243 Squadron's airfield. A few days later, flying escort to several Vickers Vildebeest bombers that were attacking a Japanese transport convoy, he shot down another Ki-46. By the end of January, Wipiti's squadron had been disbanded and he was one of a few sergeants that were attached to No. 453 Squadron, an Australian squadron based at Seletar, which also received the remaining serviceable Buffalo aircraft.
Shortly before the fall of Singapore, Wipiti was evacuated to Java, surviving the sinking of his original transport ship. In late March 1942 he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal in recognition of his service in Malaya and Singapore, having shot down five Japanese aircraft. The citation for his DFM, published in the London Gazette, read:
Wipiti was sent to India, where he was posted to No. 67 Squadron, flying Hawker Hurricane fighters. While stationed in India, he encountered racism from the British and after several months, was posted to England in August 1943.