Welcome to RNZAF Wigram – The spiritual home of the RNZAF.
This cache is one in a series to remember the Base that was once here. In other Caches in this series, I have remembered aircraft that served in the RNZAF, and are in the street names. However, for this one, I will remember three NZers whose individual and outstanding pieces of bravery earned them the highest order for Bravery in the Commonwealth – The Victoria Cross - and surprisingly don’t feature in any of the street names here.
Sergeant James Allen Ward, RNZAF (attached to RAF)
On 07 July 1941, Sgt Ward was the 2nd Pilot on a Wellington Bomber on a raid to Munster (not Ireland). On their return leg his aircraft was attacked by a ME109 which started a fire in the starboard engine caused by a severed fuel line. All attempts to extinguish it failed, and as a last resort Sgt Ward volunteered to climb out onto the wing and try to beat it out. He was finally convinced to make the attempt wearing a parachute (he felt the extra drag from the slipstream would make it impossible!). Finally with assistance he made his way through a hole on the fuselage, kicking and punching hand and foot holes into the fabric covering. He crawled out to the engine and using an engine cover managed to put the fire out on the fabric, and then tried to stuff the cover into the hole staunch the fuel leak. He was unsuccessful with this, but the fire was put out. Exhausted, he managed to crawl back into the aircraft, which, in spite of a small fire breaking out as it neared its home base made a successful landing. Unquestionably his actions saved the aircraft, and the crew, and he was the first NZ aircrew to receive the VC. Tragically Sgt Ward was killed in action, remaining at the controls of his aircraft after it was hit by flak over Hamburg two months later. He was just 22 years old. He is buried in the Hamburg War Cemetery, and his VC is on display at the Auckland War Memorial Museum.
Flying Officer Lloyd Allan Trigg, RNZAF (attached to RAF)
On 11 Aug 1943 FO Trigg was flying a Liberator aircraft on an anti submarine sortie from a base in West Africa. 8 hours into the patrol, he sighted U486 on the surface, and attacked. Despite his aircraft suffering a huge amount of damage, he pressed on with the attack, inflicting fatal damage to the submarine. Shortly after the attack, the Liberator crashed into the sea with the loss of all 8 crew. FO Ward was posthumously awarded the VC for his actions. Uniquely, FO Triggs VC is the only one that has been awarded solely from the testimony of the enemy. In 2007, the U Boat Captain was tracked down by a NZ historian, and said of Trigg's effort "such a gallant fighter as Trigg would have been decorated in Germany with the highest medal or order". The sea is FO Triggs and his crews resting place, and he is remembered on the Malta Memorial to the 2298 Commonwealth who lost their lives in the Mediterranean area and have no known grave (2298 in just the MEDITERRANEAN AREA, with NO GRAVE!). He was 29 years old. In 1988, his VC was bought at auction for 120000pds, and is now on display in the Lord Ascroft Gallery in the Imperial War Museum.
Squadron-Leader Leonard Henry Trent, RNZAF (attached to RAF)
On 03 May 1943, SL Trent was flying a Ventura Bomber on a daylight raid to a power station in Amsterdam. His flight of 11 aircraft had been decimated by enemy fighters, and only two aircraft made it to the target. Despite heavy anti-aircraft fire he pressed home his attack and completed his bombing run. His aircraft was shot down immediately afterwards and the survivors, Trent and his navigator, were taken prisoner. In 1944 he took part in the ‘Great Escape’ from Stalag Luft III but was recaptured. Hitler was so incensed by the boldness of this escape, he ordered all the recaptured prisoners to be executed. He was finally convinced to reduce the number, but 50 were still executed, including 2 NZers. SL Trent survived the war, and continued on with a career in the RAF rising to the rank of Group Captain. In later years he returned to NZ and died on 19 May 1986. His VC is held by the Air Force Museum in Christchurch.
Three ordinary blokes from NZ – a school teacher, an office worker in an abattoir, and a farmer - each put into an extraordinary situation, and performed to the highest standard….Per Ardua Ad Astra – through adversity to the stars.
BYOP.