Gilbert Mackay Haase (Gil)

Born 30th December 1916 in Takaka, Tasman District, Tasman, New Zealand. Died 10th May 1982, age 65.

Husband of Les Nova Haase (née Hufton). Born 05th October 1920 in Motueka, Tasman District, Tasman, New Zealand. Died 13th November 1982, age 62.

Son of Walter Henry Haase (died 24th of November 1963, age 78) and Annie Amelia (née MacKay - died 29th of May 1978, age 87).

Gil became engaged to Les before he joined the RNZAF and following his return to New Zealand they married on the 13th May 1944.

Father of Graeme (died 06th of November 1987), Lynne, Kaye (died 16th of July 2006), Robyn and Keith (died 22nd of August .1977, age 19.

RNZAF Harewood on the 03rd March 1941 training on the Tiger Moth.

03rd June 1941 posted to RCAF Moose Jaw, Canada for further training with No. 3 Service Flying School flying the Havard trainer, Total of 131 hrs flying logged.

Posted to 61 Operational Training Unit at RAF Heston in England on the 03rd August 1941. Initially flying the Harvard and then on Spitfire I Total of 169 hrs flying logged

Joined 154 Squadron A Flight in December 1941 at RAF Fowlemerein, Hertfordshire.

01st March 1942 to RAF Coltishall in Norfolk.

01st April 1942 to RAF Fowlemere

07th May 1942 with 154 squadron to RAF Church Fenton, North Yorkshire flying Spitfires Vb

09th June 1942 moved to RAF Hornchurch, Essex.

01st September 1942 to RAF Wellingore in Lincolnshire.

09th November to Algeria, North Africa via Gibralter, Madison Blanche.

09th January 1943 received commission to Flying Officer.

04th June 1943 to RAF Kali in Malta. Now logged 589 flying hours.

August 1943 with 154 squadron to Lenten, Sicily flying Spitfires Vc.

Gil caught Plasmodium vivax Malaria and was transferred to a hospital in Egypt for treatment. He remained in hospital for two months and lost two stone. On the 20th of November 1943, he was repatriated to New Zealand on medical grounds. He suffered twelve relapses including three whilst on the ship during his return.

Remained in hospital in Mangere and Rotorua before starting training as a flight instructor with the RNZAF in Tauranga, New Zealand March - May 1944.

There Is also medical reports during this time while flight instructing reporting ongoing bouts of Malaria. He appeared before the air board in June 1944.

He informed them that he was willing to go back overseas again but didn't want to be sent to the Pacific, he requested to be transferred to reserves. Given his service the board agreed and Gilbert was transferred to reserves on the 05th of August 1 944 which got extended a couple of times until his 55th birthday in December 1971 as Flying Officer.

Gil and Les bought a bakery in New Plymouth - Egmont Bakery and ran that for many years. In the early 60's Dad amalgamated with another couple of small bakeries and formed a bigger bakery which he ran until his retirement at 60 (1976).

He didn't fly again until the 11th of December 1949 when he got current again and flew with the New Plymouth Aero Club for the next 10 years all over New Zealand. His last flight was on the 13th May 1960.

The family spent most weekends at the aero club where for a time he was the club captain. He had a heart attack at 50 and had to relinquish his pilot licence.

He was an active member of the local RSA and the Brevet Club - and was also a Mason. He played golf for many years and after retiring he played bowls. He also enjoyed fishing and bought a boat in the early 70's which he enjoyed for a few years. He kept good health until 1981, and died of an abdominal aortic aneurysm on 10th May 1982.

He never really spoke about his time in the war - and he died when his children were still too young to ask a lot. Consequently, they feel that a lot of what he experienced on a personal level was never really told. His daughter feels sad about that.

Medals: 1939/45 Star, Aircrew Europe Star, Africa Star and clasp, Italy Star, Defence Medal, War Medal 1939/45 and NZ. War Service Medal.

Awanui Cemetery, New Plymouth, Taranaki, New

Photographs and information courtesy Rhys and Robyn Harvey. Grave photograph courtesy Lindat (used with kind permission.