Introduction

A Kiwi at War: The Story of Warrant Officer William “Bill” Smith

Bill Smith was born in Dunedin in 1909, and attended Otago Boys High School before going on to study at Otago University.  By the time war broke out in September 1939, Bill was working as an accounts clerk at Cadbury Fry Hudson Ltd in Dunedin, and was engaged to his future wife Clare, a fellow employee at Cadbury’s.  He enlisted in the RNZAF in December 1941 at the age of 32, and undertook his initial military training at RNZAF Station Levin.  From here he travelled to Canada to begin his navigation training.

Bill was one of approximately 7,000 New Zealanders who trained as aircrew (pilots, navigators, wireless operators and air gunners) in Canada under the Empire Air Training Scheme.  He was posted to No. 4 Air Observers’ School in London, Ontario, where he learned how to read maps, plot courses and work out bearings, both in theory on the ground, and in practice in the air.

After four months of hard training, study, and exams, Bill graduated with his “wings” (brevet), and by November 1942, was off to England, and to war.

 

Next section: No.101 Squadron, Royal Air Force.