Marking the 70th anniversary of WWII’s end in the Pacific
FIGHTER pilot Leon ‘Pip’ Piper reckons a commemoration marking 70 years since World War II ended in the Pacific may be his and many fellow veterans’ last.
Flight Sergeant Piper, 91, of Plimmerton, will be one of about a dozen veterans from throughout New Zealand who will attend a service at Wellington’s Pukeahu National War Memorial Park today to mark the 70th anniversary of the war’s end in the Pacific.
During his three-month tour, the then 19-year-old flew as air support for Allied forces during the campaign on the Japanese-occupied island of Bougainville.
‘‘A lot of the veterans from the Pacific are gone, a lot of my mates have died and while it’s nice to remember, life goes on.’’
Of the thousands of Kiwis who fought in the Pacific, about 900 were killed or wounded in action.
‘‘Saturday’s commemoration will acknowledge the thousands of New Zealand servicemen and women who served across the Pacific and in all theatres of the Second World War,’’ Ministry for Culture and Heritage chief executive Paul James said.
‘‘The war in the Pacific saw the threat of an enemy close to home and the palpable reality of conflict on the nation’s doorstep. This commemoration is an opportunity to reflect on the sacrifices people made during these war years.’’
In the Pacific, Kiwi combatants took part in jungle warfare on the ground, as part of the Allied fleet at sea, and as the centre of operations in the air.
The service will include a historical reading by veteran Herbert Thorpe.
An artwork commissioned by the New Zealand Defence Force to mark the 70th anniversary will be on display in the Hall of Memories. The lithograph, by Christchurch artist Marian Maguire, represents young servicemen of the era and a veteran of the campaign.
Members of the public will be invited into the Hall of Memories to inspect the artwork and the wreaths after the formal ceremony finishes about midday.
VJ Day 70 years on