Peter Hall (RNZAF officer)

Peter Hall
Peter Hall
Born	16 May 1922; Opotiki, New Zealand
Died	22 May 2010 (aged 88); Cumbria, England
Allegiance	New Zealand
Service/branch	Royal New Zealand Air Force
Years of service	1941–1945
Rank	Flight Lieutenant
Unit	No. 488 Squadron
Battles/wars	Second World War
Awards	Distinguished Flying Cross & Bar

Peter Francis Locker Hall, DFC & Bar (16 May 1922 – 22 May 2010) was a New Zealand fighter pilot and flying ace of the Second World War.

Early life

Born in Opotiki, New Zealand, on 16 May 1922, Hall become infatuated with flight in 1928 when his father bought him a plane ride with Australian aviation pioneer Charles Kingsford Smith.

Second World War

Hall enlisted in the Royal New Zealand Air Force in 1941, and joined No. 488 Squadron in Europe in 1943. Along with his Royal Air Force navigator, Pilot Officer Richard Marriott, Hall was credited with eight confirmed kills, those being five Junkers 88s, a Messerschmitt Me 410, and two Dornier 217s.[1] Hall and Marriott were both awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross on 19 September 1944 for their "commendable skill and keenness" in flying operations,[2] which was followed by the award of a Bar to their decorations just two weeks later. The London Gazette citation for the Bars read:

Flight Lieutenant Peter Francis Locker HALL, D.F.C. (N.Z.413841), R.N.Z.A.F., 488 (N.Z.) Sqn.

Flying Officer Richard D'Arcy MARRIOTT, D.F.C. (141337), R.A.F.V.R., 488 (N.Z.) Sqn.
As pilot and observer respectively these officers continue to display the highest standard of skill and gallantry. Recently, within a short period they have destroyed 4 enemy aircraft, bringing their victories to 8.[3]

Post-war and later life

After the war, Hall chose to stay in England with his wife Mary, living in Cumbria, and became an aircraft salesman for de Havilland. Hall regularly returned to New Zealand. He left de Havilland in 1972 and established an award-winning woodcraft and furniture business. He enjoyed such a good reputation that at one point he was commissioned to create bowls for Diana, Princess of Wales.

Peter Hall died on 22 May 2010, just six days after his 88th birthday. His wife had died in 2009. They were survived by their three children.[1][4]

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gollark: Just try 00000, FFFFFF, AAAAAA, 42 and all that.

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gollark: Who's going to check?

gollark: No, you just *guess* what it is.

References

"WW2 NZ flying ace dies in England". Otago Daily Times. NZPA. 25 May 2010. Retrieved 2 November 2011.
"No. 36706". The London Gazette. 19 September 1944. p. 4325.
"No. 36728". The London Gazette. 3 October 1944. p. 4536.
Dearnaley, Mathew (25 May 2010). "Kiwi flying ace credited with eight kills dies in England". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 2 November 2011.

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[ODT_107582-1] "WW2 NZ flying ace dies in England". Otago Daily Times. NZPA. 25 May 2010. Retrieved 2 November 2011.

[2] "No. 36706". The London Gazette. 19 September 1944. p. 4325.

[3] "No. 36728". The London Gazette. 3 October 1944. p. 4536.

[NZ_Herald_10647252-4] Dearnaley, Mathew (25 May 2010). "Kiwi flying ace credited with eight kills dies in England". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 2 November 2011.