John Houlton was credited with the destruction of at least five German aircraft.
16 Facts About John Houlton
1.
2.
John Houlton was based there from August to December 1942 before returning to Europe and No 485 Squadron.
3.
John Houlton shot down a German bomber on the day of the Normandy landings, often considered to be the first German aircraft destroyed during the invasion of France.
4.
John Houlton joined the Royal New Zealand Air Force in June 1941 and received his initial training at Woodbourne before proceeding on to England the following year to serve with the Royal Air Force.
5.
John Houlton underwent further training at an Operational Training Unit and was then posted as a sergeant pilot to No 485 Squadron in June 1942.
6.
John Houlton deployed to the Mediterranean on the aircraft carrier HMS Furious, which was taking part in Operation Pedestal, a supply convoy bound for Malta.
7.
John Houlton was admonished by his squadron commander afterwards for breaking formation when making his attack.
8.
John Houlton, having already damaged the Hurricane, broke off the attack when he realised his error.
9.
In January 1943, John Houlton was posted to No 602 Squadron but had only been with the unit a few weeks when he transferred back to No 485 Squadron, at the behest of its commander, Squadron Leader Reg Grant.
10.
John Houlton has shot down four enemy aircraft, three of them within a short period recently.
11.
John Houlton then had a period off operations in England, where he attended the Fighter Leaders school and then proceeded on to the Central Gunnery School at Sutton Bridge for more training.
12.
John Houlton was a flight commander with his new unit, which flew the Hawker Tempest and on 3 May 1945 he shot down a Dornier Do 217 bomber that was on route for Norway.
13.
John Houlton then started commercial flying, and this led to him establishing the Agricultural Pilot's Association of New Zealand in 1965.
14.
John Houlton worked for the New Zealand Defence Department, managing its field station on Great Barrier Island for a number of years until 1983.
15.
In 1986, John Houlton was involved with a television documentary concerning the restored aircraft.
16.
John Houlton's ashes are interred at North Shore Memorial Park in Auckland.