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Glen ‘Rocky’ Maddaford was born on the 22nd November 1919, and was a teenager when his family moved to Hawera, Taranaki, in 1934. His father George owned the Monumental Masonry business, hence Glen’s nick name!
Young Glen worked as a driver, and later in the Railways. When war broke out he enlisted with the Air Force and was posted to New Plymouth in March 1942. His training took him to Woodbourne, where he converted to Mk2 Harvard Trainers and twin-engined Oxfords.
1943, May – Maddaford sailed for England. Flying training continued, including a solo flight in a Mk II Hurricane, a stalwart of the Battle of Britain.
1944, May – posted to the Middle East, and converted on to Spitfire Mark Vs, then on to 241 Squadron and combat flying in Italy. Sorties included ground attacks, and dive bombing enemy munitions, artillery installations and tank squadrons, this time flying Mk IX Spitfires.
1945 – Maddaford returned to England, converted to the high performance Hawker Tempest Mk V. By April Glen was back in action with the famous New Zealand 486 Squadron in Europe.
Now came the ‘real stuff’ with dogfights with German Fighters and ground attacks. ‘Rocky’ Maddaford destroyed a Folke Wulf 190, and a ‘probable’ Messerschmidt ME 109, Germany’s most famous fighter. By now nothing the enemy had could match the power and punch of the 2,000-plus horsepower Tempest.
After the War Maddaford returned to Hawera, working as a driver for Egmont Tourist Motors. He married Valmai Lenz. They had two children, Ray and Les. The boys have written this story. Glen passed away in 1977.
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