- Johnny Checketts
Infobox Military Person
name= John Milne Checketts
born= birth date|1912|2|20
died= death date and age|2006|4|23|1912|2|20
placeofbirth= Invercargill,New Zealand
placeofdeath=
placeofburial=
caption=
nickname= Johnny
allegiance=New Zealand
branch=Royal New Zealand Air Force
serviceyears= 1940-1955
rank= Wing Commander
commands=
unit=
battles=World War II
awards= Distinguished Service Order (DSO) Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)Silver Star (US) Polish Cross of Valour
laterwork=
Wing Commander John "Johnny" Milne Checketts DSO DFC (20 February 1912 -23 April 2006 ) was aWorld War II Flying ace .He was born in
Invercargill ,New Zealand , and joined the RNZAF in October 1940. He is an Air Ace credited with 14.5 kills. He was later a Wing Commander leading three squadrons inOperation Overlord .He was awarded the US Silver Star in 1944 and the Polish Cross of Valour in 1945.
Quote
On war - "It is destructive. Everything about it is to destroy and I don't think human beings are brought into this world to destroy things. They are brought into the world to preserve." — Johnny Checketts.
External links
* New Zealand Fighter Pilots Museum [http://www.nzfpm.co.nz/article.asp?id=checketts]
* A deep affection for the French [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=&xml=/news/2006/04/26/db2601.xml]
* DestroyedFlying Bombs andE-Boats [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10378853]
* [http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/WWII-air-ace-Johnny-Checketts-dies/2006/04/24/1145730832677.html Hair-raising brushes with Luftwaffe fighters]
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