A social history of the RNZAF flying-boat station at Laucala Bay, near Suva in Fiji. As the prospect of a Pacific war with Japan became likely in the 1930s, a Commonwealth defence conference decided which countries would be responsible for which parts of the Pacific. New Zealand was given responsibility for air reconnaissance for part of the ocean centred around Fiji. It was considered that this would best be done with flying boats. The air base at Laucala Bay was developed as part of the strategy to carry out this work. This account tells of the wartime crises and life when peace arrived, from the tracking of both aircraft and submarine activity, to the tragedies and rescues inevitable in times of war, to extreme weather events and the off-duty antics of the airmen, officers and WAAFs. Plentiful photographs and personal accounts make for an entertaining and informative read.

Author Biography

Bee Dawson is a social historian who enjoys researching and writing books on the history of people, places and gardens. The wide range of topics she has written about includes women painters, the air force, the New Zealand garden, freight transportation, Hobsonville air base, the Child Cancer Foundation, and Puketiti Station. See more at www.beedawson.co.nz.