This is Your Life - Johnny Checketts

I had indeed met one of nature’s gentlemen.

– Air Marshall David Crooks

We are privileged to show you the grand fellows of a New Zealand Fighter squadron who have come all the way from their homeland to help sweep the German Luftwaffe out of the skies.

– Pathe propaganda film

He had the ability to say little and do a lot. And certainly he was a bloody good leader in the air and that’s what mattered in the war.

– Air Commodore Alan Deere

Blazing petrol came all over me. I struggled to get out of the aeroplane and got hung up on the catch under the hood and it stretched me along the length of the fuselage and I got burnt worse. And I was wounded in the leg and knee. I was a wee bit concerned because I had my best uniform on and it was destroyed.

– Johnny Checketts