David Clive Howlett was born 31 August 1920, the son of English immigrants Arthur and Ethel Howlett. He was educated at New Plymouth Boy's High School and then worked as a shop assistant in Fitzroy.
He enlisted with the RNZAF during World War Two. He received his training in Canada and graduated in May 1944. He then served as a Flight Sergeant for the No. 19 Squadron, based in the Pacific.
His brother, Arthur, also a member of the RNZAF, was shot down while on a mission over Germany in 1943 and did not survive.
After the war, David spent 16 months in the burns unit in Christchurch after his plane burst into flames above Papua New Guinea.
In March 1946 he married Avice (Avis) Valda Lightband and they had two children.
In 1996 David visited Germany for a special commemorative service at Rheinburg Military Cemetery when more human remains were found at his brother's crash site and interred at the cemetery. He said at the time the visit would bring up many traumatic memories for him.
David died on 2 October 2010 aged 90 and is buried in Awanui Cemetery.
Documents
WWII pilot finally gets a chance to farewell his brother, Taranaki Daily News 22 August 1996
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