Leonard Monk Isitt (aviator)
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- For his father the minister and politician see Leonard Monk Isitt
Air Vice-Marshal Sir Leonard Monk Isitt, KBE, (born July 27, 1891 in Christchurch, New Zealand - died January 21, 1976 in Lower Hutt, New Zealand) was a famous New Zealand military aviator and administrator. He was educated at Mostyn House, Cheshire, England and Christchurch Boys High School.
In World War I he served in the New Zealand Army in the New Zealand Rifle Brigade, and then transferred to the RAF. Between the wars, he served in the Air Ministry and the RNZAF; see a c1929 photo of officers of the New Zealand Permanent Air Force (NZPAF) as it was then called.
On 19 July 1943, Isitt was appointed Chief of Air Staff of the Royal New Zealand Air Force in the rank of air vice-marshal. He was the first New Zealander to hold his Service's senior appointment.
He represented New Zealand at conferences in London, Washington and Ottawa during World War II. He was the New Zealand signatory for the Japanese Instrument of Surrender marking the formal surrender of Japanese forces so ending World War II, see photo of Isitt signing.
Isitt retired in 1946 as Chief of the Air Staff and he became chairman of Tasman Empire Airways (TEAL) in 1947.
He was made C.B.E. in 1940 and K.B.E. in 1945.
He was the son of the minister, member of parliament and prohibitionist Leonard Monk Isitt and Agnes Martha Caverhill. He had one brother, Willard Whitmore Isitt (1894-1916) who was a Rifleman in the New Zealand Rifle Brigade in WWI, and was killed in France on 31 October 1916.
[edit] References
- Crooks, David M. 'Isitt, Leonard Monk 1891 - 1976'. Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, updated 16 December 2003
- Biography in 1966 Encyclopaedia of NZ
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by R V Goddard |
Chief of the Air Staff (RNZAF) 1943–1946 |
Succeeded by A Nevill |
