Alan Baxter (politician)

Alan Cheyne Baxter (1912–1976) was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party.

Biography

Baxter was a flight lieutenant in the RNZAF; and was awarded the DFC in 1944, with a Bar awarded in 1945.^[1]

According to one of his navigators, he flew more bombing missions over Germany than any other New Zealand airman (and came back alive).^[2] During one period of raids, he lost seven room mates in five days. One personal escape involved bending over to pick up a map, with a shot of flak shooting through the seat where he had been sitting only a moment before.^[3]

On the bombing of Germany, he stated it was something that had to be done to stop Hitler, but every time they were let go, he felt for "the poor blighters below".^[4]

He represented the Raglan electorate from 1946 to 1949, when he was defeated by Hallyburton Johnstone.^[5] Johnstone had previously won the electorate for National in the 1946 by-election held on 5 March (i.e. before the general election on 27 November).^[6]

A notable characteristic of his parliamentary period was that he was respected as a man who never compromised his principles.^[7]

Notes

References

• Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First ed. published 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. OCLC 154283103.