Serial Number: NZ423962 & 70783
RNZAF Trade: Motor Trade (MT) Fitter
Date of Enlistment: 27th of May 1942
Date of Demob: 28th of August 1962
Rank Achieved: Warrant Officer
Flying Hours: nil known
Operational Sorties: nil known
Service Details: Ray served at Guadalcanal from January to December 1945, and in Japan with J Force from August 1946 to March 1948. All other service was carried out within New Zealand . Stephen was promoted to Warrant Officer in 1950. From 1951 to 1956 he served at No 1 Repair Depot, Woodbourne; Te Rapa and Hobsonville. Stephen became the senior trade examiner on the Central Trade Test Board in 1952, and the senior MT instructor at No 1 Technical Training School. In 1956 Stephen was awarded the MBE for being a “highly experienced, conscientious and reliable W/O MT Fitter ”.
Date of Birth: 4th of February 1904
Personal Details: The son of Mr and Mrs C. Wesley Hooker of Queen Street , Cambridge. His brother Owen Hooker was also in the RNZAF, and later father-in-law of RNZAF airman Alan Turney. Later in life Ray worked at the Commercial Bank in Hamilton.