Flying was his biggest dream since he saw an aeroplane for the first time as a child living at Ōtamarākau in the Western Bay of Plenty.
Fast-forward 100 years, and Bethlehem resident Malcolm Gunton is this month celebrating his centenary birthday and recalling experiences from his illustrious career as an Air Commodore.
Mal, as he’s known, celebrated his 100th birthday on November 2, surrounded by his family and thousands of memories from a life of service in the Royal New Zealand Air Force.
Malcolm was born on November 2, 1923, at Matatā to parents Stewart and Ethel Gunton, and had a younger sister – the late Dorothy Angus.
“Flying was my biggest dream since I saw an aeroplane when I was just a child at Ōtamarākau,” says Malcolm. “I first joined the army and then jumped into the Royal New Zealand Air Force.”
Mal, who is a World War
II veteran, says he’s had some amazing experiences and adventures flying as a combat pilot.
And as such, he’s received a 1939-1945 New Zealand War Service Medal, an Air Force Cross 1959, the Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1968, a Vietnam Medal from serving in the war, and a New Zealand Operational Service Medal.
“My father received one of his favourite medals, the Air Force Cross of the RNZAF, after saving a woman in labour,” says Mal’s daughter Lyn.
“At that time he piloted a flying boat called Sunderland and that aircraft was used to bring her from Niue to Auckland,” says Lynda, who believes her father clocked up more than 7000 hours flying time.
Mal married Margaret Rutherford on February 3, 1951. They had four children – Ian, Christine, Susan and Lynda. Sadly, Margaret passed away in 2010.
On his birthday – which was complete with a bagpipe performance, letters from friends, family – and one from King Charles III – Mal was reminiscing, telling his four children stories about his life, military training, childhood and experiences of the different wars he fought aboard of fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters.
Living in different places around the world, attending more than one school and being strictly punctual are some of the memories Mal’s four children have. “I remember living in different military bases during my father’s career as an Air Force pilot, I also remember studying in eight different primary schools, but I met a lot of people and places thanks to my dad,” says Mal’s son Ian.
The former high-ranking officer now enjoys his days at Arvida Bethlehem Views retirement village, enjoying his “eternal love”, the Bay of Plenty.
“‘It’s just another beautiful day in paradise’ is one of the sayings of my father,” says Susan, who also remembers him as a strict but always positive and lovely father.
Arvida Bethlehem Views village manager Jane Verry says it’s an honour for the village to have a resident like Malcolm, with all his stories and his contributions to NZ as part of the RNZAF.
“It’s simply lovely to see him sharing his stories. He is always kind and nice, and despite being a high-ranked military, is a humble and lovely human being.”