Euan Dickson Euan Dickson DSC and bar , DFC ( 31 March 1892 – 10 March 1980 ) was a British born New Zealander bomber pilot in the First World War . Serving with the Royal Naval Air Service ( RNAS ) and subsequently the Royal Air Force ( RAF ) he flew over 150 missions flying the D . H . 4 aircraft . As well as flying so many bombing missions he , and his observer , was also credited with shooting down 14 enemy aircraft . After the war he returned to New Zealand and was the first person to fly across the Cook Strait . Early life . Dickson was born in Sheffield , Yorkshire in 1882 and emigrated to New Zealand about 1912 taking a job with an engineering firm in Thames on the North Island . War service . In 1916 Dickson decided to return to Britain to enlist for the war . Joining the Royal Navy he was commissioned as a Flight Sub - Lieutenant in July 1916 and was awarded his pilot ' s licence , number 3966 , on 12 December 1916 by the Royal Aero Club . Dickson was posted to 10 Squadron RNAS in March 1917 but in April was transferred to 5 Squadron RNAS . This squadron was a bomber squadron flying the Airco D . H . 4 two - seater biplane aircraft and it was in this type that Dickson flew all his combat missions . On 18 December 1917 Dickson was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross ( DSC ) for his part in a bombing mission . extremely unfavourable weather conditions . They have all previously taken part in many bombing raids . Promoted to Temporary Flight Lieutenant in December 1917 , a bar to the DSC was won in March 1918 for coming to the aid of another aircraft which was under attack . splitting it up and diverting their attention from the other machine , thus undoubtedly saving it . On other occasions he has brought down enemy machines and taken part in many daylight bombing raids , at all times showing utter fearlessness and great determination . In April 1918 , the Royal Flying Corps and the RNAS were merged to form the Royal Air Force and 5 Squadron RNAS became 205 Squadron RAF . Dickson continued to fly with the squadron until August 1918 , earning a Distinguished Flying Cross for his leadership , Since 17 April 1918 , this officer has led eighty - four successful bombing raids . His leadership has been conspicuous for remarkable bravery , skill , and determination . On one raid directed , against a town in occupation by the enemy he obtained seven direct hits on the railway station and four on a dump outside . Thrice on a prior date he led his flight to attack enemy billets and horse lines , descending to low altitudes and engaging enemy troops on the ground . The Croix de Guerre was also awarded to Dickson by the French Army . On leaving 205 Squadron , he was posted to a Home Establishment i . e . UK based unit , until his discharge from the RAF in November 1919 . Combat victories . Dickson and the observers he flew with were credited with 14 air combat victories , 2 of which were shared with other crews . Later life . In 1920 Dickson returned to New Zealand and on 25 August 1920 became the first person to fly the Cook Strait between North Island and South Island . Working for Canterbury Aviation he was the inaugural pilot of the first daily air mail service in New Zealand in 1921 , a service between Auckland and Timaru . In later life he became chairman of the Eden Motor Company before retirement in 1964 .