MOTAT venue for launch of story of Dannevirke's Squadron Leader Phil Lamason

Phil Lamason Heritage Centre Trustees and author Hilary Pederson in Auckland.(From left) Mike Harold, Hilary Pedersen, Glenys Scott, Nicky Roberts, Sandra Cordell and John Lamason.

"That's how you run a book launch" was the reaction of MOTAT executive director Jeff Morris after the Phil Lamason biography launch in Auckland.

In the second launch in a week for I Would Not Step Back . . ., Auckland's Museum of Transport, Aviation and Technology provided a setting which benefited the story of Dannevirke's Squadron Leader Phil Lamason.

The spectacular launch was held alongside the only World War II Lancaster bomber in New Zealand, which has pride of place in MOTAT's Aviation Hall.

Guests included a World War II bomber command veteran, current personnel from the RNZAF and RAF, members of the New Zealand Bomber Command Association (NZBCA) and the Lamason family and friends.

As at the Dannevirke launch days earlier, the special guest was Ailsa Cullen, widow of Malcolm Cullen, the only other New Zealand airman imprisoned with Phil Lamason in Buchenwald in 1944.

Bill Fryer, an avid Phil Lamason war-story follower and creator of the Phil Lamason Wikipedia page, made a special trip from Darwin to be part of the day.

Rick Martini, son of an American airman incarcerated with Phil Lamason in Buchenwald Camp in 1944 but now a resident of New Zealand, was also present.

Rick recently wrote of his father's Buchenwald experiences and the consequences of that in his later life.

Peter Wheeler, from NZBCA, spoke about the legacy of RAF Bomber Command in the war and of the significance of the service of more than 6000 airmen from New Zealand in that force.

Almost 1800 of them perished in the course of duty.

Mr Wheeler highlighted how the emergence of individual stories of these Kiwis was now enabling people to have a deeper understanding and appreciation of that generation's commitment to the preservation of the freedom we often take for granted.

Mike Harold, chairman of the Phil Lamason Heritage Centre Trust, said Mr Lamason was a reluctant hero.

"He was a man of mana and he definitely ranks as a significant New Zealand figure of his time," he said.

"It is the goal of the trust to ensure his story is better known in his own country."

Writer Hilary Pedersen described the response so far to the book as "overwhelming", leaving her with a deep sense of pride, gratitude and humility.

She also acknowledged the superb work done by Sal Criscillo in the final presentation of the work.

Glenys Scott spoke compellingly of how she, as a close friend of Phil Lamason, was privileged to share his story.

"It was like Phil needed to 'unload' his story and each time we talked he added more and more to the detail," she said.

Son John Lamason spoke of the book as being an important history for their family for generations to come.

Together with daughter Christie, he then presented Mr Wheeler and Mr Morris with copies of the book for the Walsh Memorial Library at MOTAT.

Almost half of the initial print run of 800 books has sold and Mr Harold said the feedback had been very positive.

• The Phil Lamason biography can be purchased in hardcover or as an e-book online at www.phillamason.com