NZ fighter pilot shows today's world how it was done

By JO-MARIE BROWN

Former fighter pilot Jack Stafford is slowly getting used to having his World War II experiences popularised in a series of computer games.

The 80-year-old Rotorua man says he was "chuffed" when the international software giant Microsoft asked him to be an historical adviser on its Combat Flight Simulator series.

Now, five years and three CFS games later, Mr Stafford's wartime tales have been placed on Microsoft's website for the games' fans who want to better understand the historical context behind the fighter sweeps and other missions depicted.

"I was all for the idea because it brings into focus the memory of all those guys who fought," he said yesterday.

Mr Stafford was approached by Microsoft after meeting an American pilot at a Warbirds Over Wanaka air show in 1998.

The woman pilot also wrote software programmes for Microsoft and upon her return home she arranged for him to fly to Seattle to advise the company.

"They didn't want to make fools of themselves," Mr Stafford said. "They wanted to check that the RAF jargon was similar to their own. They wanted to know how often we flew and things like that so they could get realism."

The three CFS games have sold millions of copies worldwide and Mr Stafford's six historical essays on Microsoft's website are also proving to be a hit.

Further fighter pilot games are in the pipeline and Mr Stafford hopes his contribution will serve as a vivid reminder to younger generations about what their parents and grandparents went through.

"My grandsons think it's marvellous and they play it for hours, but one thing that should never be forgotten is the sacrifice."