War Exploits

Having earned the D.S.O., his most famous exploit was honoured by the Polish government, who awarded him the Virtuti Militari, their highest decoration—equivalent to the V.C. A member of the R.N.Z.A.F. from 1941-45, he was the most senior member of a Special Operations Squadron, and worked for some time with partisans in Yugoslavia, Northern Italy, and Greece. In a mission immortalised in the book "They Saved London" and in a later film, he flew members of the Polish Cabinet out of Poland, taking with him plans of the V.2. filched by the Polish underground.

"There was nothing very extra-ordinary about it," said Dr Culliford. "The most difficult moment occurred when we realized that the plane had got stuck in the mud, and that we would have to dig ourselves out. With the Germans closing in, this was quite nerve-wracking."

There was a further point — the plane was unarmed.

Dr. Culliford's advice to students was short and succinct. "You are here to gain an education—get stuck in and do it."

"I should talk," he said with a rueful smile, "I failed every unit in my first year."

Dr. Culliford was born in Napier in 1920, the son of a draper. He was educated at Nelson Park School, Napier, at Norsewood District High School, and later at Scots College.

He lectured in English at Victoria from 1950-56, and then became part-time assistant to the Vice-Chancellor. In 1959, he became Principal of the Palmerston North University College, and two years later, once again, assistant to the Vice-Chancellor.

He has written one book — "An Introduction to Shakespeare's Texts."