Alan Baxter

Alan Cheyne Baxter (19 August 1911 – 14 July 1976) was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party.

Biography Early life and career Baxter was born on 19 August 1911 at Egmont Village. He gained his education at New Plymouth Boys' High School and subsequently at Feilding Agricultural College. Before the war, Baxter was a shepherd in the Wairarapa. While living there he joined the trade union movement in 1939.

He joined the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) in March 1940 and was a flight lieutenant. with a Bar awarded in 1945. The citation for the 1942 award read:

On August 19th, 1942, he was observer in the leading aircraft of a formation which participated in the combined operations at Dieppe. When the formation was attacked by some 20 enemy fighters, Pilot Officer Baxter calmly gave directions to his captain, and subsequently his skilful navigation was an essential contribution to the success achieved by the formation and to its safe return to base.

According to one of his navigators, he flew more bombing missions over Germany than any other New Zealand airman (and came back alive). During one period of raids, he lost seven roommates in five days. One personal escape involved bending over to pick up a map, with a shot of flak shooting through the seat where he had been sitting only a moment before. On the bombing of Germany, he stated it was something that had to be done to stop Hitler, but every time they were let go, he felt for "the poor blighters below".

Following the war he settled first on Ōtorohanga, then in Huntly. Later in the same year, Baxter defeated Johnstone in the 1946 general election by just 13 votes. Johnstone in turn defeated Baxter in 1949. Baxter later stood unsuccessfully for Raglan in the and s. He was the last Labour candidate to win a seat in the area.

Later life and death After he lost his seat in Parliament he worked in the coal mines in Huntly. In 1962 he retired and moved to Auckland.

Baxter died in 1976 after a short illness. He was survived by his wife Sylvia and three daughters.