DME number 276 started doing aviation medicals for pilots before many members of the society were even born.
Allan graduated from the University of Otago and following the compulsory year as a house surgeon, joined the regular airforce and was posted to the first AMU at Ardmore in 1945 and then on to Hobsonville. On one trip south, bad weather gave an unintentional overnight at Ohakea where he met Molly at a dance and they were married at Hobsonville in 1946.
Allan retired from regular service late in 1946 and moved to Taihape and general practice. He was one of the first doctors on the scene after the railway bridge at Tangiwai was washed out by a lehar in Whangaehu River just before the overnight Auckland - Wellington express reached it. The NZ Herald reports Allan as saying he "exceeded the speed limit" in what he remembers to be an old Chevrolet racing the 40km from Taihape in 25 minutes flat. He still remembers the torrent of water and some of the rail carriages being swept in a giant wave in a river which was normally but a "small trickle".
Allan's love affair with aviation was rekindled when he obtained a private pilot's licence in 1960. Three years later he rejoined the RNZAF on the Active Reserve. He saw active service during the Vietnam War and was the Commanding Officer of the New Zealand Services medical team at Bong Son for six months in 1970. Albeit as a "passenger", he managed to get his hands on and fly Skyhawks, Vampires, a Vulcan, and various helicopters. His service with the RNZAF earned him an Air Efficiency Award and bar.
In 1972, he moved from Taihape to Mt Maunganui where he worked for 26 years before finally (?) (?again) retiring (?) last year after almost 60 years in practice.
During his time in Mount Manganui he was for a time the Medical Adviser to the Aviation Industry Association and the NZ Airwomen's Association. He was the Medical Co-ordinator for emergency procedures at Tauranga airport.
He gained a CPL in 1977 and in 1981 was elected President of the Tauranga Aero Club. A minor health blip meant he lost his medical certificate but this did not stop Allan from flying - it just meant he had to take another pilot along to sit in the right seat and pretend he was the pilot-in-command.
Dr White's service to medicine, especially aviation medicine, and to the community have been recognised by the well deserved honour as a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
Again to quote the NZ Herald, "It has been hard work at times," he said, "but it has been a [good] life."
Thanks also to Joint Venture by Bruce Golden
Copyright AMSANZ 2006.