Frank Henry Bissmire
Born: 27 Apr 1916
Died: 16 Aug 2011 at Tauranga
Worked at:
- NZ P&T: From 1930
- In 1940 during World War Two, New Zealanders Frank Bissmire and James Williamson and a locally employed man, Josephus Tuaine of Manihiki Island, were stationed at Suwarrow Island, an atoll in the Northern Cook Islands. They formed a Public Works Department survey party, and also acted as Coastwatchers to counter the threat from Japanese forces. They set up camp on Anchorage Island at the entrance to the lagoon and immediately established a radio station so they could provide meteorological and surveillance information. Williamson was to survey the lagoon at Suwarrow to see if it could be used safely by flying boats. Bissmire was in charge of the radio station and maintained equipment. Some of their tinned food was damaged in shipping leaving them short of food. A hurricane in December destroyed much of the camp and supplies, causing further hardship. They were relieved from duty in April 1941 with the arrival of a replacement party, and then returned to New Zealand.
– Sources: Williamson, Dale. For Special Duty Outside New Zealand, The New Zealand Coastwatching Service during WW-II. Dale Williamson, 2011. - Auckland Radio: Radio Operator
- Auckland Radio: Manager, 13 Mar 1974 – 24 Dec 1974 (retirement)
Radio operator Frank Bissmire at Auckland Radio ZLD in 1959
