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Post by Bruce on Oct 14, 2008 10:42:10 GMT 12
Dave the last Pan Am clipper was Pacific Clipper which Arrived approx 7th dec 1941 - a significant date. It went back to the USA the long way - via the middle East and Africa - due to a sudden change in the pacific political climate. There is a great article about it in the latest "Sport Flying" Magazine....
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Post by contourcreative on Oct 14, 2008 10:46:52 GMT 12
Yeah...the grass...maybe it was one of those non-slip surfaces where the grass grows through pockets in the concrete? I'll have a play around with photoshop and see what comes out...
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Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 14, 2008 10:48:05 GMT 12
A.N. Breckon was Aubrey Breckon who went on to command severasl squadrons. He had two brothers also who were pilots and from memory I think their Dad was also involved in aviation in the 1930's-40's.
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Post by contourcreative on Oct 14, 2008 11:47:09 GMT 12
OK...I've had a look at the 'grass'...which doesn't in fact appear to be grass!! I have a photo of the Pan Am Building and no blades of grass protrude against the fixtures in this area. What I think is highly likely is that we have some concrete painted green - a utilitarian concession to the practice of lawns and gardens in front of air terminals of the period. That would also explain why they were able to have the stuff in front of the hangar...but hey green concrete and red wingtips...I'm happy. Here's the AHB plan of the area...any ideas on a date?
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Post by contourcreative on Oct 14, 2008 11:55:13 GMT 12
Note in the colour photo that ZK AMC appears to have aluminium upper wing and overall white. Thoughts anyone?
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Post by contourcreative on Oct 14, 2008 14:24:20 GMT 12
Hi all Now I'm non-plussed. Maybe all that green stuff was grass? There seems a lot in this picture and I can't believe everything would have been painted green. This is a great shot BTW. Any more thoughts?
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woody
Leading Aircraftman
Posts: 6
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Post by woody on Oct 14, 2008 17:14:38 GMT 12
Dave, I suspect the large shed next to the terminal would have contained the engine workshop,machine shop,fabric bay and sheet metal shop. In 1965 it was still in use as a machine shop and plating shop. Cheers woody.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 14, 2008 17:56:59 GMT 12
Thanks Woody. In that case there is no reason why it is not a grass lawn there. There would not have been much problem with trucks backing up to the doors or whatever. In 1939-40 most of the RNZAF's large hangars had no concrete apron around them either, they were rough gravel with lots of potholes and puddles at that time. A concrete apron was a luxury put in later when the PWD could manage it. I have looked at these photos in photoshop, adjusting the colour and contrast, and I think it is lawn. No doubt the photographer told his grandchildren how he could remember when the Auckland waterfront was 'all green fields'
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Post by contourcreative on Oct 14, 2008 18:13:15 GMT 12
Thanks Dave...Lots of lawn and very well maintained...who would have thought? I've been rechecking my photos and came to the same conclusion. Must have been quite a nice place back then. I still need better pictures of the main building though and I can start designing the thing...
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Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 14, 2008 18:16:53 GMT 12
See, a few tweaks and it's all green fields Note the steam trains in the distance near the railway station. Also the boatsheds along the waterfront.
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Post by hairy on Oct 14, 2008 18:49:47 GMT 12
Note in the colour photo that ZK AMC appears to have aluminium upper wing and overall white. Thoughts anyone? I am thinking more a light gray rather than white. Compare AMAs colour with the white Catalina behind. (both at a similar angle to the sun) It is definately not as white as her guards shoes.
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Post by shorty on Oct 14, 2008 19:14:41 GMT 12
I reckon anodised aluminium
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Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 14, 2008 19:41:21 GMT 12
Did sailors guard the Empires all the time in wartime or just while they were temporarily impressed and fitted with ASV radar?
Is that a Sunderland in the background of the last shot? Great photos all of these. Very much a romantic bygone era.
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Post by hairy on Oct 14, 2008 20:08:42 GMT 12
Did sailors guard the Empires all the time in wartime or just while they were temporarily impressed and fitted with ASV radar? In this case I think it was too early for radar and she was being guarded because she was moored (overnight?) in a foreign port, Suva, in 1939. Sunderland? Yes.
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Post by contourcreative on Oct 14, 2008 20:21:35 GMT 12
lovely shots..and lots of good detective work.
Shame we don't shift MOTAT 2 down to the waterfront....forget about a rugby stadium..
Was the Catalina ZK-AMP?
Cheers Terry
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Post by shorty on Oct 14, 2008 20:31:13 GMT 12
Good to see the Police providing airport security in the middle shot of post #72.
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Post by Bruce on Oct 14, 2008 20:34:10 GMT 12
I see in Hairy's excellent photos that the TEAL international Airport Signpost started very early in the piece... (still around in Air NZ incarnations at our airports today!)
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Post by shorty on Oct 14, 2008 21:31:00 GMT 12
TEAL's Logo was a stylised Flying Fish which is why the name was used I guess.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 14, 2008 21:46:35 GMT 12
I just have to say, this is a brilliant thread!
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Post by contourcreative on Oct 15, 2008 14:30:53 GMT 12
Hi All..these color pictures are from a book called: Pacific Pioneers the Rest of the Story. Here's the full image which is rather magnificent. Yep lots of lawn, lots water, steam trains, nice old cars.
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