Civil de Havilland Mosquitos in NZ

[kiwithrottlejockey]

A few days ago, I was browsing in a magazine shop in Wellington and noticed a special edition magazine from Fly Past titled Mosquito — A Celebration of de Havilland's ‘Wooden Wonder’ so I purchased it.

There is a photo section in it titled “Without Malice — Civilian Mosquitos” and in that section there is a photograph of a Mosquito FB.VI at Palmerston North Airport carrying the registration letters ZK-BCT. The caption accompanying the photo states that the aeroplane was formerly PZ413 and that it was one of a number of Mosquitos aquired by Aircraft Supplies (based at Palmerston North) and that the aeroplane joined the company in July 1953 and was sold as N4935V to a California-based owner.

Would this have been an ex-RNZAF Mosquito? Or would it have been aquired from somewhere else?

Does anyone know how many de Havilland Mosquitos carried civil registration in NZ?

[dakman]

HI all RE the mosquito at P North, I know that ZK bct bcv bcw bcy were there
but not sure if these were the only civ registered aircraft
cheers

[dakman]

While on the topic of civil registered ex military aircraft
does any have any knowledge of two Cessna Bobcats
Registered as ZK ARS and ART possibly flown
from Whangarei or the old Mangere airport
and their fate ??

[baz62]

Yes they were all ex-RNZAF, however according to ADF Serials BCT (ex-NZ2381) didn't make it to the US(may have been registered then sale fell through?) and was scrapped in Palmerston North along with BCU(ex-NZ2383),BCW(ex-NZ2386),BCX(ex-NZ2386) and BCY(ex-NZ2387).
However BCV (ex-NZ2384) did make it to the US as N9909F. The remains of this aircraft were sold to the Swedish Air Force Museum but may still be in US.

[htbrst]

There is a short write up in the March 08 Aeroplane Monthly on the history of one of the aircraft (PZ474, NZ2384, zk-bcv, then N9909F) as part of background to a "murder by mosquito"

(The owner of the company which owned this Mossie sabotaged another mossie, killing the pilot, to claim the $50,000 insurance money)

On June 6, 1955, another shadowy character named Lewis M. Leach, also acting as an agent for Trans World, set off on the ferry flight of the Mosquito (re-registered in the USA as N9919F) to the USA, going via Prestwick in Scotland. The flight appears to have gone smoothly.

Leach was not a stranger to long-distance Mosquito flights. Loomis, also operating as Trans World Engineering Corp, had purchased ex-Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) Mosquito FB.VI PZ474 on February 28, 1955. Assigned the RNZAF serial NZ2384, it was placed in storage after its ferry flight from the UK to New Zealand in March 1948.

Never allocated to an operational unit, it was declared surplus to requirements in late 1954 and sold to Aircraft Supplies (NZ) Ltd. Although the Mosquito was given the New Zealand civil registration ZK-BCV, it appears not to have done any work before being sold to Loomis as one of four Mosquitoes acquired for a total of $15,000.

On March 25, 1955, Loomis applied for a Certificate of Registration for the ex-RNZAF aircraft, and this was issued on May 2, 1955, as N9909F. Leach went to New Zealand with a navigator to ferry the aircraft to California via Hawaii. Leach brought along a cheque from
Loomis for $5,000 to serve as a down payment for the four aircraft. During the flight to the USA an in-flight fire occurred, but Leach and the navigator man-aged to extinguish the blaze.

It appears that Loomis and Trans World managed to win a contract from the US Geological Survey in June 1955 to map a portion of northern California and Nevada. This work was done in August 1955, with Leach as pilot along with a photographer, but it is doubtful that N9909F was used for this task. By August 1956 the company had run into financial difficulties and, in an attempt to secure further funding, N9909F was sold to the Insurance Finance Corp (IFC) of Studio City, California, on August 8, 1956, and then leased back to Trans World. Unknown to the IFC, N9909F had been attached by Whiteman Airpark for unpaid rent and fuel bills totalling some $1,300. After paying the bills IFC repossessed the aircraft from Trans World, but it remained parked in the open at Whiteman, rotting away under the California sun.

The caption for a picture of N9909F states:

Seen here at whiteman airpark, California after its ferry flight from New Zealand Mosquito FB IV N9909F was the other example of the type operated by Loomis and operated by Transworld. Sadly the aircraft continued to fall into disrepair and was eventually removed and scrapped

It doesnt say anything about the other 3 aircraft included in the $15,000

[furyfb11]

The other three aircraft were parked in a paddock in Walkers Rd.Longburn for a while.I can remember playing on them when I was suposed to be at Sunday School.

[angelsonefive]

Jan 17, 2010 13:47:40 GMT 12 dakman said:

While on the topic of civil registered ex military aircraft
does any have any knowledge of two Cessna Bobcats
Registered as ZK ARS and ART possibly flown
from Whangarei or the old Mangere airport
and their fate ??

From the NZ Register :

ZK-ARS Cessna T-50 Bobcat. C/n 3668. Ex-US 42-58176. Test flown March 1948 but rejected for service. Scrapped at Mangere. Reg. cancelled October 1950.
ZK-ART Cessna T-50 Bobcat. C/n 3669. Ex-US 42-58177. rejected for service by the civil aviation authorities and scrapped at Mangere. Reg. cancelled April 1952.

[Peter Lewis]

From the Air Britain publication on civil Mosquitos by Derek King"

PZ413 FB.Mk.VI
PZ413 DD 45 RAF 143/248/143/248/489 Sqns 132 OCU
NZ2381 DD 23. 1.48 RNZAF TOC 25.3.48 at Ohakea. Stored Taieri
Declared surplus 17.7.53 on SR.4103
Sold 53 Bob Bean & Arthur Kaplan, Aircraft Sales Inc, Los Angeles CA ZK-BCT Regd 5.11.53 Aircraft Supplies Ltd, Palmerston North
On behalf of Aircraft Sales Inc
N4935V DD Aircraft Export Co, Los
Angeles CA Sold Richard R.Newman / California Air Charter
Leased to CIA for clandestine ops in South America then offered for sale but BU at Burbank in the 1960’s

RF597 FB.Mk.VI
RF597 DD 45 RAF 235 Sqn NZ2383 DD 27. 1.48 RNZAF TOC 25.
Declared surplus 17.7.53 on SR.4103
So 11.52 (?) Bob Bean & Arthur Kaplan /
ld . Aircraft Sales Inc ZK-BCU Regd 2. 9.53 Aircraft Supplies Ltd, Palmerston North
On behalf of Aircraft Sales Inc. Sale stopped by NZ Government
WFU scrapped at Dunedin. Canx 9.5.57
Parts only placed with RNZAF Museum

PZ444 FB.Mk.VI
PZ444 DD 45 RAF 21 Sqn NZ2385 DD 27. 1.48 RNZAF TOC 5.
Declared surplus 17.7.53 on SR.4103
So 53 Bob Bean & Arthur Kaplan, Aircraft Sales Inc, Los Angeles CA ZK-BCW Regd 2. 9.53 Aircraft Supplies Ltd, Palmerston North NZ Government
On behalf of Aircraft Sales Inc. Export stopped by
WFU 1956 scrapped at Palmerston North. Canx 9.5.57

RF849 FB.Mk.VI
RF849 DD 45 RAF 404/489 Sqns 132 OTU NZ2386 DD 27. 1.48 RNZAF TOC 9.4.48 at Ohakea. Stored Taieri Declared surplus 17.7.53 on SR.4103
So 53 Bob Bean & Arthur Kaplan, Aircraft Sales Inc, Los Angeles CA Inspected by then 6.11.52
ZK-BCX Regd 2. 9.53 Aircraft Supplies Ltd,
Palmerston North On behalf of Aircraft Sales Inc. Sale stopped by NZ Government WFU scrapped at Dunedin. Canx

PZ200 FB.Mk.VI
PZ200 DD 5.45 RAF 151/68/25 Sqns 54 OTU NZ2387 DD 27. 1.48 RNZAF TOC 1.5.48 at Ohakea.
Declared surplus 17.7.53 on SR.4103
So 53 Bob Bean & Arthur Kaplan, Aircraft Sales Inc, Los Angeles CA ZK-BCY Regd 2. 9.53 Aircraft Supplies Ltd, Palmerston North
On behald of Aircraft Sales Inc. Export stopped by NZ government
WFU 1956 scrapped at Palmerston North. Canx 9.5.57

PZ474 FB.Mk.VI
PZ474 DD RAF between May 44 and Jun 45 RAF 8 OUT / 132 OTU
NZ2384 DD 23. 1.48 RNZAF TOC 15.4.48 at Ohakea. Stored Taieri
Declared surplus 17.7.53 on SR.4103
Sold 53 Bob Bean & Arthur Kaplan, Aircraft Sales Inc, Los Angeles CA
ZK-BCV Regd12. 9.53 Aircraft Supplies Ltd, Palmerston North
On behalf of Aircraft Sales Inc
Canx 14.3.55 as sold to USA
N9909F Regd28. 1.55 DD11. 3.55 Richard E. Loomis / Trans World Engineering Corp / Trans World Aerial Surveys, Pasadena CA
Regd 8. 8.56 Insurance Finance Corp, Studio City CA
Sold 58 Richard R. Newman / California Air Charter
Leased for smuggling operations in South America
Open storage at Whiteman Air Park CA in 1959 until derelict
Parts removed by USAFM Wright Patterson AFB but airframe left.
Sold 67 Marvin E. Whiteman, Whiteman Air Park CA
In defrayment of fees owed 1965-70
Sold 67 Ed Maloney, The Air Museum, Ontario CA
Fuselage cut for transporting but sale aborted
Sold 70 James R. Merizan, Placentia Ca (later Yorba Linda CA)
– components for restoration to fly at Chino CA
In 1980 Merizan traded ownership to Flygvapermuseum, Swedish Air Force Museum, but believed still in USA on rebuild (with plans to build four new- build Mosquito as well)

[Peter Lewis]

I suspect the veracity of this entry for ZK-BCT.

There was an article published some years ago (in Wings? Aviation News?) written by a chap who was a Mosquito-rated pilot with the RNZAF at the time the aircraft were sold off.

From memory, he relates that Aircraft Supplies Ltd. tendered and bought Mosquitos from the GSB on behalf of an American trading firm, Aircraft Sales Inc. This fellow was contracted by Aircraft Supplies to ferry six of these Mosquitos from Taieri to Milson. He flew ZK-BCT Taieri-P/North 19Nov1953.
There were rumours that Aircraft Sales Inc. intended to onsell these 'articles of war' to a South American country and this apparently caused disquiet to the American government who put pressure on the NZ government to stop the export of these aircraft.
While the NZ government was pondering the matter, Mosquito ZK-BCV was flown PN-WP by an American crew 10Mar1955 and departed the country for Fiji-Canton Island- Honolulu on the 11th.
This departure caused quite a stir, and the export of the other Mosquitos was immediately stopped.

As far as I know, the other five stayed at Milson and fell into dereliction there. Certainly all other sources indicate that ZK-BCT never left NZ to become N4935V.

One of those minor unsolved mysteries?

[rod]

yes

[rod]

now to find some more pictures of the other bc.............

[rone]

that is all very interesting concerning the reported dismantling of the Mosquitoes at Dunedin.As post #8 says he understood the 5 remaining a/c remained at Milson and were broken up there.As I have stated previously on this site,it was my father who purchased these a/c via tender and dismantled them at Milson,later to be called Palmerston North Airport.I was involved in the breaking up of these a/c and have several photos of them in various states of undress.From memory they were parked a bit away to the right of Union Airways hangar when facing the hangar doors.I also recall my father had to attend P/N court soon after taking posession of the a/c as a thief had been caught by the airfield caretaker removing the radios etc and hiding them at the side of the airfield.So I do know what I am talking about here and not reading from a magazine article.

[ZacYates]

Belated thanks for your memories, rone!

Is there any chance someone has other pics of these aircraft? I've seen the Ed Coates Collection photos - including one of N9099F - and am intrigued to see if there are any more.

ADF-Serials says "Some remnants remained in the area until the late 1970s" for NZ2381/ZK-BCT, NZ2383/-BCU (interesting as elsewhere sources say the RNZAF Museum have them), NZ2386/-BCX and NZ2387/-BCY...are they now part of Glyn's stash? Or elsewhere? Will they live again?

EDIT: here's another of the American machine. www.warbirdregistry.org/mossieregistry/mossie-pz474.html

EDIT EDIT: and another, with a potted history: books.google.co.nz/books?id=6nbDN5fUkyMC&pg=PA377&lpg=PA377&dq=mosquito+PZ474&source=bl&ots=1bJf-1bm93&sig=Pf6KF9zNEiVT2rqSQsxZb7W2r6c&hl=en&sa=X&ei=BZ9fUJisBsmViAe94YDwDw&ved=0CFYQ6AEwBw#v=onepage&q=mosquito%20PZ474&f=false

EDIT EDIT EDIT: Here are two lovely colour photos of N9099F in the US, copyright to Robert D and Victor G Archer.

Gorgeous pics and look like they could have been taken last week!

[Dave Homewood]

Bill Rolfe, who worked on Mosquitoes as a technician in the RNZAF, and who's father bought eight Mosquitoes postwar, and who flew in the last flying NZ Mosquito when they took it to the USA, will be among the VIP veterans on Saturday at Ardmore.

[ZacYates]

Fantastic news Dave, thanks for sharing! I bet he could tell some stories.

[Dave Homewood]

Just to clarify, when I said his father bought the Mossies postwar, I meant post-RNZAF service, in the 1950's of course. I had a chat with Bill on the phone a few weeks back, a very interesting chap.

[ZacYates]

Of course :-) What a cool tale to tell though.

[denysjones]

That you're in contact with Rolfe junior is interesting Dave.

My understanding of things on the topic has always been along these lines.

Aircraft Supplies Ltd purchased 6 Mossies at Taeri and 13 at Woodbourne under the tender process. The Taeri ones became the ZK-BCx reges and the first one left the country.

The company folded after the Government stepped in post ZK-BCV's departure. Aircraft Supplies had not removed all their aircraft from Woodbourne and the GSB retendered the 8 of the Woodbourne a/c which were still on base.

Six of these supposedly went to Cliff Horrell of Ashburton and two went to Mr T Hayman from Studholme Junction and J Clarke of Oamaru. Clarke was Hayman's cousin and Hayman was the local MP and so got them a dispensation in respect of the 50mile rail freight limit so they could road their aircraft south.

I've always had Rolfe's name as the front man for the Aircraft Supplies tender process. This came about from something back in time that I now can't recall (as in I'm sure someone had told me this) but also because of the following.

Clarke's a/c was NZ2328 which we of course now have at Ferrymead. The fin of this has painted across the fin flash the name Rolfe.

This gives me confidence that he was the "face" of the Aircraft Supplies venture otherwise why would the aircraft have had that painted on it?

Another pictures shows the same marking on 2334 which was part of the same disposal block.

I also believe that Aircraft Supplies must have bought some parcel of other materials along with the aircraft lots.

The reason for this is that the RNZAF surplus return SR4106 declared 13 aircraft at Woodbourne, being Mossies 27, 28, 34, 41, 42, 43, 44, 55, 56, 70,73, 75 and 79, as surplus but when the tender 4981 was issued it specified 21 aircraft at Woodbourne as engineless.

When we got 2328 from Clarke he had no engines but he did have props. So that seems to fit.

However some years later I located a pair of merlins from a Mr Patterson of Highcliffe Motors Dunedin. These engines were mounted on engine frames just as they had been taken out of the a/c and these in turn had been mounted on wooden transport stands and crates.

Painted on the cross beam of the wooden stand was that name again "Rolfe".

Patterson was a speedboat racer and he had bought some 6 engines for that purpose. So the question now arises as two who he might have bought them from? However it is clear that at some stage someone has marked the stand to record its (new?) owner.

So I think there is a bit more to it all than you've been told so far.

It would be very interesting to see if you can glean any more as there has always been a variety of versions of the story surrounding the Mossie disposal process.

For background to this refer (if you can access it) to P C Conner's article on the Mossies in the AHSNZ journals, in particular Part 3 in the August 1986 issue.

cheers

[thomarse]

In the early 60s Rolfe Industries of Palmerston North held a number of agencies for aircraft components and materials. I believe this is the same Rolfe Snr (R G H Rolfe)

There was/were also Proctor(s) registered to Rolvin Airways back then, which I also suspect was connected to RGHR

[Peter Lewis]

Oct 13, 2010 16:44:59 GMT 12 rod said:

now to find some more pictures of the other bc.............

Mosquito ZK-BCV ex PZ474 at Milson before it escaped to become N9909F

Flown PN-WP 10Mar55, Left NZ as N9909F WP-Nadi 11Mar55, Nadi-Canton Is 14Mar55, Canton Is-Honolulu 16Mar55.