|
Post by 43willys on Oct 14, 2010 17:05:00 GMT 12
A good friend of mine lives at Seagrove and his Garden oozes 50cal projectiles, which quite alot are in good order and i have cleaned some up and put them back in the shellcasses for displays. As a boy, my father lived on the other side of the Manukau harbour (opposite Seagrove), he would go down to the beach and pick up hundereds of 50cal shells and linking. He said every kid at his school had huge strips of 50cal in links.
|
|
|
Post by shamus on Oct 16, 2010 13:02:11 GMT 12
For those looking for information on the US camps in NZ, a booklet was published on them by Dept. Internal Affairs, called 'The Friendly Invasion Of NZ by American Armed Forces' I dont know if it is still available but it is a very useful book. There appears to be no South Island camps. The following are pictures taken from this book. If any one needs more information I can scan more of its 80 pages. Seagrove, taken from the book.
|
|
|
Post by mikey51 on Nov 9, 2010 19:15:58 GMT 12
Hi Guys. I spent a very interesting day at the National Library/Archives in Wellington, and discovered some very useful info about this place. (Rere) Let me know by PM, or otherwise if you want me to post it as it is not strictly aviation. Cheers all, Mike. Wellington. P.S Found out that they have files there on P.40 accidents/crashes in N.Z.
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 9, 2010 20:41:47 GMT 12
Please do post it, I have no objection at all and I'm sure no-one else would object to learnign a bit more about the military history of NZ and its Allies.
They have the accident reports for most RNZAF accidents in the National Archives. Some are a bit dry but others are full of interesting facts.
|
|
|
Post by errolmartyn on Nov 9, 2010 22:04:26 GMT 12
Hi Guys. I spent a very interesting day at the National Library/Archives in Wellington, and discovered some very useful info about this place. (Rere) Let me know by PM, or otherwise if you want me to post it as it is not strictly aviation. Cheers all, Mike. Wellington. P.S Found out that they have files there on P.40 accidents/crashes in N.Z. No need to even visit Wellington these days to see what files Archives NZ has. A search on Archives NZ online 'Archway' catalogue under 'rnzaf accident reports' brings up a listing of over 2800 file references c.1939-1957 with (usually) aircraft type, serial and date of event. Errol
|
|
|
Post by steve on Nov 9, 2010 23:42:10 GMT 12
The Friendly Invasion of NZ was put together by Jack Hinton ex Mayor of East Coast Bays City and his wife June. I met with them on a couple of occasions to pass on my US army Map information. He passed on some years back but was determined to contact and get assistance from other Mayors which also resulted in National wide stone markers at all US army and Marine sites similar to the one at Sea Grove. Many Libraries still have the book along with the first Publication on the subject " The Yanks are Coming"
|
|
|
Post by FlyingKiwi on Nov 10, 2010 17:29:10 GMT 12
You can still make out the old runways at Seagrove on Google Maps - hope this isn't too much of a thread drift but does anyone know if there are any other disused airfields around the country which are still visible from the air? (not counting Wigram!)
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 10, 2010 19:18:11 GMT 12
The bomber strip at Hororata is visible as the seed they laid for a different coloured grass at the time (so pilots could spot the secret base) had wattle seed in the mix, and now it's got wattle trees in a big cross runway shape. That was the biggest runway in NZ ever and only used by a few light planes.
|
|
|
Post by Bruce on Nov 10, 2010 19:18:50 GMT 12
You can still make out the old runways at Seagrove on Google Maps - hope this isn't too much of a thread drift but does anyone know if there are any other disused airfields around the country which are still visible from the air? (not counting Wigram!) Waipapakauri Pikes Point Te Pirita (visible in historical imagery, but lost under irrigator circles in the latest pics) sites of the old Rotorua (Whakrewarewa) Timaru (Saltwater Creek) and New Plymouth (Bell Block) airfields can be found but nothing to see. NZ hasnt actually had many airport closures over the years, so there isnt a lot to find!
|
|
|
Post by mikey51 on Nov 10, 2010 19:23:02 GMT 12
Errol, does Archways show the actual/real documents compiled by the accident investigators at the time, or someone elses opinion/interpretation, of what they wrote ? I'll try and summarise the Rerewhakaaitu info I found over the next few days and post it. Thanks, Mike.
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 10, 2010 20:07:03 GMT 12
mikey51, no Archway only provides the aircraft type, serial and date of event, as Errol stated. But that is a handy way to find out what you want to look into further when you visit.
Bruce, is the current airport at Bell Block, New Plymouth not the same location that was RNZAF Bell Block??
|
|
|
Post by Peter Lewis on Nov 10, 2010 20:35:09 GMT 12
re any other disused airfields around the country which are still visible from the air? (not counting Wigram!) Hobsonville (but not for very much longer). The original Bell Block airfield was on the land side of the coastal highway and rather closer in towards New Plymouth town than the current new airport which was opened in 1967.
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 10, 2010 21:06:13 GMT 12
Thanks Peter. I never realised it had shifted. So is the original one under houses now partially or is it still complete?
Is the old runway at RNZAF Levin, Wereroa, still visible to see?
|
|
|
Post by mikey51 on Dec 30, 2010 18:35:45 GMT 12
I do apologise for my late reply. My research is continuing. This is a very brief summary of what I have found out to date. To start, it has to be understood that info is hard to obtain due to the secrecy that existed at the time, lack of documentation etc , and .. It is not in the books as it was not an established CAMP with buildings. Troops were tented, out in the cold , and all H.Q's were in Rotorua. It was an exercise area. The military deployment at Rerewhakaaitu started with the use of the area by the N.Z Field Artillery in the 1920's and 30's. Firing into the lower slopes of Mt Tarawera. In April 1943 it was used by the N.Z tank Brigade. Valentines and the M3A1. There is evidence, although not a lot, that a U.S Marine Tank battalion recce party visited in 43. There is strong evidence to prove that the 25th Divisional Artillery of the 25th Infantry Div of the U.S Army used the range for live firing in Jan 44. The main use of the area was buy the 43rd Infantry Division of the U.S Army, April/June/July 44. They were testing new shooting methods with the new 105mm self propelled Howitzers they had just obtained. I have a lot more info but dunno if anyone else is interested ? Any corrections or ideas for new avenues of enquiry welcomed. Cheers, Mike.
|
|
ali
Leading Aircraftman
Posts: 1
|
Post by ali on Mar 15, 2014 13:15:24 GMT 12
my uncle owns a farm there with a dump site on it Yankee Road to be precise
|
|
zkdex
Squadron Leader
Posts: 101
|
Post by zkdex on Mar 27, 2014 16:05:00 GMT 12
Re Rerewhakaaitu, I came across a reference to one B Mossop who wrote about the "The military at Rerewhakaaitu" published in 1993 in "Mud, Ash and Pumice - A Chronicle of Rerewhakaaitu & Districts Settlement". This mentions NZ field artillery units using the area for annual camps in the 1920s & 30s, firing from along Northern Boundary Road into the lower slopes of Mt Tarawera. During WW2, the Americans came first (1942 to 1944): the 25th, 37th and 43rd infantry divisions of the US Army. They were followed by the NZ Tank Brigade (from 1943). It is argued that the Americans built the orginal road up onto Mt Tarawera and lookouts were posted along this road (something to do I suppose!) There were no permanent camp facilities, accommodation was in tents. Post-war, the area was apparently used for CMT camps during the 1950's. The proximity of this training ground to the auxiliary air field at Galatea still intrigues me!
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 27, 2014 18:02:08 GMT 12
Is that anywhere near Atiamuri? Because the NZ Field Artillery territorial units trained at Atiamuri in the 1930's till Waiouru was established as a camp.
|
|
zkdex
Squadron Leader
Posts: 101
|
Post by zkdex on Mar 28, 2014 12:06:48 GMT 12
Atiamuri is on the Waikato River, Rerewhakaaitu is about 45 kilometres to the east as the crow flies. Lots of easy going country inbetween.
|
|
|
Post by The Red Baron on Mar 28, 2014 12:24:36 GMT 12
I wonder why they built a base at Rerewhakaaitu anyway?.Its miles from anywhere,has no airfeild or railway,the road out there wouldn't have been to flash in the day. They would also have to cart all their gear out there,as it wasn't near a sea port.Maybe it was central Nth Island if the Japs invaded they could go any direction?. I think I've said before a friend was involved in a seriuos salvage effort of the gear they pushed in the lake,they got lots of small stuff but the big stuff is well buried.
|
|
|
Post by kiwiloggr75 on Apr 21, 2014 19:01:18 GMT 12
I do apologise for my late reply. My research is continuing. This is a very brief summary of what I have found out to date. To start, it has to be understood that info is hard to obtain due to the secrecy that existed at the time, lack of documentation etc , and .. It is not in the books as it was not an established CAMP with buildings. Troops were tented, out in the cold , and all H.Q's were in Rotorua. It was an exercise area. The military deployment at Rerewhakaaitu started with the use of the area by the N.Z Field Artillery in the 1920's and 30's. Firing into the lower slopes of Mt Tarawera. In April 1943 it was used by the N.Z tank Brigade. Valentines and the M3A1. There is evidence, although not a lot, that a U.S Marine Tank battalion recce party visited in 43. There is strong evidence to prove that the 25th Divisional Artillery of the 25th Infantry Div of the U.S Army used the range for live firing in Jan 44. The main use of the area was buy the 43rd Infantry Division of the U.S Army, April/June/July 44. They were testing new shooting methods with the new 105mm self propelled Howitzers they had just obtained. I have a lot more info but dunno if anyone else is interested ? Any corrections or ideas for new avenues of enquiry welcomed. Cheers, Mike.
|
|