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Post by steveh on Apr 15, 2011 21:43:46 GMT 12
Damn thats a nice build. Its a great colour scheme too. Photos now filed for reference. Thanks for the heads up Dave. Steve.
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Post by steveh on Apr 16, 2011 13:18:05 GMT 12
I've only just twigged to this & done some research to check it. The Tolerton family were neighbours of ours when Nelson was with Zip Holdings in Nelson, the head office was here long ago, dare I say in the olden days. I'd have been about 10 I think at the time so we're talking 45ish years ago. Pity I had no idea that he had this in his back ground but then my interests were nothing like as developed back then. I used to hang out with his son Michael, they had a neat back yard area a bit jungly down to a small creek. Ideal for jungle warfare etc. ;D I recall them as a nice family. Is Nelson still with us, he'd be a good age by now? Steve.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 16, 2011 14:07:56 GMT 12
Nelson and Margaret now live in Hamilton. Nelson has eye problems and is partially blnd but otherwise in good health last time we corresponded. He is a great bloke and had an amazing career in the FAA, including flying all sorts from Skua dive bombers to Swordfish to Fulmars to Wellingtons (doing some top level radar testing and development) and then onto combat in Hellcats. One of my favourite veterans in fact.
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Post by steveh on Apr 16, 2011 15:38:57 GMT 12
Thanks for that Dave, amazing to know who lived over our back fence & I never knew. Steve.
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dkevans
Leading Aircraftman
Posts: 2
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Post by dkevans on May 7, 2011 7:49:41 GMT 12
Hi Just found this page from googling my name, Denys Evans (Funnily enough i'm named after him) is my deceased grandfather and I was wondering where I could pick up a copy of this book? I never got to meet him, he died a year before I was born and to read up on him would be cool.
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Post by kb on May 7, 2011 9:09:30 GMT 12
I used to work with Jack Tolerton who came up from Nelson. Must be the same family. Did you know him SteveH?
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Post by Dave Homewood on May 7, 2011 11:51:39 GMT 12
Welcome Denys. Don's excellent book comes up fairly regularly on TradeMe. Often it's not cheap though, but well worth getting, especially with your family connection. Many NZ libraries will have a copy too I think.
Do you or your family happen to have any photos from your grandfather's service? Especially of the aircraft, or shots of him with Don perhaps? They'd be most appreciated here and for my film project if scans could be produced. Thanks. And do you have his flying logbook?
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Post by steveh on May 7, 2011 20:41:30 GMT 12
I used to work with Jack Tolerton who came up from Nelson. Must be the same family. Did you know him SteveH? Hi kb, I don't recollect a Jack Tolerton as being part of that family, at the age I was then Nelson would have been refered to as Mr & his wife Mrs, it was the olden days, remember them. Their children Michael & Jane were about our age & we got on quite well with them. Thats about as much as I can tell. In those days I had no idea of Nelson's wartime service & would probably have been too young to appreciate the details anyway. Steve.
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dkevans
Leading Aircraftman
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Post by dkevans on Jun 6, 2011 16:50:56 GMT 12
Welcome Denys. Don's excellent book comes up fairly regularly on TradeMe. Often it's not cheap though, but well worth getting, especially with your family connection. Many NZ libraries will have a copy too I think. Do you or your family happen to have any photos from your grandfather's service? Especially of the aircraft, or shots of him with Don perhaps? They'd be most appreciated here and for my film project if scans could be produced. Thanks. And do you have his flying logbook? Sorry for the lack of reply! Quite busy with University. My dad has a few hung up around his house - I remember theres one where they are all seated sort of like a class photo? Ill get a hold of them next time I see him and post them up.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 6, 2011 18:15:50 GMT 12
Thanks Denys. I'm looking forward to seeing them.
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Post by gkirkman on Nov 5, 2011 9:40:05 GMT 12
I am Don Nairn's daughter and was interested to see questions relating to aspects of dad's flying history. Dad is soon to turn 92 and remains physically active but sadly, as noted, his wonderful memories have now mainly gone. He is still passionate about aviation and will be at the Masterton Air Show (accompanied by his grandson Daniel Kirkman, an engineer in the RNZAF.) I am sure that dad's log book is among the many cases of old flying notes which I know are still in his possession. Thanks for your interest.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 5, 2011 13:27:44 GMT 12
Welcome to the forum, I really enjoyed meeting and spending time with your father and Marian. It isa shame about his memory but just to be able to meet someone who contributed so much to the war effort as he did was a real honour.
If you ever come across his logbook/s I'd be very interested to be able to get a digital photo copy of itfor my records. It would be fascinating and with his background in the testing as well as his combat carer it would be a real treasure, in fact a national treasure.
Cheers, Dave dave_daasnz@hotmail.com
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Post by gkirkman on Nov 7, 2011 12:20:16 GMT 12
Certainly - I know dad would be happy for someone with such knowledgable interest as yours to have access to his records. Will keep in touch. Regards, Gail
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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 7, 2011 13:08:36 GMT 12
Thanks Gail.
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Post by davidd on Aug 4, 2012 10:58:55 GMT 12
Most British operational aircraft were fitted with a fixed mounting for the flare pistol (Very pistol, named after its American inventor, design date back to about 1890s I think!) which was accessible to the pilot (or other crew members) in flight. I imagine that all single-seat aircraft would have had it mounted where the pilot could reach the trigger, or alternatively have a Bowden cable system to operate the trigger. I seem to recall that some fighters had the pistol mounted in the upper fuselage BEHIND the cockpit. I imagine that US Navy operational-type aircraft would also have had provision for signal pistols. Incidentally the signal lamps referred to on this thread were linked to a Morse key, so rather more elaborate messages could be relayed from these than from the rather basic colours available to the Very pistol operator. Dave D
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Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 4, 2012 11:36:02 GMT 12
Strangely the pistol is normally spelled as a Verey Pistol, yet the inventor was, as David says, called Edward Wilson Very.
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Post by baz62 on Aug 5, 2012 18:54:23 GMT 12
Yes Anthony has one for his T7 Auster. It sits in a mounting on the floor to the right of the pilot's legs. Apparently it was loaded as when Anthony tried to find details about cartridge storage he found none and thats because they only carried one and that was in the pistol! Wouldn't be pretty if it went off and the fabric burnt caught fire!
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