Electra 10A

[pjw4118]

To compliment Hairys great pictures of early airliners here is a set from the Auckland Star collection.
The first three of AGJ Kahu look like Mangere and the first has lots of background detail, taxi and well dressed passengers. The snow scene maybe Taieri.
The two of AFE Kereru are Mangere and Kotare possibly Paraparaumu. I think Kotare crashed in 1942 in Nelson.
AGK, Kaka is Rongatai with the Red Rocks on the top right while the aerial of AFD is north of the Hutt Valley,
Roy Montrowe who flew Electras recalls the incredible howl of the Wasp engines and blames it for his deafness. Mind you after a tour on Wellingtons in the Desert then one on Mosquitoes in the LNSF, that wouldn't have helped.
Any details about these pictures, welcome as always.

[Dave Homewood]

Really nice shots there Peter, thanks for posting these.

[Andy Wright]

Beautiful aeroplane. Cheers for these, Peter.

[Dave Homewood]

There's an article in the Herald today about 'Kaka's crash

www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?objectid=11932009

[davidd]

The "snow scene" is actually Wigram rather than Taieri. This MAY be an RNZAF photograph. The date was in July 1945, just after the "Great Canterbury Snow" - Harewood had been rendered unuseable, so it fell to Wigram to host the Electras for a few days.
David D

[planewriting]

By some strange coincidence I have this afternoon finished some proof reading for Errol Martyn (Production Editor) Aviation Historical Society) which covered notes on the Ruapehu Electra crash. As I have just said to Errol, it is an eerie feeling to be doing that work at almost the same hour as the accident occurred exactly 69 years ago today.