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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 12, 2006 14:28:33 GMT 12
I have decided to add the names of wartime station commanders to my webpages on the RNZAF stations in NZ. I know a few of thm, but if anyone can add to this list I'd appreciate it:
Whenuapai
Sqn Ldr Geoffrey Roberts (1st Station Commander of Whenuapai)
Wing Commander Seabrook (took over from Roberts when No. 4 EFTS was formed. I suspect this is John Seabrook, former WWI pilot and Auckland Aero Club CFI - can anyone confirm?)
Seagrove
Sqn Ldr Sidney Wiltshire GC
New Plymouth
Squadron Leader A.C. Upham, DFC (was Station Commander in April 1941, not sure how long for. Does anyone know what A.C. stood for?)
Ohakea
Wing Commander F.E.T. Hewlett D.S.O., O.B.E. (was Station Commander in May 1941, unsure how long for. Does anyone know what F.E.T. stood for?)
Levin
Wing Commander R.J. Sinclair - ? till approx Jan 1942 (posted to command RNZAF Station Taieri. Does anyone know what R.J. stood for?)
Milson
Sqn Ldr Sidney Wiltshire GC
Delta
Sqn Ldr Sidney Wiltshire GC
Woodbourne
Gp Capt Keith Caldwell
Wigram
Gp Capt Keith Caldwell
Taieri
Wing Commander R.J. Sinclair - approx Jan 1942 till ?
Can anyone add more precise dates, or the names of Station Commanders on other stations during WWII please?
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Post by SEAN on Feb 24, 2006 11:22:41 GMT 12
Ok found this out for you. Source was "The History and Development of RNZAF Station Hobsonville", complied and narated by SQNLDR AG Lester 1947: Base Commanders RNZAF Station Hobsonville Feb 1938 - SQNLDR EG Olson Jul 1939 - SQNLDR HB Burrell Sep 39 - SQNLDRWG Coull Jul 41 - WGCDR FET Hewlett Dec 41 - WGCDR J Seabrook Jul 42 - WGCDR WG Coull Nov 42 WGCDR GR White May 43 - WGCDR FR Newell Jan 44 - WGCDR Cohen Mar 44 - WGCDR JE Rawnsley  45 - SQN LDR Willis |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 25, 2006 9:59:21 GMT 12
Thanks very much Sean. Some famous names in there too. Hobsonville is one of my favourite bases, it's had so may roles, maritime, TAF, operational GR Sqn, 1RD, 1SD, training, aircraft assembly and testing point, first jet flight... A wealth of history. Soon to be destroyed I fear.
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Post by SEAN on Mar 6, 2006 19:54:25 GMT 12
Another one for you Dave. RNZAF Masterton (Hood). War time Base Commander was WGCDR John Ayling (RAF).
Source - "With 14 Sqn at Masterton's Hood Aerodrome", by Peter Noman Published 2002 ISBN 0-473-09231-X
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 6, 2006 21:50:45 GMT 12
Thanks for that Sean, I'll add that in.
Another I think, going on experience of other stations, as Ted Harvie was CO and CFI at No. 1 EFTS, he must have also been Station Commander of RNZAF Station Taieri at the time I guess.
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Post by SEAN on Mar 7, 2006 21:15:54 GMT 12
And another.. CO RNZAF Levin Mar 42 - 43 WGCR FR Dix CBE OBE Bronze Star (US), Source - "By Such Deeds" by CM Hanson. |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 7, 2006 22:11:06 GMT 12
Thanks Sean
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Post by SEAN on Mar 8, 2006 19:48:40 GMT 12
Dave
A few more for you. I do see that you have some already, but this should back them up:
All sourced from “By Such Deeds” By CM Hanson (Get a copy... On Trademe quite a lot)
AIRCDRE Maurice William Buckley CBE, MID
RNZAF Station Whenuapai Nov 41 - ?? 42
AVM Malcolm Frederick Calder CB, CBE
RNZAF Station Ohakea - Dates not shown
RNZAF Station Lauthla Bay - Dates not shown
AIRCDRE Keith Logan Caldwell CBE, MC, DFC*, MID ED, CdeG(Belg)
RNZAF Station Wigram Jun 42 – Nov 44
WGCDR William Leonard Harrison VD
RNZAF Station Norwood - Dates not shown
AIRCDRE Charles Campbell Hunter CBE
RNZAF Station Whenuapai May 45 - ??
GPCAPT Eric Maple Lewis OBE
RNZAF Station Lauthla Bay - Dates not shown
WGCDR Robert George Linklater AFC
RNZAF Station Nausori Nov 44 – May 45
WGCDR Alfred Morton Seafield Manhire OBE
RNZAF Station Nelson ?? when TTS at Rongotai moved to Nelson until 1944
WGCDR Peter Alister Matheson OBD (cvsa)
RNZAF Station Taieri Aug 43 - ??
WGDCR Roy Douglas Max DSO, DFC, CdeG(FR)
RNZAF Station Harewood Mar – Sep 45
WGCDR Alfred John Turner OBE
RNZAF Station Tonga Dec 42 – Mar 43
RNZAF Station Espiritu Santo Mar – Jun 43
RNZAF Station Guadalcanal Jun – Oct 43
RNZAF Station Rongotai Oct 43 - Jun 44
RNZAF Station Espiritu Santo Jun – Oct 44
RNZAF Station Guadalcanal Dec 44 – Jun 45
RNZAF Station Ohakea Jun – Dec 45
AVM Cameron Archer Turner CB, CBE
“During 1944 he was CO of RNZAF Stations Nausori, Fiji, Guadalcanal”
WGCDR Arthur Colwell Upham DFC
RNZAF Stations New Plymouth and Levin - Dates not shown
AIRCDRE Trevor Watts White CBE, ED
“Commanded RNZAF Stations Rongotai & Levin” prior to Mar 42
SQNLDR Sidney Noel Wiltshire GC
RNZAF Stations Milson & Seagrove - Dates not shown
AIRCDRE George Stacey Hodson CBE, AFC, CdeG(Belg) RAF
RNZAF Station Wigram 1938 – 42
WGCDR George Gatonby Stead DFC RAF
RNZAF Station Lauthla Bay Amr – May 1943
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 8, 2006 20:48:12 GMT 12
Fantastic stuff, thanks Sean!
I believe Mort Manhire was also CO of RNZAF Station Hamilton for a time too.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 8, 2006 21:20:48 GMT 12
For the record, having looked into a few records, Arthur Upham was Station CO at New Plymouth from October 1939 when it opened, and was still there in April 1941. I don't know when he left though, nor when he went to Levin.
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Post by phil82 on Mar 10, 2006 12:25:02 GMT 12
"Dorothy" Dix died in Wellington not that long ago, two or thee years I suppose.
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Post by SEAN on Mar 13, 2006 11:30:08 GMT 12
A few more:
RNZAF Base Wigram
GPCAPT GS Hodson AFC RAF - Apr 38 - Jun 42
GPCAPT KL Caldwell MBE, MC, DFC - Jun 42 - Nov 44
GPCAPT CE Kay OBE, DFC - Nov 44 - Mar 46
Source RNZAF Base Wigram 1916 - 1995, The end of an era, By RNZAF Public Relations 1995.
RNZAF Hammilton Commanding Officers
Apr 42 - Aug 42 SQNLDR F Butler
Aug 42 - Sep 42 WGCDR EA Gibson
Sep 42 - Jan 43 WGCDR JT Brown
Jan 43 - Apr 44 WGCDR W Temple
Apr 44 - Apr 46 WGCDR AMS Manhire
Then became RNZAF Te Rapa in Apr 46
Source "Air Force Pataka" by Lindsay Amner 1993.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 13, 2006 15:24:59 GMT 12
Fantastic, thanks
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Post by SEAN on Mar 14, 2006 5:48:01 GMT 12
And some more:
RNZAF Station HArewood
Opened May 40 - ?? WGCDR Sir Robert Clark Hall KBE, CMG, DSO
RNZAF Station Ohakea
Opened 18 Sep 39 !st CO was FLTLT EG Gedge MC
RNZAF Station Emirau
WGCDR Aubrey Breckon - Dates N/K
RNZAF Station Onerahi
FLTLT "Lou" Gates (RAF) - Dates N/K
Source - "RNZAF A Short History" - Geoffrey Bentley"
RNZAF Station New Georgia - Dates N/K
WGCDR Freeman DSO DFC*
RNZAF Station Santo ?? to Oct 43
RNZAF Station Guadalcanal Oct 43 to ??
WGCDR IE Ransley
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Post by SEAN on Mar 14, 2006 5:49:02 GMT 12
Sorry Last two sourced from the Officiaol History of the RNZAF by SQNLDR JMS Ross.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 28, 2006 23:32:33 GMT 12
A couple of queries:
Colin, was 'Dorothy' Dix's real name Francis (Frank)? Or is that a different officer?
And regarding your note Sean on RNZAF Hamilton, Hamilton and Te Rapa were two seperate bases in two seperate locations. Hamilton was No. 1 Stores Depot till Te Rapa opened, then Hamilton became No. 1 RD. So, did they have just one Station Commander for both stations? And if so, what about RNZAF Rukuhia which also was a seperate location but seems to have been part of, or linked with, No. 1 RD. Any ideas?
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Post by phil82 on Mar 29, 2006 7:59:12 GMT 12
Yes, it was Frank Dix, He lived in Oriental Bay in Wellington at the time of his death, which was not that many years ago. I believe the "Dorothy" bit came from an American radio personality of the wartime era, but of course I wasn't around then, being far too young!
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 29, 2006 9:59:47 GMT 12
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Post by SEAN on Aug 11, 2006 14:24:33 GMT 12
Sorry I should have put this post here.......
Dave
Found some more, this time for RNZAF Station Taieri:
Officially opened 20 Oct 1939
SQNLDR GL Stedman 20 Oct 39 - 22 Jan 44
WGCDR RJ Sinclair 23 Jan 42 - 30 Apr 42
SQNLDR AC Parson 01 May 42 - 17 Jul 42
SQNLDR Gilkison 17 Jul 42 - 20 Aug 43
SQNLDR PA Matheson 24 Aug 43 - 25 Sep 44
SQNLDR KB Robinson 26 Sep 44 06 Nov 44
WGCDR WR Kofoed 04 Nov 44 -
Source - RNZAF Station Taieri - Station History, Published by RNZAF Station Taieri 194?.
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45 - SQN LDR Willis