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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 20, 2006 19:56:08 GMT 12
This is a fascinating photo, which I snapped through the glass in one of the cases at the RNZAF Museum last week. It shows the three Japanese Zero's and the Dinah captured by the RNZAF, all lined up. A really interesting slice of history I reckon. Such a shame that apart from the Zero which came home, the other aircraft here were left to rot away.  |
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Post by Bruce on Apr 22, 2006 15:27:41 GMT 12
Actually, none of the Zekes shown came home - these are all A6M5 models (note exhaust stubs) whereas the zeke that did get back is an A6M3. As only 3 zekes were allocated to the RNZAf, it is likely one isthat allocated to the RAAF at the same time (and also left behind) It is interesting to see the additional aircraft though, very few photos exist. Incidentally I have just found some interesting pics of the A6M3 in storage at Ardmore in the 1950s.the pictures are in a1973 Wings magazine I picked up at SportAvex (Part of the late John Borman's collection that was being disposed of) My scanner is palying up a bit at the momentbut I'll try and get a scan done.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 22, 2006 15:52:35 GMT 12
Cheers Bruce, I know very little about Jap aircraft I'm afraid, and one Zero looks like another to me. I even have trouble distinguishing between real and Tora Zero's. Oh well, perhaps none of these were 'ours' but it's still an interesting shot.
I have seen some photos of the AWM Zero at Ardmore in a sorry state, quite disassembled and dumped in the corner of a hangar. Are these the same shots maybe? When you see it now, you'd never know it had a hard life, it looks great.
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Post by Peter Lewis on Apr 25, 2006 21:49:15 GMT 12
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jrcjr65
Leading Aircraftman
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Post by jrcjr65 on Jun 2, 2008 13:07:11 GMT 12
Does any one have any information on the RNAF Corsairs that escorted these aircraft back to Jacquinoy Bay. In particular from what squadron? I am guessing No. 16 but that is only a guess.
Thanks
John
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 5, 2008 19:42:05 GMT 12
Hi John,
Welcome to the forum. Yes No. 16 Squadron RNZAF was involved in escorting the captured Japanese aircraft to Jacquinot Bay. If you get hold of Bryan Cox's bestseller book 'Too Young To Die' (Century Hutchinson, 1987) in his chapter called 'Jacquinot Bay, New Britain' Bryan describes this operation in detail as he was one of the escort pilots. There are also a few photos there too.
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jrcjr65
Leading Aircraftman
Posts: 3
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Post by jrcjr65 on Jun 7, 2008 12:57:59 GMT 12
Dave,
Thanks so much for the reply, I will look into obtaining a copy of the book.
John
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 7, 2008 13:36:17 GMT 12
No problem. If you're in NZ most libraries have a copy and it's not too hard to find it on TradeMe, ABE, etc usually. Well worth buying, it's an excellent book.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 16, 2008 1:46:03 GMT 12
On the topic of the war prize and captured aircraft that came into RNZAF hands, apparently some of the RNZAF's Japanese aircraft that they left at Jacquinot Bay have made their way into the hands of collectors now.
In mid-2003, the Dinah was recovered by an Australian based group who call themselves '75 Squadron', though they're not affiliated with either the RNZAF or RAAF. They barged our Dinah to Lae where it was put in a container and exported to Melbourne. It was then impounded by the Papua New Guinea Museum and its ownership was resolved in a court case ending in 2005, in favour of the salvagers.
So, has anyone seen this Dinah in Australia? Is it being restored?
Also one of the Zero's was still there in 1975, but apparently this plane was recovered as a spares source for the Australian War Memorial's Zero and now major parts reside with Kermit Weeks in Florida and the tail cone has returned to Japan.
Does anyone know what became of the Jake (which was actually on land and didn't sink like some sources say), and the third Zero?
I'm also curious on the topic of war prize aircraft and captured planes, what other Axis aircraft did RNZAF pilots get to fly? There must have been loads of them captured during the North African, Italian, Middle Eastern and other campaigns that kiwis got to fly and use. Has anyone got stories and photos?
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Post by Deleted on Jun 30, 2008 21:43:07 GMT 12
Warren "Smokey" Schraeder - who is still alive but not that well I believe - came across a Me 262 in a field and took it for a flight. He told me all about it - a great story - he crashed because the nose wheel wouldn't come down and he was too frightened to bail out at that speed. Don Nairn who wrote Golden Wings and Webbed Feet flew a Zero. There was an ME109 in NZ for a few years and Bruce Allen wrote a technical evaluation of it. Bruce died recently but he told me that he didn't have a copy of the documents and I have not been able to uncover it in the archives. Lie the Me109 I guess it was thrown out. Alan Peart flew a Macchi - he relates the story in his book and there is a picture of it. Surely there must be more.
Harvey Sweetman was one of the first NZ pilots to attend the Empire Test Pilots school and he flew lots of things - I'll ask him if he flew any captured aircraft.
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