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Post by Chris F on Mar 25, 2011 13:30:14 GMT 12
Are there any airworthy Vildebeests around,or any been restored to airworthy condition. Would be an awesome sight.
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Post by kb on Mar 25, 2011 13:56:27 GMT 12
Are there any airworthy Vildebeests around,or any been restored to airworthy condition. Would be an awesome sight. We will be seeing one under restoration on Sunday! And it is awesome.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 25, 2011 18:09:54 GMT 12
There is only one Vickers Vincent in the world, which as Keith said we will be seeing on Sunday at the forum meet. it is under static restoration.
There is technically only one recognised Vickers Vildebeest in the world, which is under static restoration at Wigram with the Air Force Museum. That restoration is really utilsing the remains of three substantial remains and lots of parts of others, but will become one airframe.
There is actually another Vildebeest or remains thereof in a private collection, but it is not really enough to be considered a whole aircraft I don't believe.
Sadly we are very unlikely to ever see one flying here in NZ or anywhere in the world. But we have a Vilde in a national museum at Wigram, and a lovingly restored Vincent in a private collection which is great.
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Post by Chris F on Mar 26, 2011 9:56:54 GMT 12
Thanks Dave for the info,pitty I could not come on Sunday to see this,I have when at Wigram seen parts of that one.
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Post by fwx on Mar 26, 2011 9:59:11 GMT 12
Vickers Vildebeest "bitser" under restoration at Air Force Museum, Wigram: Taken in July 2010, so may have advanced since then, but unfortunately unlikely to ever fly. S'pose you should never say never ...
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Post by kb on Mar 26, 2011 10:49:38 GMT 12
Thanks for the photos fwx. What they don't do is give an idea of the size of this aircraft. Some of you coming tomorrow will be amazed at how high it stands on it's undercart.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 26, 2011 11:43:09 GMT 12
Agreed Keith, the size of the Vilde/Vincent is really massive and you only really get to appreciate it when you stand under one.
I think the word 'never' will apply in the case of seeing one of these fly. Sadly the world market in airworthy Pegasus engines has been cornered by the Swordfish community and even there there's not enough to go around. The RNHF has three Swordfish but only two airworthy engines apparently. They are RAF, or Rare as F***
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Post by robstuart on Mar 30, 2011 11:06:50 GMT 12
Dave, The unit operating Vildebeests and Seals at China Bay was not a detached flight. According to www.raf.mod.uk/history/273squadron.cfm and other sources it was 273 Squadron. Cheers, Rob Stuart Ottawa
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 30, 2011 12:31:29 GMT 12
Thanks Rob. Don did not make this clear to me and nor is it clear in his memoirs, so I muust have hisunderstood. He did make clear that the unit was run from Singapore will the fall of that country, so I must have assumed it was a Detachment.
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Post by Tony on Apr 1, 2011 3:43:38 GMT 12
Posted by Dave Homewood on Mar 24, 2011, 15:45 Quite a number of New Zealanders seem to have served on No's 36 and 100 Squadrons before and during the conflict in Singapore when you count them up. I have the following names, can you add any more? 36 Sqn, Flt Sgt Bruce Appleby MiD 1942: 6th March; Vildebeeste. Ops: Attack on Kilidjati Airfield, Java. Aircraft damaged during the attack and later the engines failed. Crashed into a paddy field near the Estate Pasir Pedang.
References: For YourTomorrow, Volume 1. Ketchil. CWGC: www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=1813772 AWM: muse.aucklandmuseum.com/databases/cenotaph/RecordDetail.aspx?OriginalID=20438&SearchID=7623927&processed=true&Ordinal=1
Further to your entries, I can add Sgt Andrew Fleming 1942: 26th January; Albacore T9135. Ops: Attack on Invasion Force. FTR. Shot down and crashed onto the beach at Endau.
References: References: For YourTomorrow, Volume 1. Ketchil. New Zealanders in the RAF, Volume 3. CWGC: www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=1814605 AWM: muse.aucklandmuseum.com/databases/cenotaph/RecordDetail.aspx?OriginalID=24000&SearchID=7623874&processed=true&Ordinal=3
Sgt Thomas Tanner 1942: 26th January; Vildebeeste K6392. Ops: Attack on Invasion Force. FTR. Shot down and crashed into a swamp SE of Endau.
References: For YourTomorrow, Volume 1. New Zealanders in the RAF, Volume 3. CWGC: www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2821720 AWM: muse.aucklandmuseum.com/databases/cenotaph/RecordDetail.aspx?OriginalID=25362&SearchID=7623836&processed=true&Ordinal=1 Flt Sgt David Lee 1942: 26th August; Vildebeeste K6386. Ops: Attack on Invasion Force. FTR. Shot down, eventually crashing into the sea south of Laland Island.
References: For Your Tomorrow, Volume 1. CWGC: www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=1815301 AWM: muse.aucklandmuseum.com/databases/cenotaph/RecordDetail.aspx?OriginalID=28551&SearchID=7623898&processed=true&Ordinal=1
Plt Off R C Barclay I have him listed as on 100 Sqn - but no cross-reference.
Quote from: New Zealanders with the Royal Air Force (Volume III) CHAPTER 11 — Malaya, Sumatra, and Java
On the morning of 8 December the strength and dispositions of squadrons in Malaya were: Seletar: No. 36 (TB) Sqn RAF - 6 Vildebeeste No. 100 (TB) Sqn RAF - 12 Vildebeeste Gong Kedah: Det No. 36 (TB) Sqn RAF - 6 Vildebeeste
There were twenty-five New Zealand pilots with Nos. 36 and 100 Vildebeeste Squadrons which carried out some very hazardous operations during the campaign—notably that against Japanese landings at Endau. Here, on 26 January 1942, twenty-one Vildebeestes escorted by a small force of Buffalos and Hurricanes were sent to attack enemy ships off the coast. Before they reached their target they were intercepted by fighters, and those which got through met sharp anti-aircraft fire from the ships. Eleven Vildebeestes were shot down, together with four of their escort, the loss including the commanding officers of both Nos. 36 and 100 Squadrons. Two New Zealanders, Sergeants Tanner 1 and Fleming, 2 were among the pilots killed on this raid. A third, Pilot Officer Barclay, 3 had his machine badly shot up by enemy fighters and his gunner killed, but he flew through to the target where he delivered an attack in the face of an intense anti-aircraft barrage. A few moments afterwards his aircraft was shot down into the sea, but Barclay, together with his observer, managed to get clear and swim ashore. They walked down the coast for two days, then they fell in with the survivors from a sunken destroyer, with whom they continued their journey and reached Singapore a week later. After their heavy losses at Endau Nos. 36 and 100 Squadrons were withdrawn to Java, where they were amalgamated as No. 36 Squadron and based at Tjikampek. They were soon in action again against one of the Japanese convoys carrying invasion forces to Java. The ships were sighted about 100 miles west of Sourabaya and most of the pilots claimed hits on transport and barges; but three Vildebeestes, including that flown by the squadron commander, failed to return. The remaining crews continued to operate almost without respite until, by 4 March, the squadron was reduced to only four serviceable aircraft. Nevertheless they continued to fly two missions each night against enemy landings until the morning of the 7th, when only two patched up aircraft remained. Orders were given for these to be flown north in an endeavour to reach Burma. They left that day, but both crashed in Sumatra and the crews were either killed or captured. The squadron thus literally fought to a finish. Of its New Zealand members, six fell into enemy hands, but the remainder got away to Australia before Java surrendered.
1 Sergeant T. S. Tanner; born Wellington, 11 Aug 1918; civil engineer; joined RNZAF 19 Jan 1941; killed on air operations, 26 Jan 1942. 2 Sergeant A. M. H. Fleming; born Wellington, 16 Jan 1912; farmer; joined RNZAF Apr 1940; killed on air operations, 26 Jan 1942. 3 Flight Lieutenant R. C. Barclay, DFC; born Dunedin, 27 Feb 1916; salesman.
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Post by Tony on Apr 1, 2011 3:50:37 GMT 12
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 5, 2011 20:53:28 GMT 12
Thanks Macfire. I got this from Don MacKenzie today And a closer look
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Post by flyjoe180 on Apr 5, 2011 21:01:23 GMT 12
Wonderful photo.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 15, 2018 16:34:10 GMT 12
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Post by thelensofhistory on Jun 15, 2018 19:00:57 GMT 12
Simply terrific photos.
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Post by baz62 on Jun 16, 2018 12:24:06 GMT 12
Certainly throwing the Vildebeest around!
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Post by tbf25o4 on Jun 19, 2018 14:20:38 GMT 12
Great stuff What! Any enemy would have been quivering in their boots seeing that defence line-up!!!!
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 19, 2018 15:02:48 GMT 12
Hahaha.
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