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Post by scorpiomikey on Feb 7, 2012 9:33:34 GMT 12
Im planning on doing a dio of NZ5255 before its last flight (historically accurate fictional scene) and i was wondering what sort of airfield RNZAF flew from? was it tarmac, reinforced hardpack, PSP etc.
Where the aircraft were during preflight, what was the ground like? What colour was the dirt/sand?
Ive got someone who was there who i can ask about colours etc. but id like to cross reference and confirm with others.
Ive done some searching around and all i can find is USAF airfields.
Thanks in advance for any help guys.
Mike.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 7, 2012 11:47:47 GMT 12
Firstly the USAF didn't exist till 1946! The main airfields in the Pacific were run by the US Navy, USMC and USAAF, often jointly.
The RNZAF on Bougainville flew fighters from Torokina airstrip, with both No. 2 Servicing Unit and No. 4 Servicing Unit being based there. Torokina was on the beach, and in fact was the very site of the beach head where the initial invasion force landed when the Allies got their first foothold on Bougainville.
They also flew bombers from the two inland strips known as Piva 1 and Piva 2.
You would be looking at recreating a scene from Torokina as this aircraft was under the control of No. 4 SU. Do a websearch for photo of Torokina. The strip was basically a strip of cleared land with coral sand as footing and the strip laid down was Marston matting, which ran the length of the beach and out a little into the sea ona small almost-peninsular. The aircraft were lined up along the inland side of the strip, with no. 2 SU closest to the peninsular bit, then an American unit which had P-49's when our P-40's were there, and then No. 4 SU. All the huts and maintenance bays etc were further inland in the jungle. There was also a road from Torokina through the jungle to both Camp Waitemata where the RNZAF bases were administered from, and Piva. The Japs were still in that jungle around there!
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 7, 2012 11:49:14 GMT 12
Also along the edge of the aircraft park area were coconut palms as I believe it had previously been a plantation there, and beyond that was the jungle.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 7, 2012 12:02:35 GMT 12
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Post by scorpiomikey on Feb 7, 2012 12:14:07 GMT 12
Awesome, thanks Dave. And yes i did mean USAAF. (And it was actually 1947 when the USAF was officially created)
Thanks for the wealth of information. My plan was a mini vignette i believe they're called?
NZ5255 just before startup, pilot in seat, another pilot standing next to the pit like he was talking to the first pilot. both pilots look up for a photo op by a passing photographer.
So i was going to have a small base, maybe sand or psp (Marston matting i think you called it?) the aircraft and 3 figures.
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