|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on May 2, 2006 14:35:11 GMT 12
Does anyone remember Henery Fanshawe from the RNZAF?
He was a Squadron Leader while I was in the Air Force, and from memory I think he was promoted to Wing Commander at some stage too.
I know he served on No. 75 Squadron in the 1980's, and by the early 1990's was with No. 40 Squadron. He also did some sort of exchange with the RNZAF.
The interesting thing about him was, he was a Teddy Bear. He was a squadron mascot, all dressed up in authentic RNZAF flying suit, with appropriate badges of rank, etc.
I seem to recall that there was another squadron mascot around at the same time, a Kiwi I think, but I don't recall which squadron he served on.
I think it's an interesting phenomenon that the serious grown men and women of these squadrons have soft toys that go with them on deployment, etc. It's great! I'm fairly sure Henry Fanshaw actually served a tour in the Gulf War with 40 Sqn too. And I seem to recall at some stage he was kidnapped by either another squadron or by some visiting Aussies for a short while too.
Anyway, the whole point of this, does anyone else rememebr this funny little bear? Any of his adventures? And do you know of any other squadron mascots like him that have served at any time in the RNZAF?
I do know Johnny Houlton had his own stuffed toy pink elephant that he kept for good luck, and it's image was painted on the side of all his Spitfires!
|
|
|
|
Post by mumbles on May 2, 2006 17:39:10 GMT 12
Fanshawe was hanging around the Ohakea Museum for a while after the ACW disbandment. He was accompanied by all kinds of official documents (including one relating to a charge of impersonating an officer!) during his time there ;D
Probably retired now.....
|
|
|
|
Post by corsair67 on May 2, 2006 18:02:22 GMT 12
Henry is still "on duty" at the RNZAF Museum - Ohakea: I saw him there during the Ohakea 'airshow', and it was a great honour to meet him.
Dave, I think it was either 75 or 77SQN RAAF who kidnapped him in the early-80s and kept sending photos/postcards back of Henry on holiday in different parts of Australia, saying how happy he was and how he never wanted to return to Ohakea!
During the Wigram Classics there were tours through the archives of the museum, and Jane Provan showed us a 'personnel' file of a dog who was adopted by the RNZAF at Singapore. The file was done up just like a normal NZDF personnel file, with all his postings, etc listed, and even a misconduct notice for something bad he did. The photo on the front of the file has the dog (I can't recall his name) sitting in a Bristol Freighter with flying jacket and headset on! When he died they added an official death certificate to the file.
|
|
|
|
Post by phil on May 2, 2006 18:32:01 GMT 12
I remember Henry was on 75 when I was there, or possibly returned around the time I was posted off. He had been kidnapped, but I can't recall by who. I think he spent some time on either 40 or 5, before returning to 75. He had his own ID card, his own dogtags etc. It must have been the S&S guys made him flying overalls and flying jacket, on which he wore the douglas patch and his red 75 knucks wings.
|
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on May 2, 2006 18:33:00 GMT 12
Henry impersonating an officer? That's brilliant!
I do remmeber seeing it somewhere that he'd been promoted to Wg Comm, but I don't recall where. Maybe RNZAF News. I don't blame him for not wanting to return to Ohakea if he was having a good time in Aussie.
Regarding the dog, several squadrons seem to have had dogs or other pets as mascots. No. 1 Sqn Detachment at Waipapakauri had a Dalmation that belonged to Alf Lawry, wore pyjamas and flew in the Vincents regularly. It was noted in the ORB that he became the first dog to do a loop in Northland.
Also, 5 Sqn had a dog and a parrot in Fiji in 1942. The parrot came from Tonga, brought over by Singapore flying boat. Every night they both got drunk with the men, and the bird used to fall off his perch.
|
|
skyman
Flight Lieutenant
Posts: 82 
|
Post by skyman on Sept 6, 2013 20:33:16 GMT 12
Visitors to the W/Os and SNCOs mess at Ohakea, if sober enough, may see a mounted tiger's head hanging on a wall or pillar. The story behind this trophy goes back to 1970 when two 14 Squadron (Canberra) guys, one "snatcher" and one getaway driver, liberated it from a certain RAF Tiger Squadron based at Tengah, Singapore. It somehow found its way back to Ohakea and eventually the "snatcher" donated the trophy to the mess.
When I was last there for the 75 Squadron Association reunion its fur had somehow taken on a somewhat gaudy yellow colour, no doubt to try and spruce it up a bit. It brought back some great memories.
Al.
|
|
|
|
Post by ngatimozart on Sept 6, 2013 20:48:08 GMT 12
When I was at Shelly Bay in 1979 we had a dog who i think belonged to one of the guys in the MOW & lived in the yard. Like Wigrams Smokey the cat, it was probably the best feed animal in Wellington. It was a Sgt when I arrived had its own documents, paysheets etc. If I remember correctly said dog got busted from Sgt to Cpl for digracinng itself in front of the CO (Terry Khight). Wigram had Smoky the cat who used to do the rounds of all the messes including the catering training kitchen each day. That's the only ones I can remember.
|
|
|
|
Post by shorty on Sept 25, 2013 10:51:16 GMT 12
I want to know the name of the monkey that 14 squadron had in Singapore in Venom days, there is a well known photo of it sitting on a Venom's tailplane next to the kiwi painted on the fin  |
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 25, 2022 22:08:02 GMT 12
Visitors to the W/Os and SNCOs mess at Ohakea, if sober enough, may see a mounted tiger's head hanging on a wall or pillar. The story behind this trophy goes back to 1970 when two 14 Squadron (Canberra) guys, one "snatcher" and one getaway driver, liberated it from a certain RAF Tiger Squadron based at Tengah, Singapore. It somehow found its way back to Ohakea and eventually the "snatcher" donated the trophy to the mess. When I was last there for the 75 Squadron Association reunion its fur had somehow taken on a somewhat gaudy yellow colour, no doubt to try and spruce it up a bit. It brought back some great memories. Al. Here's another Tiger In The Mess being snatched story.... from The Press dated 21 July 1954.... TIGER SKIN WILL RETURN TO WIGRAM OFFICERS’ MESSThe tiger skin taken from the No. 1 officers’ mess at the Royal New Zealand Air Force station, Wigram, by Whenuapai officers during last weekend would be returned to Wigram this week, said the officer commanding the station (Group Captain B. S. Nicholl) yesterday. Group Captain Nicholl telephoned the commanding officer at Whenuapai (Group Captain T. J. de Lange) on Monday, and told him that, if the skin had been taken north, Wigram would like it back. Group Captain de Lange agreed to see that the skin was returned. “The skin has a lot of traditional value, and is highly regarded by the mess,” said Group Captain Nicholl. “It is one of the old-established things there, and is regarded as almost sacred and inviolate. Whenuapai have been very good about it.” Referring to a remark by Group Captain de Lange published in The Press” yesterday that he “wouldn't have the moth-eaten thing about his place,” Group Captain Nicholl said, “ That was only sour grapes, because they have not got one. The skin is in perfect condition. I think it particularly funny that Group Captain de Lange, having spent some time in India himself, did not shoot one for his own mess. That probably makes the grapes even sourer.” |
|
|
|
Post by davidd on Mar 26, 2022 13:09:55 GMT 12
That Tiger skin is till with the Museum at Wigram, along with many other mementos from the days of Yore, and some a little younger.
|
|
|
|
Post by McFly on Mar 26, 2022 14:49:56 GMT 12
That Tiger skin is till with the Museum at Wigram, along with many other mementos from the days of Yore, and some a little younger.  |
|
|
|
Post by Deane B on Mar 26, 2022 19:44:28 GMT 12
During the Wigram Classics there were tours through the archives of the museum, and Jane Provan showed us a 'personnel' file of a dog who was adopted by the RNZAF at Singapore. The file was done up just like a normal NZDF personnel file, with all his postings, etc listed, and even a misconduct notice for something bad he did. The photo on the front of the file has the dog (I can't recall his name) sitting in a Bristol Freighter with flying jacket and headset on! When he died they added an official death certificate to the file. The dog was called Muldoon! See here |
|
|
|
Post by tbf2504 on Mar 27, 2022 11:20:13 GMT 12
141 flight at Sembawang in Singapore had a dog mascot
|
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 27, 2022 13:15:22 GMT 12
Do you mean separately from Muldoon, Paul?
|
|
|
|
Post by tbf2504 on Mar 27, 2022 15:38:17 GMT 12
Dave, that may have been the dogs name saw it in a photo on the disbandment which is in my book
|
|
|
|
Post by McFly on Mar 27, 2022 16:25:15 GMT 12
During the Wigram Classics there were tours through the archives of the museum, and Jane Provan showed us a 'personnel' file of a dog who was adopted by the RNZAF at Singapore. The file was done up just like a normal NZDF personnel file, with all his postings, etc listed, and even a misconduct notice for something bad he did. The photo on the front of the file has the dog (I can't recall his name) sitting in a Bristol Freighter with flying jacket and headset on! When he died they added an official death certificate to the file. The dog was called Muldoon! See here141 flight at Sembawang in Singapore had a dog mascot Do you mean separately from Muldoon, Paul? Dave, that may have been the dogs name saw it in a photo on the disbandment which is in my book
Copied from Muldoon's service record 1989/469.29 (MUS0800534)" "No. 141 Flight personnel, Flying Officer Pete Lee (kneeling) and Flying Officer Pete Barker pose with the squadron mascot 'Muldoon', in front of an Iroquois. Singapore.(MUS090177)" |
|
|
|
Post by McFly on Mar 27, 2022 16:37:23 GMT 12
"Officers' & Sergeants' mascots for a rugby match between the officers and sergeants. The sergeants' mascot is a goat, the officers' is a donkey. RNZAF Station Whenuapai. 19/07/1945 (PR6985)"
|
|
|
|
Post by shorty on Mar 27, 2022 20:27:03 GMT 12
14 Squadron at Tengah in 1969 had a monkey, inherited from a RAF Unit, his name was McCready and as he took a liking to the top of my wardrobe I became his unofficial minder by default. He came down to the Malcolm Club with us some nights where he was plied with various beverages on occasions passing out and needing to be carried back to the barracks to sleep it off. A monkey with a hangover is not happy camper!
I have some photos 0f him but my Flckr account is full
|
|
