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Post by angelsonefive on Apr 23, 2012 12:27:26 GMT 12
Some of you will be aware of the tragic training accident involving two Harvards in the Kaikouras in March 1942. One of the two pilots, LAC J. Voss, survived and was rescued three days later.
In October 1943 two P-40s collided in the air near Woodbourne. One of them, NZ3089 landed safely and was repaired. The pilot, who was unhurt, was named as Warrant Officer J. Voss.
Does anyone know if this was the same pilot ?
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 23, 2012 15:46:45 GMT 12
Was that Harvard collision the one where the pilots were playing silly buggers? The surviving pilot was given the Rogues March in front of the entire station of Woodbourne and then kicked out. It's detailed in Bryan Young's "Beckoning Skies" form memory.
It annoys me how old records only used initials. I always prefer full names.
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Post by jonesy on Apr 23, 2012 16:09:52 GMT 12
If it was the same guy he's had a rapid rise through the ranks!! A year and a half to get from LAC to W/O....
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Post by errolmartyn on Apr 23, 2012 16:22:30 GMT 12
Some of you will be aware of the tragic training accident involving two Harvards in the Kaikouras in March 1942. One of the two pilots, LAC J. Voss, survived and was rescued three days later. In October 1943 two P-40s collided in the air near Woodbourne. One of them, NZ3089 landed safely and was repaired. The pilot, who was unhurt, was named as Warrant Officer J. Voss. Does anyone know if this was the same pilot ? Yes, it was. Voss is also mentioned in Colin Hanson's By Such Deeds - Honours and Awards in the Royal New Zealand Air Force, 1923-1999: VOSS, Flying Officer Jack Clarence, mid. NZ415391; Born Palmerston North, 2 Jan 1922; RNZAF 28 Sep 1941 to 17 Jan 1945; Pilot. Citation Mention in Despatches (25 Feb 1944): [16 Sqn RNZAF (Kittyhawk)] In recognition of distinguished service and devotion to duty - Warrant Officer Voss proved himself a capable fighter pilot and a sound sub-section leader. He shot down one enemy dive-bomber which was attacking Allied shipping. In order to reach the enemy aircraft he dived through the protective curtain of anti-aircraft fire with a complete disregard for his own safety. Served three tours in the S & SWPAs - one with 16 Sqn and two with 20 Sqn RNZAF (Corsair). Died Palmerston North, 2 Dec 1981. Errol
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Post by errolmartyn on Apr 23, 2012 16:25:23 GMT 12
Was that Harvard collision the one where the pilots were playing silly buggers? The surviving pilot was given the Rogues March in front of the entire station of Woodbourne and then kicked out. It's detailed in Bryan Young's "Beckoning Skies" form memory. It annoys me how old records only used initials. I always prefer full names. As is the case with many memoirs written long after the event and not checked for factual accuracy, Young was wrong in this instance. Errol
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 23, 2012 16:45:00 GMT 12
I'm not sure if it was Voss that Young referred to, it may have been another pilot who was caught tailchasing in the hills that led to the death of the other pilot? I don't have my copy of the book here so cannot check.
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Post by McFly on Apr 23, 2012 16:58:00 GMT 12
And the man himself... Negative Number: PR1322 Caption: 16 Squadron pilot Flight Sergeant J. C. Voss. Presumed to be Espiritu Santo. Further Information: Large chip from top right corner. Doesn't affect image. Year of Image: 1943 Image Date Information: Circa 1943. Format: Negative-1/4 Plate-Glass Negative Number: PR1333 Caption: 16 Squadron pilot Flight Sergeant J. C. Voss. Presumed to be Espiritu Santo. Further Information: Good view of flying helmet and goggles. Year of Image: 1943 Image Date Information: Circa 1943. Format: Negative-1/4 Plate-Glass Negative Number: PR1422 Caption: Group of 16 Squadron pilots, on their first tour, posing in front of a Royal New Zealand Air Force Curtiss P-40 Kittyhawk. Espiritu Santo. Further Information: Back row L-R: J. Voss, J. Miller, S. Sharp, J. Arkwright, A. George, B. Delves, J. Black, J. Day, J. Nelson, F. Smith, B. Spurdle, M. de Denne, E. Laurie, M. Vanderpump, C. McDonald and D. Jones. Front row L-R: M. Willis, A. Bayly, S. Duncan, K. Mulligan, N. Pirie, L. Williams and P. Tilyard. Duncan and Williams were killed on the first tour. Source of names: 'Kittyhawks and Coconuts' by Keith Mulligan and 'The Blue Arena' by Bob Spurdle. Year of Image: 1943 Image Date Information: Circa July 1943. Format: Negative-1/4 Plate-Cellulose (Photos Air Force Museum)
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Post by angelsonefive on Apr 23, 2012 17:42:05 GMT 12
I'm not sure if it was Voss that Young referred to, it may have been another pilot who was caught tailchasing in the hills that led to the death of the other pilot? I don't have my copy of the book here so cannot check. Dave, it was the tail-chasing incident . The two pilots flew into a narrow and steep valley from which escape was not possible by climbing due to the rising ground. A reversal turn was attempted but the Harvards crashed. The lead pilot LAC Voss, survived the crash of his plane but the pilot of the other Harvard, LAC Heaps was killed. Many thanks for the information, Errol M. With ANZAC Day just ahead I think it would be appropriate to remember LAC Brian Heaps. Can you tell us more about him ? Jonesy, do not forget that LAC Voss would have been promoted to Sgt on completion of the Service Flying Training Course. McFly, thanks for posting those pictures. There are some notable names in the group photo. Spurdle, Delves, Laurie, Vanderpump.... Thanks again.
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Post by errolmartyn on Apr 23, 2012 21:10:48 GMT 12
I'm not sure if it was Voss that Young referred to, it may have been another pilot who was caught tailchasing in the hills that led to the death of the other pilot? I don't have my copy of the book here so cannot check. I have a copy of the book and even though he has given a confused account, my casualty research leaves no doubt as to which event Young was referring to. It was the Voss-Heaps Harvard crashes, except that Young has Voss as having 'enough room to climb, turn and get out.' Well, of course, he didn't - he crashed too. The parade episode that Young links with the event must have been for someone else, since it would have been impossible to strip Voss of his wings since he had not yet been presented with them. The book needs to be treated with a deal of caution. Elsewhere Young has one of his comrades (Noel Rollett) who survived the torpedoing of the Waiwera along with him en route to UK as having returned to New Zealand wounded, when in fact Rollett never got the chance to ever return because he was shot down and killed on Bomber Command ops over Germany in the following year. Young also confused the naming of some of the units he served with - referring, for instance, to 2 AFTS when he means the Advance Training Squadron of 2 Service Flying Training School, and to the No. 7 Practice Advanced Flying Unit in UK instead of the No. 7 (Pilots) Advanced Flying Unit. Errol
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Post by errolmartyn on Apr 23, 2012 21:17:34 GMT 12
[quote author=admin board=Wartime thread=16150 With ANZAC Day just ahead I think it would be appropriate to remember LAC Brian Heaps. Can you tell us more about him ? From my For Your Tomorrow - A record of New Zealanders who have died while serving with the RNZAF and Allied Air Services since 1915 (Volume Three: Biographies & Appendices): HEAPS, Leading Aircraftman Brian Cecil. NZ415413; b Chch 20 Nov 20; Chch BHS; law clerk - Messrs Dougall & Son & Hutchison, Chch. NZ Army/TF (1Bn Canty Regt) 3 yrs; RNZAF Levin/ITW as Airman Pilot u/t 30 Sep 41, 1EFTS 8 Nov 41, 1SFTS 20 Dec 41, Pilots Badge 7 Feb 42, 2SFTS (Harvard) 7 Mar 42, kaa 22 Mar 42. Provincial Memorial, Chch (buried at scene of crash). Son of Arthur Moore & Guinevere Eileen Heaps (née Martin), Chch. Errol
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Post by angelsonefive on Apr 23, 2012 22:38:04 GMT 12
Thanks Errol.
For the record, while Gp Capt Hanson gives 2/12/81 as the date of death of Jack Voss, the burial and cremation records of the Palmerston North City Council has the following :
Jack Clarence Voss, Company Director, 92 Havill St, P.N. Died 27/11/81 at P.N. Public Hospital and cremated on 30/11/81.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 23, 2012 23:09:21 GMT 12
Thanks for that info there Errol and AOF.
My illusions are shattered, I absolutely loved Bryan Young's book when I read it and count it among my favourite RNZAF autobiographies. I never realised there were problems with accuracy within.
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Post by errolmartyn on Apr 23, 2012 23:22:57 GMT 12
Thanks Errol. For the record, while Mr Hanson gives 2/12/81 as the date of death of Jack Voss, the burial and cremation records of the Palmerston North City Council has the following : Jack Clarence Voss, Company Director, 92 Havill St, P.N. Died 27/11/81 at P.N. Public Hospital and cremated on 30/11/81. Thanks for this correction. Noted for future amendment list. Errol
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biggles7
Leading Aircraftman
Rest in Peace TT Bland ! In my early Harvard "fossicking" days you were a huge influence!
Posts: 8
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Post by biggles7 on Feb 22, 2014 14:01:54 GMT 12
Some of you will be aware of the tragic training accident involving two Harvards in the Kaikouras in March 1942. One of the two pilots, LAC J. Voss, survived and was rescued three days later. In October 1943 two P-40s collided in the air near Woodbourne. One of them, NZ3089 landed safely and was repaired. The pilot, who was unhurt, was named as Warrant Officer J. Voss. Does anyone know if this was the same pilot ? I read with interest this post regarding W/O Jack Voss. I am in possession of all the documents regarding the unfortunate incident in the Kaikoura Ranges on 22nd March 1942 involving Jack Clarence Voss (NZ977) and Brian Cecil Heaps (NZ989) as I am hoping to make it the subject of a book. In 1976 I received the salvage rights from the MOD to recover the remains of the two MK11 Harvards and accomplished this in April 1983, after spending a week at the remote crash sites and dismantling the aircraft into components capable of helicopter recovery. The two aircraft were separated by approx half a mile from each other and both situated in the upper Clarence River in the Dee Stream area with Mt Tapuaenuku looming in the distance. Because of the remote area our team had a specially modified Toyota Land Cruiser and trailer to access part of the way to the site and from the Dee Hut, helicopter assistance the remaining distance needed to access the crash sites, with the Hughes 500 flown by intrepid deer recovery pilot Noel Boyd of Kaikoura. It is I can see common knowledge that Jack served 28 days in detention at Harewood, missing his chance to go to England with the rest of his course, however as fate would have it served in the pacific doing 4 tours. On August 15th 1943 Jack flying P40M s/n 3033 shot down a Val and was mentioned in dispatches he was promoted Pilot Officer and Flying Officer. In 1945 he was transferred to the RNZAF Reserve and returned to his family business AULD & Voss in Palmerston North. According to his widow Joan he suffered with back problems directly related to the crash in the Kaikoura Ranges. Jack died at 59 years of age November 1981. It is ironic whilst I write this I have had advice from Jacks daughter that Joan his wife has just passed away.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 22, 2014 15:03:01 GMT 12
Welcome to the forum Biggles7, and thanks for posting this interesting information. What are your intentions for the two Harvard wrecks?
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Post by baz62 on Feb 22, 2014 15:51:14 GMT 12
Yes welcome to the forum. I remember reading an article about you recovering the Harvards in NZ Wings magazine back in the 80s. If I recall correctly you had a later Mark IIA or III Harvard centre section to put the better condition of the two back together? I was really interested in what survived intact as the photo showing the fuselage mad it look pretty intact, even still had the engine attached.
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Post by noooby on Mar 4, 2014 12:17:45 GMT 12
biggles7, as you can see above, LAC Heaps was buried at the crash site.
Is there a marker for his grave? Was his body removed at a later date and relocated to a cemetery?
I just find it unusual, given that the accident is kind of accessible, that he would be buried there rather than bring out his remains.
Comments? Photos of the crash sites?
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biggles7
Leading Aircraftman
Rest in Peace TT Bland ! In my early Harvard "fossicking" days you were a huge influence!
Posts: 8
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Post by biggles7 on May 18, 2014 10:50:13 GMT 12
With regards to LAC Brian Heaps I am certain that his remains are still at the crash site and buried under a rock cairn. I have kept in contact with his relatives and this is what was indicated to me. At the time that I obtained the salvage rights, part of the conditions of removing the Harvard's remains was that Brian's burial area was not to be disturbed under any circumstances. After dismantling NZ977 and having a couple of days left of our expedition, we attempted to tramp the approximate one mile to NZ989 crash site further down the stream, but the terrain was too difficult to negotiate on foot. Next day we were flown down stream and dropped off in the river bed where we located the actual crash debris spread out amongst Birch trees, ferns and undergrowth. It was obvious that given the small burnt pieces left a violent crash had occurred, the only substantial piece of NZ989 was the tail section which we salvaged. After the passage of time Brian's actual resting place at the site was not found, so we were unable to leave at the crash site a memento we had with us to mark a brave mans resting place!
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biggles7
Leading Aircraftman
Rest in Peace TT Bland ! In my early Harvard "fossicking" days you were a huge influence!
Posts: 8
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Post by biggles7 on May 18, 2014 10:54:02 GMT 12
PS: A footnote! photos were taken at the lower crash site on that rainy dull day and amazingly none came out!!!
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biggles7
Leading Aircraftman
Rest in Peace TT Bland ! In my early Harvard "fossicking" days you were a huge influence!
Posts: 8
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Post by biggles7 on May 18, 2014 10:58:43 GMT 12
With regards to the on-going reconstruction of NZ977 I can confirm that the restoration is progressing slowly. I will update its progress in the near future.
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