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Post by davidd on Feb 19, 2013 9:38:38 GMT 12
An RNZAF Hudson surviving in New Caledonia? This is very interesting news. Depending on its actual location it would have to be one of following: NZ2023 which was written off after a heavy landing at Plaine des Gaiaces on NW coast (9 Sqdn, 7/12/42, on return from an operational patrol), normal crew of five. NZ2088 at Tontouta (crashed on take off 6/9/44, 41 Squadron, believed tailwheel not locked). Fortunately no deaths or even injuries in either incident. There were ten passengers aboard NZ2088, all bound for Espiritu Santo. Date may have actually been 5/9/44, time was 1353 local. David D
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 19, 2013 20:14:20 GMT 12
Interesting indeed. If this centre section can be mated with the fuselage caravan for sale in the classifieds section there's potential for another static project to get started.
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Post by emron on Feb 22, 2013 21:03:17 GMT 12
MOTAT did salvage the offcuts of the centresection from NZ2031 when this was recovered from Dunedin. They were reattached in the early 1980's in a similar fashion as was done at Wigram. Care was taken to strengthen and realign sufficient for static display purposes. The original wings were in poor condition and the decision was made long ago to substitute with Lodestar ones which were reserved from surplus items obtained from Fieldair. Final assembly of wings to fuselage was only attempted recently and some problems were encountered. The attachment fittings at spar ends all differ: Hudson from Lodestar from Ventura. MOTAT's ones were modified to match and all other dimensions of wing attachment appeared to be the same. All fasteners were able to be centred and secured and the skin overlap was a snug fit. I'll leave it to others to determine if it's feasible to interchange any of these parts to achieve an airworthy combination.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 22, 2013 22:01:30 GMT 12
As an aside I saw Jim Hickey give a cheery shout out to "good old John Smith at Mapua" while giving the weather forecast for that region the other night. I thought that was neat. Most of the country watching would be like "Who?"
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Post by ZacYates on Feb 22, 2013 23:00:36 GMT 12
As an aside I saw Jim Hickey give a cheery shout out to "good old John Smith at Mapua" while giving the weather forecast for that region the other night. That's cool! What has happened to the Hudson project that the late Steve Searle had, which he was supposedly converting from a Lodestar but was allegedly originally a Hudson? Reading the Aero Australia Warbirds of Australia & New Zealand 2013 magazine there's a round-up of warbird news from 2012, including: "Several aircraft owned by Steve Searle in the USA have been sold or are for sale. (...) Courtesy Aircraft Sales has B-25J Mitchell N25NA and Lockheed Lodestar L18 N6166 for sale as is, where is. Both aircraft require considerable work to be made airworthy." There's also a very nice section on warbird Venturas, Hudsons and Lodestars in Australasia but it doesn't mention NZ2049.
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kiwiwreckdiver
Squadron Leader
Still military and aviation history mad
Posts: 116
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Post by kiwiwreckdiver on Mar 6, 2013 11:39:38 GMT 12
I know its not related to this Hudson , but , has anyone been out to see whats left of the Hudson in Woodhill state forest in recent years
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Post by TS on Mar 6, 2013 20:51:16 GMT 12
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 6, 2013 21:01:26 GMT 12
Some years ago some wreckage from (I think) that Hudson crash site was on trademe. Pretty macarbe considering good men died in that aeroplane.
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kiwiwreckdiver
Squadron Leader
Still military and aviation history mad
Posts: 116
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Post by kiwiwreckdiver on Mar 7, 2013 23:21:42 GMT 12
No I've seen pics of the woodhill Hudson taken in the 70's very smashed up just a complete tail and bit of wings everywhere. Someone pulled out the Hudson and sold it on TM ? that's a bit rough, aything for a quick buck aye. Yes I have sat in what's left of that once nice Avenger, (WHAT A SHAME )shortly after I visited Grahame Orphan ran some pictures I took in CWD, Jacobs then attempted to put a shelter but as I see to this day he still hasn't finished.......or is just a barrier to stop some guys coming in with a truck and saving it
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Post by emron on Mar 11, 2013 21:53:09 GMT 12
I got permission in the early 1980's to visit Woodhill Forest and the accident site of what I now understand to be Hudson NZ2020. Remnants were spread about a sombre little hollow amongst the regrown pines just off to the side of one of the access roads. As I recall the largest parts were one badly damaged engine and the rear door. I don't remember much else of airframe being visible except for small loose steel parts which were being covered by pine needles. The crash was followed by fire which spread to the surrounding young plantation so by the time of my visit a lot of alloy must have already returned to the soil. I'm sure a lot of structure was removed at the time of the accident investigation in 1941. Failure in the flying controls was the suspected cause of the fatal stall and must have inspired urgent inspection of the rest of the fleet. I haven't been back since to see if the area has been left untouched by subsequent logging operations. I'd like to hear of the present status or if a memorial of any kind has been erected.
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kiwiwreckdiver
Squadron Leader
Still military and aviation history mad
Posts: 116
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Post by kiwiwreckdiver on Mar 28, 2013 1:15:15 GMT 12
Hi DaveD I pretyy sure the its the remains of NZ2023 which was written off after a heavy landing at Plaine des Gaiaces on NW coast (9 Sqdn, 7/12/42, on return from an operational patrol. Emron - Im up for bush walk if you are
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Post by motoxjase on Mar 28, 2013 4:48:08 GMT 12
Hi Guys I know very little about WW2 era aircraft so pardon my limited knowledge. Last weekend we had Motox over past Collingwood in an area that is pretty much the start of the Westcoast. I was talking to the land-owner after hearing a medic saying that the remains of a WW2 bomber was on the hill side and that a heap of the kids had gone up the hill to check out the wing etc. The landowner said that it was a Hudson Bomber that had in 1941 (?) had crashed into the hill killing 4, I could quite clearly see the wing from the pits but couldnt get the time to check it out. Is this all true?
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 28, 2013 6:11:24 GMT 12
Yes. NZ2007.
Previously V9235 from British Purchasing Mission contracts. Shipped to New Zealand on Limerick, BOC Unit 1 Hobsonville on 18 September 1941 and assembled at No.1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville. To No.2 GR Squadron Nelson. First RNZAF Hudson lost. Aircraft disappeared on a patrol from Nelson 15 December 1941. Burned out wreck discovered on hillside 3 miles north of Westhaven Inlet 02 December 1941, having exploded on impact. Pilot Officer Alexander MacFarlane, Pilot Officer Louis Volzke, Sergeant Keith Jack and Sergeant Phillip Harrison killed.
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