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Post by skyhawkdon on Nov 23, 2012 19:58:04 GMT 12
Great photos Peter! 75 Sqn Mossie era photos are like gold!
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 12, 2012 0:52:11 GMT 12
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Post by phil82 on Dec 12, 2012 8:56:32 GMT 12
What is it they say?....if you hang around any Westfield in New Zealand you'll sooner or later meet someone you haven't seen for a while. It's that Two Degrees of separation thingy...very common in NZ.
So I amble over to the ANZ money machine and as always remain a respectful distance behind the guy using it in front of me, then I realise who he is, and as he turns around I say: "Good morning Dick, how're you're going?", for it is indeed Dick Bolt, or AVM Sir Richard Bolt if you want to be formal.
We were in the same air force once!
We got chatting, as you do, and I mentioned having been to the Mosquito inaugural flight at Ardmore, and he told me how much he'd enjoyed flying them, [and this from a guy who had completed 30 odd trips over Germany before his 21st birthday!], then pointed out that, "In fact, I flew one of those we purchased back from the UK to New Zealand, and for a while held the record for the fastest trans-Tasman crossing!"
So we moved on to his trip to the UK for the unveiling of the Bomber Command Memorial. "Wonderful trip" he said,"and we were cared for magnificently", then a slight pause, "that memorial was long overdue". Then he told me he was the youngest one there, but none of his crew made it "they've all passed on now", and those faded blue eyes reveal so much of the man. He's a bit deaf now, and I remembered to raise my voice a little, but he seemed OK. What a generation.
He lives not that far away from me, and I recall that every time I passed him on the street I had to control an almost involuntary instinct to salute!
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fergi
Flying Officer
Posts: 55
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Post by fergi on Dec 17, 2012 10:18:50 GMT 12
Nice story Phil stories like that need to be told more Respect.
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Post by AussieBob on Jan 16, 2013 14:17:26 GMT 12
I came across this pic of a Mosquito gun test on another forum and can't recall whereabouts and then whether it is photography or yesteryear. It's not KA114 but it is an interesting one to add to the Mossie collection.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 16, 2013 14:33:47 GMT 12
A very neat shot there Bob. Note the spinner markings too.
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Post by rone on Dec 26, 2013 14:36:46 GMT 12
after seeing the photo of 2328 at Waipapakauri I thought I recognised the number and the code, sure enough, it was one of the Mossies my father cut up. have a photo of it in the initial stage of undress. Also the photos of the "civilian" Mosquitoes at Milson were possibly taken when my father was initially starting the dismantling as some of the underwing tanks are not all there and a spinner is off one engine and laying on the ground by the wheel. It is also possible they had been pinched but I do not recall anything other than a radio set and a few instruments being stolen
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Post by agalbraith on Oct 13, 2014 10:16:06 GMT 12
Rone I would love to see that photo of 2328 and any others you may have?
Cheers Anthony
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Post by agalbraith on Nov 2, 2014 8:24:14 GMT 12
Hi gents
I have a question for you all out there to see if you can answer? I have often seen images of RNZAF Mosquitoes with this 'mod' I guess you could say on the upper wings. You can see clearly in this photo (I think came from this thread) the 4 sets of raised bumps that have been fabriced over fore and aft of the roundel. Now I have seen other images of this where the fabric is still in a red dope. I am convinced they are to do with the RP rail mounts as they seem to line up perfectly with them underneath. My question is, has someone (perhaps Dave Duxbury?) seen any ref to what went on here? It is almost like there has been a giant thru-bolt go through the wing to attach the mounts and then some sort of fairing over the bolt head??? Last time I went to John Smiths, we couldn't even get close to the Mossie as there was so much stuff around her. Although I did get a photo of the undersurface where the mounts used to be.
Any help would be hugely appreciated.
Cheers Anthony
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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 2, 2014 8:55:42 GMT 12
Anthony you should have a word with Ross Cleverley. He was a Safety And Surface Technician working on the Mosquitoes, and he quite possibly did some of the doping himself. He lives in Leitch Street, Christchurch, and his details are in the White Pages. He's also a historian I believe so may be able to impart a load of other knowledge too. Incidentally it was Ross who designed both the Albatross symbol and the Ned warrior symbol used by No. 5 Squadron and No. 3 Squadron respectively.
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Post by agalbraith on Nov 2, 2014 9:12:20 GMT 12
Brilliant, thanks Dave, I will look him up this week and give him a call.
Cheers Anthony
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Post by skyhawkdon on Nov 2, 2014 10:55:29 GMT 12
Ross was at the Wigram Museum 2 weeks ago for the Air Force Association conference. Lovely chap.
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Post by camtech on Nov 2, 2014 10:58:21 GMT 12
Anthony, When you talk to Ross, say hello from Les Billcliff - had an association with Ross way back when Adam wore shorts.
He is a font of knowledge and had a good photo collection as well.
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Post by agalbraith on Nov 2, 2014 11:13:20 GMT 12
Brilliant, will do mate! Cant wait to call him, might do it tonight.
Cheers Anthony
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 15, 2016 2:19:01 GMT 12
Here's a couple of nice shots of RNZAF Mosquitos undergoing maintenance at Woodbourne on the 20th of December 1950, from the National Library of New Zealand's collection:
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Post by ZacYates on Jul 22, 2016 11:19:31 GMT 12
I do love those big paddle props. Top photos, thanks for sharing! Looking a lot like TV959 right now.
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Post by suthg on Jul 22, 2016 12:17:30 GMT 12
Polished boots!! Good rules...
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Post by baz62 on Jul 22, 2016 16:28:47 GMT 12
I wonder if this is posed with one in storage? Covers over the lower cannon ports and fabric doped over the MG holes in the nose cap smacks of long term storage.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 22, 2016 17:54:49 GMT 12
I believe the stored aircraft still had regular maintenance checks to maintain them in good condition for ready use, so maybe not so posed as such.
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Post by suthg on Jul 22, 2016 22:14:02 GMT 12
I don't believe there were any cannons fitted at the time of the photos either. So stored and maintained.
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