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Post by shamus on Aug 2, 2011 18:29:25 GMT 12
Hi macfire. You may be right, NZ1535 was at Rongotai TTS as Inst. 28. We know that it was then used by the No 16 Sqn. at Fairhall but eventually became Inst. 45. So it was probably taken during its time outside the TTS. Also, with relation to NZ1502, I believe all the Hinds were impressed into the training role as soon as they arrived in NZ. The only thing changed was the serial. So codes and colours were as in the RAF.
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Post by shamus on Aug 3, 2011 10:48:16 GMT 12
Hi macfire, I believe that photo is NZ1535. This aircraft appeared in many different paint schemes as I believe that it was kept in airworthy condition at TTS Rongotai and was used to train ground crew in starting and carrying out inspections and also painting. This Hind was the only one to receive two different Instructional numbers, Inst. 28 and Inst.45. Probably given the new inst. number when returned to TTS Nelson after finishing its flying career. TTS Rongotai also had NZ1534, Inst.33 and this one was probably the one that had more serious work done on it and not kept airworthy.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 3, 2011 11:33:49 GMT 12
In that photo of the assumed NZ1535 there are two Baffins in the background. One of them is NZ155.
The history of NZ1535 according to the adf.serials site is: "To RNZAF 05 September 1940. Assembled at No.1 Aircraft Depot and BOC 23 October 1940 at Hobsonville. Converted to instructional airframe INST28 with No.2 TTS, Rongotai during 1940 and was later with No.1 TTS, Hobsonville. This airframe was renumbered INST45 in 1942."
NZ155 went from Whenuapai to Harewood on the 17th of october 1940, into storage. In April 1941 it joined No. 3 (GR) Squadron there at Harewood, and flew with that squadron. In fact the squadron's first ever operational flight was in NZ155. In September 1941 NZ155 was one of the last Baffins withdrawn from squadron service and was flown to Rongotai where it was permanently grounded, and then reduced to spares.
So the only options are it was taken at Harewood in 1941, or Rongotai after NZ155 was grounded. The only other possibilities are that one or both aircraft were visiting 'away' stations, but the Baffins from Harewood very seldom strayed from home, apart from going to Taieri for their Detachment of three aircraft.
I agree the background does not look like Rongotai, perhaps the two Baffins were headed to Rongotai in September 1941 to end their careers, and this was taken at Woodbourne on the way up?
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Post by shamus on Aug 3, 2011 11:46:02 GMT 12
A photo of NZ1535 in its colour of training yellow at TTS Rongotai. Alex.Turnbull Library photo.
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Post by shamus on Aug 3, 2011 12:50:22 GMT 12
I would like to know where the information came from (included in adf.serials site) that NZ1535 was at Hobsonville TTS as I have know knowledge of this. Also the Hind fuse. with the Dauntless's at Hobby was definitely not NZ1535 as the structure is different.
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Post by shamus on Aug 4, 2011 11:00:06 GMT 12
While still on Rongotai TTS; A group of trainees watching a starting and run-up of Hind NZ1535 at Rongotai TTS. RNZAF Museum Photo. Poor old NZ1503, Inst. 26 at Nelson after the storm. NZ1556 of No.21 AC Sqn. before or after a photo recce.
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Post by flyjoe180 on Aug 4, 2011 11:04:35 GMT 12
Great pics again. I'm not sure I would want to be sitting in front of that run-up.
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Post by pjw4118 on Aug 5, 2011 9:37:19 GMT 12
Hinds at Bell Block 1941 Don, Good to hear from you, here's a few from Alan Perts album Alan went on to become an ace flying in the UK, Middle East then Burma
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Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 5, 2011 9:58:34 GMT 12
That would be Alan Peart, not Pert. Great shots Peter.
In Bryan Young's book The Beckoning Skies he recalled a day at No. 3 SFTS when a trainee fluffed a landing and ran into half a dozen other Hinds that were all in a huddle around a bowser for refuelling. I wonder if this incident was photographed. I think some of them had just been overhaulled and were awaiting test flight, and they had to go back to the workshops for major repair.
On that last photo, is that an extra single bomb rack on each side inboard of the four-place bomb racks? Or something else?
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Post by shamus on Aug 6, 2011 10:52:23 GMT 12
The incident you mentioned above would most likely be on 17th. January 1942 at Ohakea and involved Hind NZ1526, the pilot of which was doing his third solo on the type and landed too far down the field. There were several Hinds picketed on the boundary and some tankers nearby. He took evasive action and missed the tankers but ran into the other Hinds but only did damage to one which was NZ1543.
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Post by shamus on Aug 8, 2011 10:17:11 GMT 12
Two more Hinds. NZ1517 in colours of the No.20 Army Co-op Sqn. A photo of Hind Trainer, L7225 in its RAF livery. Don't know if this was taken in England before it came to NZ and became NZ1512, or after arriving in NZ and before the serial was changed. Is anyone able to identify the building it is in?
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Post by shamus on May 3, 2012 21:53:00 GMT 12
Two photos that I have recently processed to post here. The first is a well known RNZAF Museum photo of NZ1556 UY-B of No.21 AC. Sqn. The second is of an enlargement of the area below the pilots cockpit, and shows the name, 'Josephine 2' painted on it. I wonder what connection this has with the RNZAF Corsair, 'Josephine" Did Frank Bish fly Hinds in this Squadron?
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Post by Dave Homewood on May 3, 2012 21:55:53 GMT 12
Superb, I have seen that photo so many times and never knew that it had a name. Great!
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Post by pmolloyjr on Aug 4, 2012 10:22:31 GMT 12
I have just today joined this site, my youngest brother having stumbled across it by accident. The Pat Molloy referred to in several messages herein is my late father and we (myself and my 7 siblings) are very excited to discover things about him here. A very humble man, he never told us much about his exploits during the war. We lost many photos from his wartime period when my parents shifted home and some stuff simply vanished. My Mum is still very much alive, and recently celebrated her 90th birthday with a party attended by well over 100 people, mostly close relatives. I will visit this site much more over coming weeks, and look forward to learning even more. Thanks from the bottom of my heart to those who have posted info so far. I have an anecdote or two to share as soon as I have time.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 4, 2012 11:19:11 GMT 12
Welcome to the forum! It's great to have you here.
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Post by errolmartyn on Aug 4, 2012 13:10:18 GMT 12
I have just today joined this site, my youngest brother having stumbled across it by accident. The Pat Molloy referred to in several messages herein is my late father and we (myself and my 7 siblings) are very excited to discover things about him here. A very humble man, he never told us much about his exploits during the war. We lost many photos from his wartime period when my parents shifted home and some stuff simply vanished. My Mum is still very much alive, and recently celebrated her 90th birthday with a party attended by well over 100 people, mostly close relatives. I will visit this site much more over coming weeks, and look forward to learning even more. Thanks from the bottom of my heart to those who have posted info so far. I have an anecdote or two to share as soon as I have time. Pat Molloy also appears in the late Colin Hanson's By Such Deeds - Honours and Awards in the Royal New Zealand Air Force, 1923-1999: MOLLOY, Flight Lieutenant Patrick, mid.NZ413454 & 133404; Born Auckland, 10 Aug 1919; RNZAF 15 Jun 1941 to 20 Oct 1945, Res. to 11 Oct 1958; Pilot. Citation Mention in Despatches (16 Mar 1945): For meritorious service. Served three tours totalling 92 missions with 14 Sqn RNZAF - two on Kittyhawks and one on Corsairs - and one at COMZEAIRTAF. During the Japanese assault on Torokina airfield, starting 8 Mar 1944, Flt Lt Molloy commanded a company of 110 men which formed part of the Torokina Airfield Defence Force. Died Auckland, 8 Dec 1988. Errol
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Post by davidd on Aug 5, 2012 11:12:06 GMT 12
Just to say that so many of these Hind pictures show SO MUCH of the equipment hung on their structures to turn them from flying machines into useful weapons of war! The Lewis gun on the last close up is a case in point, as are the Light Series Bomb Carriers on earlier shots. ALso plenty of other bits and pieces for the more knowlegable on this Board to scratch their heads over. David D
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Post by pmolloyjr on Oct 6, 2012 10:43:11 GMT 12
Pat Molloy's son here again. I would love hi-res versions of the photos of Dad from anyone who has them. There's 1506-3, the crash. There's 1524-2a flying. And there's UY-Bcrew1 of the group on the ground next to a Hind. And any more. I would also welcome any interview notes from that interview someone mentioned they did with Dad back in the 70's. About 50 years ago as a young teenager I was given the chance to take a free flight with Freddie Ladd on the Grumman Widgeon, from Mechanics Bay out to Gt Barrier and back on his Saturday morning mail run. Dad was Fred's instructor in the Air Force and they remained friends all their lives. Fred told me a story that my dad neither denied nor supported, Fred seemed utterly sincere about it but knowing Fred I can't be certain of its veracity. It seemed that Dad and Fred (newly soloe'd) were up flying out of Ohakea with the Squadron leader, all in Hinds. The SL landed and taxied off the main (grass) runway but hit a softpatch and the plane went up on its nose and stayed there. Pat (Dad) landed and taxied over to see if the SL was OK, hit a softpatch and did the same thing. Fred say he landed and thought that this was some new way of parking the planes to save space, and thought he was in trouble because he couldn't get his plane up on its nose.
Dad went on to fly Corsairs up in the Solomons, and that's where he received the decoration mentioned elsewhere. I intend to check the Corsair board closely too, to see whether there's any info up there about him, and any photos.
We do have some low-res photos and I'll go through them to see whether any are appropriate to post to either forum.
Have made a donation to this site - long may it survive.
Thanks so much so far.
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Post by shamus on Oct 6, 2012 11:24:08 GMT 12
pmolloyjr. I am the one who began the site and posted most of the photos. Also did the interview with your dad back in the seventies. Can give you hi-res. copies if you contact me. I am in Auckland and can be contacted on 5759401 or e-mail at tradejamu@hotmail.com Regards, Jim Mungall.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 6, 2012 11:48:40 GMT 12
You began this thread Jim, I began he site!
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