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Post by nuuumannn on Dec 2, 2011 15:09:54 GMT 12
Has anybody come across information relating to the Oxfords operating in these RAF New Zealand Squadrons - a photograph(s), serial numbers and their use. Try David Duxbury via the Air Force Museum, as he wrote the text in the Air Britain book on the NZ use of the aircraft.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 2, 2011 15:51:28 GMT 12
Hi Mark, These may not be much help really but I took these in 2006 at the RNZAF Musuem workshops and they show the underside of their Oxford centre section. You can see a little of the piping, etc in there but I don't know how much more went in after this.
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Post by buffnut453 on Dec 2, 2011 16:57:54 GMT 12
Thanks Dave. That's a huge help. I'm planning on building an Oxbox in the markings of 4 FTS at Habbaniyah in May 1941. They carried 8x20lb bombs into battle against the Iraqi rebellion. That first pic of yours certainly helps.
Kind regards, Mark
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 2, 2011 17:12:18 GMT 12
Maybe someone in Christchurch can get some shots under the Oxbox now as all the systems must be installed now, five years later.
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Post by buffnut453 on Dec 3, 2011 2:26:13 GMT 12
I do hope so. I've been interested in the 4 FTS story ever since reading "Hidden Victory" by Tony Dudgeon many moons ago. I know exactly which aircraft I want to model but it needs the Light Series Carriers (finding those in 1/48 scale is another challenge), the 20lb bombs (although I can live without those) and, most importantly, some detailed pics of the bomb bay where the LSCs were fitted. Thanks again for your pic, Dave. Hopefully someone from the Christchurch area can help out - I'd need a really, REALLY long telefoto lens to get any pics where I live! Cheers, Mark
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Post by northcro on Dec 6, 2011 21:03:52 GMT 12
Dave:
According to David Duxbury's notes in this Air Britain book 1 (GR) Squadron, Whenuapai Oxfords allocated from October 1940 to August 1943. 2 (GR) Squadron, Nelson Hill until May 1943, then Ohakea. Oxfords allocated from September 1941 to July 1943; 3 (GR) Squadron , Whenuapai, Oxfords allocated from June 1942 to September 1942. No. 4 and 5 (GR) Squadrons are not listed as having Oxfords allocated as you say because possibly they were based in Fiji. No.6 (GR) Squadron also is not listed as having Oxfords allocated. No.7 (GR) Squadron Waipapakauri Oxfords were allocated from June 1942 to July 1943. No.8 (GR) Squadron Gisborne Oxfords allocated from September 1942. Re-designated 30 (Torpedo Squadron) May 28, 1943. The squadron was allocated 4 Oxfords such as NZ272, NZ1241, NZ1242, NZ1264.
On the individual aircraft histories David does list some history which (GR) squadrons the Oxfords saw service.
The Special Hobby 1/48 Oxford Mark I/II(Commonwealth Service) kits arrived today - first glance the kit looks excellent with decals depicting NZ1376 (Red/Yellow striped) and NZ1222/102 Dark Green/Brown, yellow along fuselage sides with Sky lower surfaces, plus an Aussie and Canadian Oxford. All are Mark I's depicted without the turret. The kit does include the turret for representing a Mark II.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 6, 2011 21:33:53 GMT 12
Thanks David. No. 6 Squadron was Army Co-op and flew Hinds, Harvards, Tiger Moth and Moth Minor aircraft but had no need for Oxfords as none of their aircraft were twins.
It is interesting that No. 7 (GR) Squadron had them as I have never seen reference to Oxfords with them in any documents I have seen so far.
No. 10 (GR) Squadron had several of course too.
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Post by northcro on Dec 6, 2011 21:50:10 GMT 12
Was 10 Squadron a (GR) Squadron or a (Bomber) OT Squadron based in Levin. Apparently this squadron did initially use Oxfords but replaced them with Hudsons to become 1 (B) OTU from March 7, 1942.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 6, 2011 22:36:56 GMT 12
No. 10 (GR) Squadron was the predecessor to No. 1 OTU, it was an "operational training squadron" so it flew regular operations but trained new crews - much like the School of General Reconnaissance did.
It did fly Oxfords, several of them. They also got Hudsons before the name changed, and the OTU retained the Oxfords along with its Hudsons. Later the OTU also got Venturas.
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Post by davidd on Jul 28, 2012 11:32:59 GMT 12
Dave H, I may have given you insufficient information in the past, but the full name of No. 10 Squadron (at Levin) was in fact No. 10 BOTS (for Bomber Operational Training Squadron), and NOT 10 (GR) Sqdn, much the same as there was also a No. 11 FOTS (Fighter Operational Training Squadron) located at Ohakea from March to about July 1942 when it assumed its definitive title of No. 2 Fighter OTU, with a lot of Harvards and a few Kittyhawks. David D
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Post by davidd on Jul 28, 2012 11:52:14 GMT 12
Just to confuse the situation even more, there was a previous No. 10 Squadron in the RNZAF, although it only existed for brief time; this was the No. 10 Squadron, a FAFAI unit, which in its normal business suit was called the School of General Reconnaissance located at Omaka, near Blenheim, and equipped with about a dozen Vincents (and the odd Vildebeest). It came into being (on paper) in mid-January 1942 as detailed in a secret memorandum penned by the CAS of the day, Air Commodore R V Goddard, RAF, on 17th January 1942. Its personnel roll (HQ, Flying, Technical personnel) was prepared on 29/1/42 (Air File 127/10/2). In July 1942 it was redesignated as No. 23 Squadron (still for FAFAI purposes). As you can see, some of these FAFAI squadrons tended to duplicate numbers used by "Regular" squadrons, so they renumbered these with higher numbers so as to avoid confusion in a real emergency. Of course some of the revised (higher) numbefrs were late also overtaken by events, but by this time the FAFAI force had been disbanded or at least toned down somewhat.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 28, 2012 13:02:10 GMT 12
Thanks for that info David. I sort of knew that but somehow got confused along the way, haha.
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Post by ZacYates on Sept 24, 2012 11:19:50 GMT 12
Seeing as many forum members will be up close and personal with the Subritzky example in a little under a week, would any Christchurch-based members be able to show us what the RNZAF Museum's Consul looks like at present?
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Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 24, 2012 14:13:54 GMT 12
As it has been converted back to an Oxford Zac, it's probably not right to call it a Consul any more, is it?
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Post by ZacYates on Sept 24, 2012 15:29:50 GMT 12
Of course, I just wanted to be careful haha!
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Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 30, 2013 21:18:30 GMT 12
Something I'd never picked up on before but looking through this thread again at what is left of the photos (it's so sad when people delete their photo contributions to threads like this!) it seems most of the Oxfords never wore fin flashes. Only Don's one and the ones in post-WWII storage from Bob Lawn's photo seem to wear them. This seems rather strange.
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Post by camtech on Nov 2, 2013 21:41:01 GMT 12
Agree Dave. Appears very few Oxfords wore fin flashes during war service. Going through my photos, I note only a very small no with fin flashes. It appears that many were added after war's end. Wonder why?
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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 2, 2013 22:06:41 GMT 12
It seems a bit weird when almost every other type in RNZAF service in wartime got the finflash by 1942.
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Post by baz62 on Feb 2, 2016 18:19:20 GMT 12
Scoop Teresa's workmate spied a certain twin engined aircraft parked outside 2 Hangar at Wigram. "Your husband's into planes. What's that?" he asks Teresa handing her binoculars. Sadly Teresa had to use her mobile phone's camera hence the tiny shot but I think we all know what's taking in the sunshine. First time since what? 1945?
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Post by TS on Feb 2, 2016 21:03:59 GMT 12
Great to see the Oxford out in the sun... But what is that dark green object to the right. ??
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