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Post by denysjones on May 9, 2013 19:34:49 GMT 12
This is going to be a tricky one!
In researching the history of the USN LC47H we've got at Ferrymead, some years ago I made contact with the radio op assigned to the aircraft while she was used here in NZ 1966-1969.
Sadly now the contact is lost.
He gave me a list of the assigned crew of the a/c and interestingly the co-pilot was an RNZAF Lt (as he put it so I guess we'd assume Flt Lt) from Wigram.
My contact couldn't recall the name but apparently this guy flew with the VX-6 boys in 17221 on numerous occasions, it seems from his notes to me around 1966-67 mostly.
Obviously this person was c47 rated and base at Wigram and with a certain amount of free time to go on jaunts here and there.
I know most people here are much later than this era but here's hoping something might come of this!
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furd
Flight Lieutenant
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Post by furd on May 21, 2013 11:05:48 GMT 12
This is going to be a tricky one! In researching the history of the USN LC47H we've got at Ferrymead, some years ago I made contact with the radio op assigned to the aircraft while she was used here in NZ 1966-1969. Sadly now the contact is lost. He gave me a list of the assigned crew of the a/c and interestingly the co-pilot was an RNZAF Lt (as he put it so I guess we'd assume Flt Lt) from Wigram. My contact couldn't recall the name but apparently this guy flew with the VX-6 boys in 17221 on numerous occasions, it seems from his notes to me around 1966-67 mostly. Obviously this person was c47 rated and base at Wigram and with a certain amount of free time to go on jaunts here and there. I know most people here are much later than this era but here's hoping something might come of this! The co-pilot was Flt Lt Pete Tremayne. |
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Tinman
Leading Aircraftman
Last of the Sky Gods
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Post by Tinman on Jul 19, 2015 12:15:58 GMT 12
This probably wasn't me [Peter Tremayne aka Tinman] I knew these USN airplanes as R4D-5's ... that's how they appear in my logbook from 1961/62. The tail number that shows a few times in my logbook is: 17239 ... personal photos attached. I suspect that tail number 17221 showed up later at VX-6 and the RNZAF hitch-hiker [as I'd been in 1961/62] may have been either Don McAllister or Tommy Thompson, both who followed me at VX-6 some years later. Coincidently, I've just been in email contact with one of the R4D-5 pilots [based at Byrd Station in 61/62] I flew with in 17239. His name is John Mahoney [USN Lt at that time]. John found himself on the R4D's after the crash at Wilkes of his P2V [tail number 439] airplane and crew. He finished his Navy career flying P2V sub hunters in the north Atlantic and Med.
 
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 19, 2015 13:15:00 GMT 12
Fantastic photos Peter! Thanks for posting them. Were those tents sufficiently warm? They don't look it, haha.
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Post by tbf25o4 on Jul 31, 2015 10:31:09 GMT 12
I think the guy you are looking for was Flying Officer Murray Crawford who was an ops officer at Wigram in the mid/late 1960s. I was a LAC teleg at the time and often talked to Murray about
his flights on the R4D. They even brought it to Wigram on one occasion
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Post by baronbeeza on Jul 31, 2015 11:28:02 GMT 12
If Murray Crawford is the one from Karamea then I have contact details for him. I think both he and Kevin Jones were the local guys in the mob during the 60's.
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Post by avenger on Jul 31, 2015 19:38:15 GMT 12
(I think the guy you are looking for was Flying Officer Murray Crawford who was an ops officer at Wigram in the mid/late 1960s. I was a LAC teleg at the time and often talked to Murray about
his flights on the R4D. They even brought it to Wigram on one occasion)
The R4D based at WG in the period 57-58, See 'Aviation Photography', ' USN & USAF aircraft at WG & CHC 57 - 58, ' p2, but have been wrong before! But the period under discussion later than the 57 - 58 period. Contact should be possible with A.E Thomson, ( mentioned earlier by Tinman ) he is at Taupo.
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Post by denysjones on Jul 31, 2015 21:21:32 GMT 12
Sorry Avenger,
I can't follow what you're saying.
17221 was on the ice '63 to '66 and was handed over to City of CHC '69 so that's the period of when and who we're searching.
To the others great to see this coming back on topic.
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Post by avenger on Aug 2, 2015 19:09:15 GMT 12
[Sorry Avenger,
I can't follow what you're saying.]
Another - [ They even brought it to Wigram on one occasion]
A 'Super Dak' at WG was nothing new or unique.
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Post by tbf25o4 on Aug 3, 2015 15:07:05 GMT 12
Correct, An R4D at wigram was very common during the mid 1950s, however, one flown by a serving RNZAF officer in the late 1960s was unusual!
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Post by avenger on Aug 4, 2015 14:18:36 GMT 12
[Correct, An R4D at wigram was very common during the mid 1950s, however, one flown by a serving RNZAF officer in the late 1960s was unusual!]
Sure would have been, I recall another serving RNZAF officer ( am able to recall the name) being offered a conversion onto the Neptune but this denied .
Actually, could be argued there would be no gain for the RNZAF.
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Post by avenger on Aug 18, 2015 17:10:57 GMT 12
By coincidence am reading "Gateway to the Ice" (Christchurch International Airport - Antarctic Air links from 1955.)
The publication copyrighted 2001 so assumption is the era 1955 - 2001.
The Appendix lists the support aircraft during that era. The list mind boggling.
USN Douglas R4D models total 17 visitors during that period.
Tinman, (earlier this thread) gets a mention.
"Flight Lieutenant P. W. Tremayne, RNZAF, visited McMurdo in Deep Freeze - 62 and logged 140 flying hours as a co-pilot with VX-6 flying R4Ds and Otters."
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Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 18, 2015 17:52:29 GMT 12
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