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Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 3, 2005 15:55:36 GMT 12
In an old wartime issue of RNZAF Contact I spotted a familiar 'face'. In a photo accompanying an article about RNZAF Station Nelson's band, Ventura NZ4600 is in the background. I am certain it must be the same Ventura, as it is a Lexington model with glazed nose, and sports the code numbers 00 on the nose too. And NZ4600 did spend most of its life at the Technical Training School, RNZAF Station Nelson, so it all adds up. I thought others may find this old shot of the only remaining RNZAF Ventura in NZ quite interesting.  |
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Post by Bruce on Aug 3, 2005 18:31:48 GMT 12
Excellent photo - it also clarifies whether NZ4600 should have Yagi Antenna under the wings - it is very obvious in this shot that it doesnt. (Incidently the other "survivor" in this photo is the large "square" wooden hangar in the background - current home of air Nelson engineering)
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Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 6, 2005 12:03:33 GMT 12
Mind you Bruce, remember at this stage of its career the aircraft was an Instructional Airframe at the TTS, so any antennas may have been removed for use on servicable aircraft, or maybe by students in training.
I wonder if this aircraft actually did serve in the Coastal Patrol role that it's current display paint-job denotes. From what I can gather at a glance, No. 2 (BR) Squadron flew RB-34's from Gisborne in this role for a short time whilst on rest, but I'm not certain as yet. Can anyone clarify which sqns used them operationally within NZ? I know many RB-34's were used for training and OTU work, as well as INST airframes, but none went to the Pacific as they were too incompatible with the PV-1 models and also clapped out. I'm keen to learn more about their operational career within NZ.
I am also unsure if the neat artwork on the displayed plane of a Jap being throttled is correct for an RB-34 too, as I have a photo of a very similar artwork on a C-63 Hudson after it was repainted at Rukuhia. So either the artwork was used more than once, perhaps by the Rukuhia paintshop, or it is wrong for that aircraft. I wonder if anyone knows exactly what the story is with the paint scheme on NZ4600 - is it accurate? I did ask a Motat curator last year but he didn't know.
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