RNZAF Museum Aircraft

[Dave Homewood]

I'm just trying to piece together a complete list of aircraft at Wigram, or previously at Wigram. Can you add any?

In the Atrium Hall

Bleriot XI-2 "Brittannia" Replica

de Havilland DH82 Tiger Moth (NZ1481 as NZ825)

de Havilland Vampire FB.5 (NZ5757)

McDonnell Douglas A-4K Skyhawk (pretending to be NZ6207)

de Havilland Vampire Cockpit (NZ5767)



In the Air New Zealand Aircraft Hall
(No. 1 Hangar)

Avro 626 (NZ203)

Avro Anson Mk. 1 (NZ406)

North American Harvard Mk III (NZ1087 painted as Mk II NZ948)

Supermarine Spitfire Mk XVIe (TE288)

Grumman TBF-1C Avenger (NZ2504 painted as NZ2521)

North American P-51D Mustang (painted as NZ2410)

de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver (painted as NZ6001)

Auster T7C Antarctic (1707)

Lockheed Hudson Mk. III (NZ2013)

Douglas C-47 Dakota (NZ3551)

English Electric Canberra B20 (A84-240)

Bell UH-1H Iroquois (displayed generically as NZ3800



No. 3 Hangar

NZAI CT-4B Airtrainer (NZ1948)

BAC 167 Strikemasters (NZ6373 & NZ6374)

Kaman Seasprite (NZ3442)

Westland Wasp (NZ3906)

de Havilland Devon (NZ1803)

Consolidated Catalina

Bristol B170 Freighter Mk 31M (NZ5903)

Cessna O2-A-CE

de Havilland Vampire T.11 (NZ5710)



Displayed Outdoors on the Tarmac

Hawker Siddeley Andover CC Mk 1 (NZ 7621)


Under Restoration

Airspeed Oxford

Vickers Vildebeest (NZ102 + bits)

Curtiss P-40E Kittyhawk (to be displayed as NZ3024)



In Storage

Douglas Dauntless (NZ5037 wreck)

English Electric Canberra B1 (8)

Mosquito bits



RNZAF Aircraft Out on Loan

Grumman TBF-1 Avenger (NZ2505), GAPS permanent loan to 30 Sqn Assoc

Douglas C-47 Dakota - GAPS permanent loan, ex Ohakea Museum


Former Aircraft

Chance Vought F4U-5N Corsair (ex Disney)

Republic P-47D Thunderbolt (ex Motat)



Whereabouts Within Museum Currently Not Known

Rhonlerche Glider

Sopwith Pup Replica (on display?)



Formerly on Loan to RNZAF Museum
Hawker Hind (Subritzky family)

Porterfield 35W (Ashburton Museum)

Fokker Friendship (sold abroad)

Edit 15th Feb 2006 - removed the Puss Moth from list as it was confirmed to me the deal fell through before purchase and never with the museum despite a report saying it was under restoration there

[corsair67]

That looks like a pretty comprehensive list, Dave, and as far as I can see I don't think you've missed any.

Do they have two Strikemasters at Wigram? I thought that NZ6374 was up at the Ohakea Wing?

I'd forgotten they had a Sopwith Pup replica. It must be in storage somewhere now. The sooner they start the museum extension, the better: especially as they Andover is getting more and more forlorn looking everytime I see it.

[corsair67]

Some highlights from the RNZAF Museum at Wigram, taken last week:

[Dave Homewood]

Great photos Craig!

Wow, some interesting stuff to see since I was there last (exactly two years ago now!). The Vildebeest is looking great.

It's interesting to see the Consul fueslage too, it hadn't arrived from Canada when I was there though they had the wings then. I am really looking forward to seeing it evolve into an RNZAF Oxford.I wonder what scheme they'll pick for it, so many to choose from.

Nice to see dear old NZ1050 too, the beacon of hope that always signalled home for me in the years I lived and served at RNZAF Wigram. Poor old girl's looking very grubby and forlorn nowadays, almost as sad as the base she once guarded. It's been nearly thirteen years since we took her down and gave her the new red and grey scheme (previously she wore wartime yellow). Mind you the whole plinth has shifted across the road into the gate since I left there, so it's been down since. I did a lot of rubbing back and painting on that Harvard, and also the doping on its tail - which had replica metal surfaces instead of fabric but they had doped fabric thread to seal them.

[Bruce]

I wonder if the Derwent engine is one of "those" Derwents we were wondering about in another thread a few months ago?
I am alsways impressed by the quality of restoration work carried out at Wigram, no half measures here. The chunks of original material visible around the P40 shows how well they have done - look at that old leading edge! The Vildebeeste (or would that be vildeBITS) is taking shape, looks like a huge job! some serious tubing in that fuselage frame....

[corsair67]

Thanks guys: I knew that you'd enjoy seeing a few recent photos from Wigram. I was surprised by the amount of progress they've made on the Vildebeest/Vincent since I was there in June/July 2005. I can't wait to see it completed and on display in the new museum extension one day (hint to Helen - give the RNZAF Museum more money!).

The Kittyhawk looks fantastic, especially when you look at the original material they've had to work with. The photo of the wingtips on the table says it all: the crushed and crumpled piece of aluminium in between the two new wingtips is one of the original wingtips removed from the P-40!!!!

[corsair67]

Some more from Wigram:

























This last picture shows some of the Kittyhawk's original wing leading edge damage in detail.

[Peter Lewis]

Just got hold of this pic of the Avro 626 NZ203 (now at the museum) during the 1950s whan it was civil as ZK-APC



I enjoyed the following story:
When Jim Frogley sold the aircraft back to the RNZAF, they restored it to flying condition and overhauled the motor. After consulting the various manuals, they attempted to start the motor but had no success. Tried everything, but no luck. Eventually, in desperation, they phoned Jim to check on his starting procedure. "Don't know" came the response down the line, "you'll have to ask my wife. She used to start it for me while I got my coat on".
May not be a true story, but it sure raised a laugh.

[Dave Homewood]

Lovely shot.

[flyjoe180]

Fantastic photos! Must get to the Wigram Museum one day. What's the story re the rather well dressed woman in the Bleriot in Photo 1?

[Bruce]

The woman in the Bleriot is a showgirl from a visiting Pantomime! The pilot, Joe Hammond, took her for a flight in Auckland in preference to some military and government top brass, and he was promptly dismissed - and as there were no other government pilots in NZ at the time, that brought the NZ career of our first military aircraft to a close. The Bleriot was subsequently returned to the UK. I think its great that the RNZAF museum chose to illustrate this story when they set up the Bleriot for display - it adds a great human dimension!

[kiwi]

I understood that they had the remains of both a Vincent and a Vildebeest ?

[phil82]

Ive seen that Avro flying. When it was first brought back to flying standard it was flown at Ohakea at an air day of some sort.

[Peter Lewis]

kiwi said:

I understood that they had the remains of both a Vincent and a Vildebeest ?

Vincent NZ355 - "Written off books at Ohakea on 24 June 1943 as reduced to produce. Parts of this aircraft are believed to be held in storage by the RNZAF Museum, Wigram."

[Dave Homewood]

Bruce said "I think its great that the RNZAF museum chose to illustrate this story when they set up the Bleriot for display - it adds a great human dimension! "

Interestingly, the museum didn't put the dummy representing Miss Esme McLalland of the Royal Pantomime Company in when the plane was first set up. It was added sometime since I lived at Wigram, ie post August 1993. It was never present before that date. I don't know when exactly, and when I visited there in 2004 and noticed it I enquired. I was told by a guide it had always been there. He was wrong, I have photos of it from before the dummy was added. So, someone with a great sense of history and a bit of humour decided to add this neat touch to the display.

The museum has the remains of three Vildebeest/Vincent bombers as far as I'm aware. Two are on display in No. 3 Hangar. One being restored (Vildebeest), one on display nearby being used as a guide and display, the third is bits being incorporated into the Vilde I think.