Post by grgrimmer on Aug 12, 2015 13:50:24 GMT 12
Posted: Sat Sep 21, 2013 3:22 am Post subject: Willow Flat crash site unlikely
Hello Gavin,
I've read your story relating to ZK-AJV, and from my knowledge of the site. it is hard to imagine the wreckage going unnoticed for the many years up until the Google satellite photo was taken. The whole of the slope from the Wai Wai ravine up to the next ridgetop to the west was in pasture when I was living there. It was part of Totara Valley Station, which was owned by my father Colin Fraser (Jim Fraser, the author of Shandrydan, is my brother). During the years from about 1965 to 1975 I used to shoot goats and deer in that part of the farm and also remember doing the lambing beat there. The lambing beat was done every day during the season and involved walking every little hidden gulley looking for cast ewes. And I had excellent eyesight then, so would not have missed a yellow tigermoth!
We did have a couple of tigermoth crashes, one minor one where it somersaulted on an airstrip without injury to the pilot, and a tragic one on another family farm at Putorino where an emergency landing attempt failed and the pilot lost his life.
I hope this at least eliminates a possibility for you.
Alan Fraser
Victoria, Australia
Posted: Sat Oct 12, 2013 11:31 am
Hi Alan,
It's great to hear from you, and many thanks for this information.
By 1965, it would mean that if AJV was there, it would be quite likely that the fabric (A grade cotton) would have all rotted off by then, so it wouldn't have still been yellow. The image I show is not a Google Earth satellite photo, but a 1949 aerial photo that I have overlaid on Google Earth.
However, in saying this, I'm rapt that you can now eliminate this image as obviously just an illusion as now that means what I was hoping for.... that AJV did not in this instance get washed down the Mohaka in Cyclone Bola, and so is still out there somewhere. This still remains a chance we might find it one day!
I have a copy of your brother's most excellent, well researched book, "Shandrydan", a book that he must have written as a 'labour of love!'
You must have very fond memories of life on that glorious isolated country farm, given the history associated with it. I thoroughly enjoyed my searches there, especially seeing the old farm buildings that you would have been so familiar with.
Interesting the Tiger Moth crashes you refer to.
Regards and thanks again,
Gavin
Hello Gavin,
I've read your story relating to ZK-AJV, and from my knowledge of the site. it is hard to imagine the wreckage going unnoticed for the many years up until the Google satellite photo was taken. The whole of the slope from the Wai Wai ravine up to the next ridgetop to the west was in pasture when I was living there. It was part of Totara Valley Station, which was owned by my father Colin Fraser (Jim Fraser, the author of Shandrydan, is my brother). During the years from about 1965 to 1975 I used to shoot goats and deer in that part of the farm and also remember doing the lambing beat there. The lambing beat was done every day during the season and involved walking every little hidden gulley looking for cast ewes. And I had excellent eyesight then, so would not have missed a yellow tigermoth!
We did have a couple of tigermoth crashes, one minor one where it somersaulted on an airstrip without injury to the pilot, and a tragic one on another family farm at Putorino where an emergency landing attempt failed and the pilot lost his life.
I hope this at least eliminates a possibility for you.
Alan Fraser
Victoria, Australia
Posted: Sat Oct 12, 2013 11:31 am
Hi Alan,
It's great to hear from you, and many thanks for this information.
By 1965, it would mean that if AJV was there, it would be quite likely that the fabric (A grade cotton) would have all rotted off by then, so it wouldn't have still been yellow. The image I show is not a Google Earth satellite photo, but a 1949 aerial photo that I have overlaid on Google Earth.
However, in saying this, I'm rapt that you can now eliminate this image as obviously just an illusion as now that means what I was hoping for.... that AJV did not in this instance get washed down the Mohaka in Cyclone Bola, and so is still out there somewhere. This still remains a chance we might find it one day!
I have a copy of your brother's most excellent, well researched book, "Shandrydan", a book that he must have written as a 'labour of love!'
You must have very fond memories of life on that glorious isolated country farm, given the history associated with it. I thoroughly enjoyed my searches there, especially seeing the old farm buildings that you would have been so familiar with.
Interesting the Tiger Moth crashes you refer to.
Regards and thanks again,
Gavin