Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 26, 2016 22:27:37 GMT 12
This is interesting.I'd never considered this before but it seems the Government set up a scheme to manufacture aircraft spares in New Zealand rather than rely upon the import of parts which could be unreliable. So, has anyone any idea what was made here and where it was done?
From the New Zealand Herald, 25 January 1941
AIRCRAFT SPARES
DOMINION PRODUCTION
SPECIAL NEW BRANCH ANNOUNCEMENT BY MINISTER
A decision to inaugurate an aeronautical production branch of the New Zealand Air Department was announced by the Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, in a telephone conversation with the Herald from Wellington yesterday. The department is calling applications from highly-qualified technical personnel for work on producing aircraft spares in New Zealand.
"This most important development has been rendered necessary by the difficulty of obtaining spares from abroad," the Minister said. "It is hoped that the establishment of a production branch of the Air Department will enable a considerable amount of material to be produced locally for air defence purposes."
Positions for which the Air Department is calling applications include those of Director of Aeronautical Production, senior production officer, production officer, administrative officer, chief draughtsman, and draughtsman. The selected candidates will become temporary officers of the Royal New Zealand Air Force, with ranks ranging from wing-commander to flying-officer.
The work will not involve the establishment of new factories, but will be done by units of the engineering and allied industries throughout New Zealand. Aeroplane parts made of metal, wood and rubber will be manulactured for existing types of aircraft in-service with the Royal New Zealand Air Force, including the Airspeed Oxford, the Vickers Vincent and Vildebeest, the Blackburn Baffin and the De Havilland Tiger Moth.
From the New Zealand Herald, 25 January 1941
AIRCRAFT SPARES
DOMINION PRODUCTION
SPECIAL NEW BRANCH ANNOUNCEMENT BY MINISTER
A decision to inaugurate an aeronautical production branch of the New Zealand Air Department was announced by the Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, in a telephone conversation with the Herald from Wellington yesterday. The department is calling applications from highly-qualified technical personnel for work on producing aircraft spares in New Zealand.
"This most important development has been rendered necessary by the difficulty of obtaining spares from abroad," the Minister said. "It is hoped that the establishment of a production branch of the Air Department will enable a considerable amount of material to be produced locally for air defence purposes."
Positions for which the Air Department is calling applications include those of Director of Aeronautical Production, senior production officer, production officer, administrative officer, chief draughtsman, and draughtsman. The selected candidates will become temporary officers of the Royal New Zealand Air Force, with ranks ranging from wing-commander to flying-officer.
The work will not involve the establishment of new factories, but will be done by units of the engineering and allied industries throughout New Zealand. Aeroplane parts made of metal, wood and rubber will be manulactured for existing types of aircraft in-service with the Royal New Zealand Air Force, including the Airspeed Oxford, the Vickers Vincent and Vildebeest, the Blackburn Baffin and the De Havilland Tiger Moth.
