Corsairs pilot donates WWII uniform to new club archive
Apr 21, 2016 16:06:18 GMT 12
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 21, 2016 16:06:18 GMT 12
Corsairs pilot donates WWII uniform to new club archive
9:30 AM Thursday Apr 21, 2016
www.nzherald.co.nz/bay-of-plenty-times/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503343&objectid=11626204
A beautifully preserved Royal New Zealand Air Force dress uniform from World War II has been donated to Classic Flyers by the fighter pilot who wore it in the battles for the Pacific.
John Garland as a dashing young pilot in World War II.
John Garland, 93, served three tours with 20 Squadron from 1944-45 flying Corsairs in Guadalcanal, Green Island, Bougainville and New Britain.
His memories of those far off days were not dulled by time and he vividly recalled the best way to stay alive against the lighter and more manoeuvrable Zero fighters used by Japan.
The donation of his dress uniform and two 1942-45 log books this week was given extra significance by the occasion being used to mark the official opening of Classic Flyer's archive collection at the rear of the restoration hangar. Mr Garland, whose son Russell lives in Mount Maunganui, decided to donate his uniform and log books to Classic Flyers because his home town of Napier did not have an aviation museum.
One of his most vivid early recollections of the war was his introduction to Corsairs after pilot training in Tiger Moths at Harewood, Christchurch, and advanced training in Harvards at Calgary, Canada, in 1943.
"I couldn't get over what a huge aircraft it was."
But it did not take him long to appreciate Corsairs for what they really were - a fighter/bomber that was "beautiful to fly".
Corsairs were the war's fastest propeller driven aircraft, capable of more than 700km/h, with enough power to save pilots from the deadly efficiency of Zeros used by the Imperial Japanese Air Force.
Mr Garland said there was only one way to engage Zeros in aerial combat, come in from above and out-distance them in the climb after the attack.
One of the worst scenarios for Corsair pilots was if the plane entered a spin because their gull wings meant you could not pull them out. The heavy aircraft carried two 1000 pound bombs which Mr Garland used to good effect against Japanese ground forces.
Wartime flying ran in the family because his father was a World War I pilot with the Royal Flying Corp. Lionel Garland's service hat band was also donated to Classic Flyers.
David Love, Classic Flyers chairman, said the dress uniform was in remarkably good condition and beautifully tailored. "We are there to preserve New Zealand's aviation history, and the uniform and log books really have historical significance."
When the uniform goes on display in the archive it would include replicas of the same medals awarded to Mr Garland. Dress uniforms were worn on leave and for formal occasions.
His donations also marked the official opening of the Classic Flyers archive which was planned to expand across the rest of the rear of the hangar and into the upstairs space used as a storeroom. Classic Flyers would install display cabinets in the archive that currently featured aviation books and other publications.
Also at the ceremonies were two other Tauranga wartime pilots, Bryan Cox and Frank Matthews.
John Cousins - Bay of Plenty Times
www.nzherald.co.nz/bay-of-plenty-times/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503343&objectid=11626204
9:30 AM Thursday Apr 21, 2016
www.nzherald.co.nz/bay-of-plenty-times/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503343&objectid=11626204
A beautifully preserved Royal New Zealand Air Force dress uniform from World War II has been donated to Classic Flyers by the fighter pilot who wore it in the battles for the Pacific.
John Garland as a dashing young pilot in World War II.
John Garland, 93, served three tours with 20 Squadron from 1944-45 flying Corsairs in Guadalcanal, Green Island, Bougainville and New Britain.
His memories of those far off days were not dulled by time and he vividly recalled the best way to stay alive against the lighter and more manoeuvrable Zero fighters used by Japan.
The donation of his dress uniform and two 1942-45 log books this week was given extra significance by the occasion being used to mark the official opening of Classic Flyer's archive collection at the rear of the restoration hangar. Mr Garland, whose son Russell lives in Mount Maunganui, decided to donate his uniform and log books to Classic Flyers because his home town of Napier did not have an aviation museum.
One of his most vivid early recollections of the war was his introduction to Corsairs after pilot training in Tiger Moths at Harewood, Christchurch, and advanced training in Harvards at Calgary, Canada, in 1943.
"I couldn't get over what a huge aircraft it was."
But it did not take him long to appreciate Corsairs for what they really were - a fighter/bomber that was "beautiful to fly".
Corsairs were the war's fastest propeller driven aircraft, capable of more than 700km/h, with enough power to save pilots from the deadly efficiency of Zeros used by the Imperial Japanese Air Force.
Mr Garland said there was only one way to engage Zeros in aerial combat, come in from above and out-distance them in the climb after the attack.
One of the worst scenarios for Corsair pilots was if the plane entered a spin because their gull wings meant you could not pull them out. The heavy aircraft carried two 1000 pound bombs which Mr Garland used to good effect against Japanese ground forces.
Wartime flying ran in the family because his father was a World War I pilot with the Royal Flying Corp. Lionel Garland's service hat band was also donated to Classic Flyers.
David Love, Classic Flyers chairman, said the dress uniform was in remarkably good condition and beautifully tailored. "We are there to preserve New Zealand's aviation history, and the uniform and log books really have historical significance."
When the uniform goes on display in the archive it would include replicas of the same medals awarded to Mr Garland. Dress uniforms were worn on leave and for formal occasions.
His donations also marked the official opening of the Classic Flyers archive which was planned to expand across the rest of the rear of the hangar and into the upstairs space used as a storeroom. Classic Flyers would install display cabinets in the archive that currently featured aviation books and other publications.
Also at the ceremonies were two other Tauranga wartime pilots, Bryan Cox and Frank Matthews.
John Cousins - Bay of Plenty Times
www.nzherald.co.nz/bay-of-plenty-times/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503343&objectid=11626204
