The 1953 London to Christchurch Air Race

[Dave Homewood]

Does anyone know who else was on the crew of the No. 41 Squadron RNZAF Handley Page Hastings with the captain, Wing Commander Watson in the 1953 London to Christchurch Air Race?

I am sure there must have been at least one other pilot, a navigator, a flight engineer, a wireless operator, and possibly some ground crew members?

[The Red Baron]

New Zealand Hastings entry. Racing No. 22.—The Royal New
Zealand Air Force has entered a Handley Page Hastings C.3
powered by four Bristol Hercules engines in die transport handicap
section of the race. The aircraft, which is drawn from No. 41
Squadron, R.N.Z.A.F., will be carrying a comprehensive flight
crew to allow continuous flying without rest periods, as well as a
servicing party, a medical officer, a meteorologist and two civilian
journalists. The crew will be composed as follows: —Aircrew :
pilots, W/C. R. F. Watson, A.F.C. (captain), S/L. C. L. Siegert,
D.F.C., F/L . K. B. Smith, F/L . L. A. R. Hill. Navigators:
F/L . R. J. H. Myhill, P/O. G. C. Patterson, Sgt. I. A. Johnson.
Signallers: F/L . A. F. Jacobsen, A.F.C., P/O . G. R. Blackett,
Sgt. J. Hobdy. Flight engineers: Master Engineer D. M. Stark,
Sgt. H. W. E. Bromley, Sgt. A. Rose. Air Quartermasters:
Sgt. S. B. Bryan, Sgt. R. L. Home . Servicing party: seven
N.C.O.s and airmen under the command of F/L . J. D. Hurley.
Specialist officers: S/L. R. J. Croke (medical officer), S/L. L.
N. Larsen (meteorologist). Two journalists will be travelling in
the aircraft. An unspecified quantity of freight will be carried
as payload.
The Hastings will make the journey in eight stages, refuelling
at Athens, Shaibah, Masirah, Negombo, Cocos Island, Perth and
Melbourne.
The Hastings C.3 has a cruising speed of 250 m.p.h. and maximum
range of 3,000 miles. Its all-up weight will be 83,000 lb and its payload
more than 10 short tons. On board will be 27 people, including the
crew. No extra fuel tanks have been fitted for the race.

[Dave Homewood]

Wow, quite a team! Thanks. I think that is 'Bud' Rose there, who spoke at our Te Atatu Forum Meet last year. Makes sense, he was certainly on Hastings.

I know that W/C Robert "Chunky" Watson, AVM Larry Siegert, and F/Lt Derm Hurley are all dead. I wonder if any of the others are still alive.

[avenger]

I'm in contact with 'Bud' Rose and asked him the question re crew composition. Indeed he was a crew member.
Only a partial response so far. He has made some comment re those departed, shall post further when more info available.

[camtech]

Was Flt Lt L A R Hill not a navigator - he wore a nav brevet while OC Boy Entrant/Airman Cadet School.

[avenger]

Strongly suspect Ross Hill also a qualified Nav, certainly during 1957-58 he displayed the pilot's brevet at WG.