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Post by grgrimmer on Jul 22, 2017 22:27:40 GMT 12
A while back, a badly damaged radial engine cowling was found in the Kenepuru Sound and we initially thought it was off a Harvard, but later identified it as most likely coming from a Airspeed Oxford. This was due to it having two latches on it (which an Oxford does) whereas the Harvard has one.
It has three sets of numbers in it - presumably part numbers: SR34233, SR34724, SR47652
Does anyone know of an Oxford that crashed in that area - probably in the WWII period, or maybe of one losing a cowling whilst in flight?
Also, can anyone confirm it is from an Oxford by way of the part numbers?
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Post by curtiss on Jul 22, 2017 22:46:41 GMT 12
There was an Oxford on a farm down the Kenepuru sounds ( I think it was Goulter bay area). I recovered an engine from it in 1978.
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Post by grgrimmer on Jul 23, 2017 9:56:34 GMT 12
Thanks Curtiss,
This cowling was found in Waitaria Bay, the next Bay along from Goulter. Can you tell me more...such as had it been pranged... how did it get there, etc? Would you happen to know the Registration Number of it?
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Post by grgrimmer on Jul 23, 2017 10:26:08 GMT 12
Looking through my archived emails, there was also old aircraft wreckage found in a stream in Double Bay, Kenepuru Sound. My thinking is maybe this was the area that it crashed(?) and then it was robbed of it parts over the years for building materials. I remember someone telling me that somewhere in the area, someone had a chook-house built out of airframe parts... although if you recovered an engine from it in Goulter Bay(?), then it is likely this is where it crashed (if it did)?.
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Post by camtech on Jul 23, 2017 16:09:18 GMT 12
I can't find any notes of an Oxford crash in that area, but only had a quick search. Possibly the cowling is off one sold from Woodbourne.
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Post by curtiss on Jul 23, 2017 19:39:55 GMT 12
The aircraft didnt crash. It was taken there on a barge by the farmer as a source of parts. In 1978 all that remained was the centre wing section, undercarriage and one engine, plus a lot of small metal parts. I picked up the blind flying panel complete with instruments but left everything else. I cant remember anything that identified the aircraft serial. The engine eventually ended up at the RNZAF museum.
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Post by shorty on Jul 23, 2017 21:50:53 GMT 12
Some years ago I saw a photo of the Oxford on a barge, however I thought two were taken down there?
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Post by grgrimmer on Jul 23, 2017 22:35:42 GMT 12
Many thanks Curtiss.
This in effect puts an end to the mystery of what these reports of wreckage related to.
It would be interesting to know the previous history of this Oxford though. I suspect it was one of the Oxfords that crashed at/or near Woodbourne during WWII...possibly NZ260?
Maybe someone reading this thread in the future may be able to fill in the details?
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 23, 2017 22:55:43 GMT 12
There were dozens of Oxfords stored at Woodbourne near the end of the war and many of them were sold off to locals after the war's end. So it does not have to have been a crashed example.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 23, 2017 23:16:30 GMT 12
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Post by grgrimmer on Jul 24, 2017 7:59:43 GMT 12
Thanks Dave. Incredible photos.
Judging by the damage to the cowling, I would say that it has definitely been in a prang though...
I'll see if I can get permission from the person that took the photos so as to post them here.
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Post by shorty on Jul 24, 2017 10:22:14 GMT 12
Many thanks Curtiss. This in effect puts an end to the mystery of what these reports of wreckage related to. It would be interesting to know the previous history of this Oxford though. I suspect it was one of the Oxfords that crashed at/or near Woodbourne during WWII...possibly NZ260? Maybe someone reading this thread in the future may be able to fill in the details? s It was one of the ex Gould aircraft, when I was shown the photo it definitely wasn't a crashed example, it was complete and sitting on it's wheels on the barge. I think John Smith knows more about it. |
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Post by grgrimmer on Jul 24, 2017 20:50:55 GMT 12
Spent a lot of time trying to work out how to post the images that were sent to me via the person that found this wreckage (Tachyon Hutt) who agreed for me to publish them here: s1030.photobucket.com/user/grgrimmer/library/RNZAF%20ProboardsAs you can see, they look pretty badly damaged, so this is why I suspect this was in a prang. |
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Post by grgrimmer on Jul 24, 2017 20:52:14 GMT 12
Oops, looks like the photos didn't copy to here, so I'll have to try again to work it out!
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Post by grgrimmer on Jul 24, 2017 20:58:23 GMT 12
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Post by grgrimmer on Jul 24, 2017 21:06:00 GMT 12
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 24, 2017 21:54:56 GMT 12
We've all given up on Photobucket, they are complete arseholes. But you have to put the link into the forum's Insert Image box for it to show up, just like the instructions say.    |
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Post by chbessexboy on Jul 24, 2017 21:59:37 GMT 12
I've spent most of the evening trying to work it out, so at this point of time I give up! Gavin, alongside your photo there is a box called "Photo Hosting Links". Next to "IMG" is a link starting "[URL=http" etc. Highlight that then copy and paste it to your post. |
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Post by grgrimmer on Jul 24, 2017 22:46:18 GMT 12
Thanks Dave for posting some of the photos for me, and thanks also chbessexboy, I was clicking the link "Direct" as per Dave's instruction link. If I've understood you right,(clicking instead "IMG") this should now work.... If not, I'll have to announce myself as "dunce of the year"!   |
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Post by grgrimmer on Jul 24, 2017 22:46:42 GMT 12
Ye Ha.... it worked!!!!
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