Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 28, 2017 20:05:37 GMT 12
Can anyone please add any info about this particular airframe? Avspecs received the following request from Mike Swinburne:
Warren Denholm asked me if I can assist. I have replied with this:
I wonder if anyone here has more info on this aircraft however, just in case. Did it ever actually enter service while in New Zealand? Does anyone know who the crew was that flew it to New Zealand? And can anyone confirm its fate? Was it among the Rolfe lot that was broken up?
"Hi Avspecs team,
I'm wondering if during your restorations you came across any info on a specific Mosquito that was shipped to NZ after RAF service. PZ392, flown by 487 (NZ) squadron, fuselage code EG-B. I can trace the number to one that was sent to NZ post-war but it seems was never uncrated or at least never flown in NZ colours.
From there, I cannot tell if the airframe was scrapped or survived somewhere. The son of A.C. Keegan, pilot of this plane in 487 Sqn post-VE Day, is a friend of mine and not great with computers, so the request comes on his behalf and our mutual interest in aviation history.
I'm not sure what if any info you may have, but on the off chance you may be able to suggest where I could look for more info, anything/everything is greatly appreciated.
Thank you for your time and assistance,
Mike Swinburne, displaced kiwi a few hours drive north of your Mossie in Norfolk, Virginia."
I'm wondering if during your restorations you came across any info on a specific Mosquito that was shipped to NZ after RAF service. PZ392, flown by 487 (NZ) squadron, fuselage code EG-B. I can trace the number to one that was sent to NZ post-war but it seems was never uncrated or at least never flown in NZ colours.
From there, I cannot tell if the airframe was scrapped or survived somewhere. The son of A.C. Keegan, pilot of this plane in 487 Sqn post-VE Day, is a friend of mine and not great with computers, so the request comes on his behalf and our mutual interest in aviation history.
I'm not sure what if any info you may have, but on the off chance you may be able to suggest where I could look for more info, anything/everything is greatly appreciated.
Thank you for your time and assistance,
Mike Swinburne, displaced kiwi a few hours drive north of your Mossie in Norfolk, Virginia."
Warren Denholm asked me if I can assist. I have replied with this:
"Hi Mike and Warren,
PZ392 was allocated the RNZAF serial number NZ2380. It was flown to New Zealand, as were all the RNZAF's Mosquitoes, by a ferry crew (probably RNZAF members although some RAF members also assisted in ferrying the Mossies to NZ). So it was never in a crate in NZ.
It arrived at Ohakea on the 13th of March 1948, and soon after was ferried to Woodbourne where it went into long term storage. The aircraft remained fully assembled for storage and were packed into a couple of the hangars there.
The original plan by the RNZAF to create three or four Mosquito squadrons was scuppered by lack of funding and personnel so most of the Mossies that came here never flew again, with just a small core of aircraft being used by No. 75 Squadron RNZAF.
When the jets began coming on strength and with the Mustang squadrons now being active, the Mosquitoes were declared surplus and they were sold by Government Stores Board tender number 4873 on the 3rd of November 1952. The aircraft would have been towed across the road where it was broken up for scrap. Engines and metal parts were hacked out of the Mosquitoes for either melting down or recycling for other uses, and the wooden remains were burned. This is probably one of the many Mosquitoes purchased and broken up at Woodbourne by Mr Rolfe's company.
So, sadly I very much doubt that it survives in a crate nowadays. I'll see if I can find anything more on this particular airframe.
Cheers
Dave"
PZ392 was allocated the RNZAF serial number NZ2380. It was flown to New Zealand, as were all the RNZAF's Mosquitoes, by a ferry crew (probably RNZAF members although some RAF members also assisted in ferrying the Mossies to NZ). So it was never in a crate in NZ.
It arrived at Ohakea on the 13th of March 1948, and soon after was ferried to Woodbourne where it went into long term storage. The aircraft remained fully assembled for storage and were packed into a couple of the hangars there.
The original plan by the RNZAF to create three or four Mosquito squadrons was scuppered by lack of funding and personnel so most of the Mossies that came here never flew again, with just a small core of aircraft being used by No. 75 Squadron RNZAF.
When the jets began coming on strength and with the Mustang squadrons now being active, the Mosquitoes were declared surplus and they were sold by Government Stores Board tender number 4873 on the 3rd of November 1952. The aircraft would have been towed across the road where it was broken up for scrap. Engines and metal parts were hacked out of the Mosquitoes for either melting down or recycling for other uses, and the wooden remains were burned. This is probably one of the many Mosquitoes purchased and broken up at Woodbourne by Mr Rolfe's company.
So, sadly I very much doubt that it survives in a crate nowadays. I'll see if I can find anything more on this particular airframe.
Cheers
Dave"
I wonder if anyone here has more info on this aircraft however, just in case. Did it ever actually enter service while in New Zealand? Does anyone know who the crew was that flew it to New Zealand? And can anyone confirm its fate? Was it among the Rolfe lot that was broken up?
