Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 1, 2018 22:13:30 GMT 12
Take a look at this photo of Whenuapai taken in November 1947. I had heard years ago that the original 1939 tin hangar that was built there before the two concrete hangars were fully erected had been shifted down to Rukuhia when that airfield became an RNZAF Station in 1942, and it later moved back. I had never found a photo of the station with the hangar missing till now, and here it is!
Click here to zoom in
ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE6556706&dps_custom_att_1=emu
Thumbnail version from HERE
What is also fascinating is the Lucaville camp site is not seen in this shot as it would be just left of where the photo seems to be torn on the lefthand side. But if you look to the right of where the Officer's Mess is there's another, what looks like, hut camp in that field surrounded by trees. I spotted this from another angle once in another photo but I cannot recall which photo, but this seems to be another dispersed camp. Can anyone confirm, was it definitely part of the station and was it a camp? If yes, did it have a name?
Click here to zoom in
ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE6556706&dps_custom_att_1=emu
Thumbnail version from HERE
What is also fascinating is the Lucaville camp site is not seen in this shot as it would be just left of where the photo seems to be torn on the lefthand side. But if you look to the right of where the Officer's Mess is there's another, what looks like, hut camp in that field surrounded by trees. I spotted this from another angle once in another photo but I cannot recall which photo, but this seems to be another dispersed camp. Can anyone confirm, was it definitely part of the station and was it a camp? If yes, did it have a name?
