Kings College Corsair!!!

[Dave Homewood]

OK, who here went to Kings College in Auckland, or knows a guy who went there, back in the 1940's and 50's? Who was in their Air Training Corp unit? Because I want to know what happened to their Corsair?? This from the BAY OF PLENTY TIMES, dated 21 APRIL 1949:

PLANE TRANSPORTED BY ROAD

CORSAIR’S JOURNEY TO AUCKLAND

INSTRUCTION OF A.T.C. UNIT

(P.A.) Auckland. April 20. A fully-equipped Corsair aircraft is being transported by road today from Rukuhia, near Hamilton, to King’s College. For the next three or four months it will be used to train members of the school Air Training Corps unit.

The aircraft, towed by a tractor, left Rukuhia at dawn, and is expected to arrive at the college about 6 p.m.

Although its wings are folded, the plane has a breadth of nearly 17ft, and several traffic inspectors will accompany it to keep the road clear.

The Corsair is one of two surplus planes at Rukuhia. The other will be installed at the Waikato Aero Club’s grounds, where it will be used as a memorial to members killed during the war, and for demonstration.

Both planes are brand new and need only a few hours’ work to make them airworthy. The engines, however, have been “inhibited,” or completely flooded with oil for preservation. That is why they arc being moved overland.

The King’s College A.T.C. unit has 67 members. Pupils from other schools will probably receive instruction in the aircraft.

[camtech]

NZ5634, later to Inst 128 1 Feb 1948. Declared surplus on Stores Release 4001 Jan 1953, and sold via WARB Tender 4940 Feb 1953. Unfortunately, I have no record of the eventual purchaser.

[Dave Homewood]

Is there any evidence that NZ5634 went to Kings College in Auckland in April 1949?

[camtech]

Mentioned in my notes, which came off the Doomsday Book.

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks. Strange it went all the way to Auckland and then a few months later to Thames.

[Dave Homewood]

In fact that would have been quite a mission towing it from Auckland to Thames in those days! I wonder if it went by ship.

[camtech]

Dave, just checked the list of tenders and note tender 4940 closed 2 Feb 1953 for Corsair Inst 128, less propeller, 1 Double Wasp R2800, located at Kings college.
Also, tender no 5062, closed 8 Jun 1953, 1 Corsair aircraft, no instruments, engine or landing gear, at Kings College.
So where did the ATC at Thames figure? Did they buy it from Kings College?

[Dave Homewood]

Hmm, the plot thickens.

[Dave Homewood]

So Kings College had two Corsairs? Or did they tender the same one twice?

[camtech]

I believe same one twice, obviously a bit more cannabalized the second time.
I'll check my records when I get home to see if anything else pops up.

[saratoga]

Maybe its still there, in its packing case, buried under the sports field...anyone got a metal detector, shovel and up for some nocturnal gardening?...

[rone]

You are all up the creek. The Corsair was sold to a scrap dealer( I know who he was, now long gone), who got it pretty cheap, but when he went to remove it from Kings College, he discovered the engine and all behind it had gone. Charlie forthwith refused to touch it, requested he get a refund, which he got. The a/c was retendered and the remaining hulk disappeared. There were many stories circulating among various people that the engine went straight after the tenders closed, that it went down Rukuhia way where there was a Corsair being restored. As far as I am aware the a/c was broken up, it never went to Thames.

[camtech]

I agree with the contention that this aircraft never went to Thames, despite a number of the reports to the contrary. A second Corsair at Rukuhia was used by a local ATC unit, until sold in 1953.