Lodestar ZK-ALZ

[Dave Homewood]

I just came across this - was it ever recovered? Scrapped? Is it still there? Kairanga is just north of Palmerston North, I believe.

"NAC aeroplane 'Koriri', registered as ZK-ALZ, was destroyed by fire prior sometime between the late 1940s - 1954. The plane was then towed to Kairanga (possibly to Jensen's) by Henry Percy Foot's truck. The plane was originally owned by the Dutch Air Force and registered as LT9-9, before being registered as VH-CAC in Australia. Bought by Aircraft Pty Ltd, who on-sold aeroplanes, it was then in the service of NAC with the name “Koriri”, before being destroyed by fire."

manawatuheritage.pncc.govt.nz/item/bbb8e6f6-be11-49d1-879a-33e324c8ba48

[denysjones]

According to the Jim Sullivan history of the Lodestars in AHS journal Feb 1970 the a/c was damaged by fire at Palmerston North while under pre-service overhaul.

The fire was caused by a vacuum cleaner sparking and igniting petrol being used to clean the under floor areas. The damage was in the tail area and was rather extensive and so the a/c was written off.

The article records the purchaser as a Mr T J Dunn if that helps any.

cheers

[Peter Lewis]

DBF during conversion at Milson 10Feb47 - sparks from a vaccuum cleaner ignited petrol fumes. To spares, fuselage sold as scrap.

[Dave Homewood]

Yes, but is it still a chicken coop or tool shed or other at Kairanga is the big question.