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Post by madmax on Nov 25, 2018 21:43:05 GMT 12
I have a colour image of CFG when operated by Wellington Aero Club in the sixties and the paint scheme is different than that on the C310 in the above photo
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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 25, 2018 22:27:19 GMT 12
Dredging the memory here re ZK-AKL (Noth Minor) but I think it may have been owned by a family (brothers) on the Hauraki Plains and it came to Ardmore from time to time. Adf.serials says: Previously (ZK-AHJ) for Auckland Aero Club, but not taken up as aircraft Was impressed into the RNZAF on 11 March 1940 on arrival in New Zealand. Allocated to No.2 FTS, Woodbourne by May 1940. Sold to de Havilland Aircraft Co. from No.42 Squadron on 05 June 1942. Entered the New Zealand Civil Aircraft Register as ZK-AKL with the Auckland Aero Club on 30 May 1946. To A. Hartman, Tauranga in 1960. To J. Moore and W. Laing, Hobsonville in 1961. TO D. Vernor, Paeroa in 1964. To D. Lilico, Auckland in 1966. To D. Strongman, Auckland on 18 May 1967. To D. Muir and H. Jenkin, Auckland on 06 May 1969. Withdrawn from use and stored 1969. Last registered to D. Muir and H. Jenkins, Manurewa, Auckland. Cancelled 10 March 1992 as withdrawn from use. Believed to be presently stored at Manurewa.
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Post by kevsmith on Nov 25, 2018 22:52:10 GMT 12
Dredging the memory here re ZK-AKL (Noth Minor) but I think it may have been owned by a family (brothers) on the Hauraki Plains and it came to Ardmore from time to time.
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Post by madmax on Nov 25, 2018 23:04:13 GMT 12
ZK-AKL appears to have spent some time at Paraparaumu as it was in the CAA hangar during an air pageant in the early 60s and I photographed it there outdoors on another occasion. In the early 1970s I took a number of Moth Minor undercarriage components from Masterton (probably ex Jack Lamb's Minor) to AKLs owners in Auckland.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 25, 2018 23:27:55 GMT 12
"Aircraft of the Royal New Zealand Air Force" (Duxbury / Ewing / Macpherson) Which says that NZ597 was the sole Coupe Moth Minor, serving at Norwood. ... ZK-AKL was NZ591, which is shown in a photo in the book as being a standard Moth Minor with open cockpits! Well this photo clearly proves that ZK-AJX (NZ592) was a Coupe version SourceAnd ZK-ALD (NZ595) was also a Coupe, seen here on 21 Feb 1948 SourceBut ZK-AKM (NZ597) was a standard open cockpit version on 22 Feb 1947 when this was taken SourceAnd ZK-ALN (NZ596) seen here in an Ed Coates Collection photo was also open cockpit in the 1950's. SourceSo that means ZK-AKL, ZK-AJX and ZK-ALD all had the Coupe tops. Three out of the five. However this 1939 photo inside the Rongotai factory shows three (obscured) Moth Minors, probably just after impressment (or arrival in NZ?) Source and ZOOM IN FOR DETAILS HEREit's hard to tell but they don't look to be Coupes? We also have this very famous photo at Rongotai where there's definitely an open cockpit Minor. Does anyone have a really good copy of this that the serial could be read on? Source
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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 25, 2018 23:53:10 GMT 12
There is a quite extensive history of ZK-AHI/ZK-ALN and ZK-AHK/AKM on this Australian page and neither of these two are mentioned as being Coupes when built, while other Aussie ones are. So it seems those two, as the photos show, were probably always open cockpit versions, and the other three may have been from the run of 250 Coupes DH made? www.goodall.com.au/australian-aviation/dh94/dh94mothminor.htm
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Post by davidd on Nov 26, 2018 7:56:49 GMT 12
Please note that DH's at Rongotai had conversion kits for Moth Minors, and a few conversions were actually undertaken in NZ. Apparently a lot of the kits were destroyed in the 1946 fire in the old Centennial Exhibition buildings, as were practically all the spare Gipsy Queen III engines for RNZAF (and NZNAC) Dominies. David D
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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 26, 2018 8:02:14 GMT 12
So they may have all arrived in NZ with open cockpits and at least three were converted at the Rongotai factory late in the war or immediate postwar?
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Post by thomarse on Nov 26, 2018 17:47:57 GMT 12
ZK-AKL appears to have spent some time at Paraparaumu as it was in the CAA hangar during an air pageant in the early 60s and I photographed it there outdoors on another occasion. In the early 1970s I took a number of Moth Minor undercarriage components from Masterton (probably ex Jack Lamb's Minor) to AKLs owners in Auckland. I think you're confused with AKM MM - she lived in the CAA Hangar most of the time she was owned by the Otaki Aero Club
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Post by madmax on Nov 26, 2018 18:59:13 GMT 12
Hi thomarse, Nope, just checked my images, both are of AKL at PP on two separate occasions in the early sixties.
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Post by davidd on Nov 27, 2018 8:33:26 GMT 12
The DH factory photo more likely taken February 1940 (when DH 82 NZ747 taken on charge) rather than 1939. Thus two of the three DH 94s in this photo almost certainly the aircraft which became NZ591 and 592, which were known to have been in open cockpit configurations when they arrived at 2 FTS (Blenheim) some weeks later.
The ADF.serials history of DH 94 ZK-AHJ/NZ591/ZK-AKL (c/n 94061) which appears above contains some errors. It was definitely NOT sold to DHs on 5th June 1942 from 42 Squadron. In fact 42 Sqn did not exist under that name until December 1943. This aircraft served throughout WW2 in the RNZAF, and was on the strength of 2 GR Sqdn at Nelson in 1942/43 period, and thence was tfd to 42 Sqdn at Rongotai. It was tfd to DHs from 42 Sqdn on 3/5/46, and registered to the Auckland Aero Club on 5/6/46. I will not attempt to quibble with the list of subsequent private owners. David D
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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 27, 2018 9:00:13 GMT 12
Oh yes, and while with No 2 (GR) Squadron it had an open cockpit, I have a photo somewhere, and the scheme seemed to be overall black, or similar dark colour.
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Post by oj on Nov 27, 2018 19:01:57 GMT 12
I don't think there were any Rukuhia shots. Certainly not the JAL hangar.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 3, 2018 23:24:31 GMT 12
Here's another piece of evidence in the Moth Minor story. This is Moth Minor NZ596 while serving with, I believe, No. 20 (Army Co-operation) Squadron at Onerahi. It is from the collection of the late Tim Murray who served on the squadron as an Air Gunner, and I believe that is Tim in the photo. His logbook reveals he also had one flight with Wing Commander Shannon in NZ592 from Onerahi to Whenuapai, so perhaps that one also served for a time with No. 20 (AC) Squadron. But as can be seen this aircraft was open cockpit during the war, and it went on to become ZK-ALN postwar.
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