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Post by saratoga on Apr 24, 2019 21:13:20 GMT 12
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Post by grgrimmer on Apr 25, 2019 13:49:27 GMT 12
This is all a bit of a joke.....
"It is an offence to remove any historic artefacts from public land without permission, including parts of plane wrecks. In 2010, those involved in illegally removing the engine of a plane that crashed in the Tararuas in 1955 were given a "stern warning" by DOC. The engine was subsequently returned."
"A spokesperson for the New Zealand Defence Force said the Wainuiomata wreckage remained the property of the New Zealand Defence Force and parts should not be removed."
If you crash a plane into the bush... as I know of a case where someone did, DOC gave them a ridiculously short period of time ordering them to remove it. The NZ Defence Force were given the planes on a lend/lease basis and they were supposed to be returned to them or destroyed at the end of the War, so technically the NZDF no longer owns it! Talk about double standards!
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Post by saratoga on Apr 25, 2019 16:02:34 GMT 12
Not to worry, all the big bits will soon be buried and all the small bits will be rediscovered after the next big slip.
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Post by tbf25o4 on Apr 25, 2019 16:55:19 GMT 12
The assumption that the wreckage is not still owned by Defence because it was a "lend lease" aircraft is not correct. All crashed aircraft regardless of their origins (purchased/loaned/lend lease) remain the property of the Crown until such time as they are released to a third party.
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Post by davidd on Apr 25, 2019 20:34:27 GMT 12
Strictly speaking, the P-40Es which came directly to NZ from the USA in 1942 (but not the ones taken over in Tonga) were Lend-Lease to the UK government, who diverted them to the RNZAF. Most of the Hudsons supplied to RNZAF (from about 2037 onwards I think) came under similar arrangements, the earlier ones were direct purchase by UK govt from Lockheed, also diverted to us. All Lend-Lease aircraft still in RNZAF hands in 1946 became the property of NZ Govt at the conclusion of settlement talks in Washington in about August (date from memory). David D
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Post by denysjones on Apr 26, 2019 15:07:36 GMT 12
I was sent this photo by a Wellington friend who was involved with a party that went to the site around about 1963, it might be of interest. I'm guilty of not knowing serial of the beast.
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Post by tbf25o4 on Apr 26, 2019 16:11:04 GMT 12
The aircraft was NZ3031
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Post by shorty on Apr 26, 2019 21:30:36 GMT 12
There are some more photos in my stash thread taken 1967/68
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Post by vultee43 on May 1, 2019 20:19:44 GMT 12
Such a pity. We talk about Pacific wrecks rotting in jungles but here is yet another example on our own doorstep.
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Post by shorty on May 3, 2019 19:16:26 GMT 12
Vultee43, Even the most optimistic restorer would consider that this wreck was beyond redemption, it was really just scrap metal when I took the photos 50+ years ago. I have just remebered that I have some 8mm movie film of the site but it's never been converted to a viewable format
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Post by saratoga on May 3, 2019 20:04:05 GMT 12
Well, you could start with about half a wing centre section and an engine block....
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Raymond
Sergeant
'In ze Soviet Russia, model builds YOU!
Posts: 11
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Post by Raymond on Feb 9, 2021 21:49:53 GMT 12
Update - Went up 7/2/21 to the engine block and its still in the same condition that photos show from 2019, diddnt see the prop hub, though it was late when we got there (was unsure how far up to go!) Im hoping to go back in a couple weeks for a full day trip!
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Post by Antonio on Nov 8, 2021 22:32:28 GMT 12
Correct me if I'm wrong but if memory serves me right, the rudder of the P-40 was visible in the rear yard of a house on the eastern side of Sunny Grove back in the 1967-69. If so anyone know what happened to it?
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Post by ZacYates on Nov 9, 2021 15:58:16 GMT 12
I'm curious to know about that too, Antonio! It would be nice to think it survived. I understand some parts including the pilot’s armour plate were recovered by John Chambers in 1968. NZ3031's pilot Tom Marchant was from Wanganui and is buried here. I visited his grave a few months ago (posted without any intent to be morbid): Grave of Thomas Victor Marchant, Aramoho Cemetery, Whanganui 14/10/2020 by Zac Yates, on Flickr
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Post by curtiss on Nov 10, 2021 15:34:02 GMT 12
The poilots armour plate, engine mount, remains of one wing, prop hub and engine were all there when I visited the site in the mid seventies.
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Post by saratoga on Nov 10, 2021 16:25:57 GMT 12
All there in 2016, then no sign of the armour plate on a later trip.Though might have been washed down or buried by yet another slip.
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Post by ZacYates on Dec 28, 2021 13:54:05 GMT 12
Does anyone know which codes this aircraft carried on its final flight? My records have it as XO-R.
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Post by Antonio on Dec 29, 2021 18:20:35 GMT 12
That's what I have
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axelford
Squadron Leader
I have visited 13 Plane wreck sites and counting, happy to help with info!
Posts: 120
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Post by axelford on Dec 31, 2021 10:25:25 GMT 12
All there in 2016, then no sign of the armour plate on a later trip.Though might have been washed down or buried by yet another slip. I recall someone had been working at carrying it out to use in a restoration...still stealing in my eyes though...if people had left this site alone there would be a lot more to see, but people messing around with the guns etc. caused a lot of stuff to be disposed of by the RNZAF from memory. There's a hunting forum that has a great thread of stories about the wreck and what people have found including items such as the prop blades resting on a mantelpiece in Wainuiomata! Interesting regarding the serial, I had it down as XO-F, I wonder how I got that mixed up. NZ3031 is the closest plane wreck to where I live and visiting crash sites is a hobby of mine so I've visited about 6 times, mapping different areas for wreckage. The massive washout both covered and exposed wreckage. On my last two visits I have found plexiglass, gun access panels and on the very latest a 40cm fragment very near to the crater. The wreckage at the site is as follows: engine block (Lower creek), engine mounts x2 (Upper creek), prop hub with sawn off blades (Mid creek), fuselage oil tank (Mid creek). landing gear x2 (1 Mid Creek, 1 Upper creek), port wing section with aforementioned landing gear still attached and "BOMB BRACE ATTACH HERE" visible on the underside denoting the section spans from centre line to the brace attach point. Numerous micro to 1 metre metal pieces some with paint are around the wing section. Some pieces such as the gun access panels have gone walkabout and there is no evidence of new slippage so it has been taken along with the armour plate Which was visible circa 2012 so it was not taken in 1968. Also of note is that .303 shells can be found around the site and according to several accounts on a hunting forum, some magazines were buried on site with others being deliberately detonated. It may not be restoration material but NZ3031 certainly could do with more love, some signage on site or an effort to gather the pieces closer to where they once lay would be great. With a metal detector I hope to find more wing sections as supposedly a piece with roundel visible is out there somewhere...
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Post by davidd on Jan 20, 2022 10:52:55 GMT 12
As our P-40s were only ever armed with .50 inch Brownings, where did the .303" shells originate? You would not expect hunters to abandon perfectly good shells, unless they were faulty, so what is going on here? Is this simply a case of confusion in calibres?
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